Young Canadians drive holiday shopping spree for retro tech, survey finds
Nearly half of millennials and Gen Z are likely to buy nostalgic gifts like iPods and vinyl records, a Best Buy Canada survey says.
A holiday shopping trend sees younger Canadians turning to retro technology for gifts, driven by nostalgia and a desire for physical media, a new survey suggests. The survey from Best Buy Canada found 40 percent of Canadians are likely to buy a nostalgic gift this season. That number jumps to 53 percent among millennials and 49 percent among Gen Z respondents. One third of all survey respondents said they are drawn to old tech because they value owning physical media like vinyl records and video game cartridges.
"We’re seeing younger Canadians rediscover technology many of us grew up with, but this isn’t nostalgia for nostalgia’s sake," said Kushal Samy, director of brand marketing at Best Buy Canada. "People want technology that feels personal and unlocks possibilities. Sometimes that means the newest device, and sometimes it means rediscovering a format or product they love." The survey, conducted by Angus Reid, indicates the return to physical media is being led by younger generations.
Nearly one in four Canadians, or 23 percent, said they bought music, movies or games in a physical format in the last year. That figure rises to 32 percent for millennials and 30 percent for Gen Z. By comparison, only 12 percent of Boomers reported such purchases. The most popular retro product making a comeback is the Apple iPod, with Gen Z showing the most interest, followed by the Blackberry phone with its physical keyboard. Millennials favour old gaming consoles like the Nintendo 64 or Super Nintendo, while Boomers were most nostalgic for VCRs and VHS tapes. Headphones, earbuds, video game consoles and turntables or vinyl records are all popular gift categories this year, according to Best Buy. This shift comes as another Angus Reid survey suggests Canadians are increasingly souring on streaming services.
With files from Global News
Isabelle Moreau is the editor of Novello Desserts and writes about family life and everyday living in Canada. The editor signs off on corrections and editorial standards.