BB Editor
Shop for Creative Gifts
If you are sentimental about the antenna TV, videotape, cassette tape, floppy disk, typewriter, dial phone, roll film, etc. – don’t worry, old is gold!
These are the products being replaced by technology over the years as part of human advancement, also facilitated by a couple of global technology companies.
Most of the big tech companies are like celebrities in the business world, they are very much adored by the public even though they are using you as their products.
Nevertheless, it can be quite nostalgic if the tech companies go retro with their brand merchandise to symbolize the evolution and what they have been replacing.
Here are some imaginative, creative merch ideas for the tech companies. Hopefully, they make some for their paying enterprise clients!
YouTube
From Antenna TV to YouTube
During the antenna TV era, television programs used to be the only entertainment back then. Now, there is endless content on YouTube.
Netflix
From Videotape to Netflix
Before OTT (streaming over the Internet), Netflix started its business as a DVD rental company. DVD is not retro enough but videotapes are.
Spotify
From Cassette Tape to Spotify
Like videotape to Netflix, the cassette tape has evolved to CD and now, people are listening to music over the Internet, especially Spotify.
Apple iCloud
From Diskette to Apple iCloud
You would have seen this diskette (a.k.a. floppy disk) if you are old enough. Storage has since evolved to other mediums and the cloud (online storage).
Microsoft Word
From Typewriter to Microsoft Word
Going back to the years before computers and floppy disks, businesses and academics were using typewriters which you can’t undo.
Gmail
From Snail Mail to Gmail
Google Workspace should send their paying customers some merch like this, with an appreciative ‘thank you for your money’ chop.
From Dial Phone to WhatsApp
Landline phones are still around but have you seen those with a rotary dial? People don’t like to talk anymore nowadays, just WhatsApp.
From Newspaper Classifieds to LinkedIn
Okay, this is not exactly suitable as merchandise but it’s nostalgic for the older generations who used to shortlist job classifieds with a pen.
Wikipedia
From Encyclopedia to Wikipedia
Not funded by advertising, Wikipedia operates on a donation-based revenue model. Perhaps, they can introduce merch to entice and reward donations?
From Photo Album to Facebook
While people no longer print 3R or 4R photos, nicely printed photo books still make sense. How often do you check back your digital photos?
From Roll Film to Instagram
Instagram is a place for beautiful things and (sometimes artificially) beautiful people. How about a roll film with a lens to un-filter those photos?
Tinder
It’s a Match! by Tinder
Aren’t you excited when Tinder prompts you with this notification? This can be useful at night-life spots or social events, don’t you agree?
Credit: All visuals illustrated by Luli Kibudi
