The Peter Pan effect

Selling toys to adults is a big business

Welcome to the Sociology of Business. In my last analysis, Case Study: ON, I explored ON’s product, brand and business success and emphasized the cultural programming opportunity. If you are on the Substack, join the chat. With one of the paid subscription options, join Paid Membership Chat, and with the free subscription, join The General Chat on The Sociology of Business WhatsApp group.

Bag charms. LEGO sets for adults. Elmo and On. Walter van Beirendonck. Quelle Idole. Thom Browne’s origami. The Ark by Bottega. Hello Kitty’s collabs. Polo Bear.

Dialogue between the real and the imaginary is at the fever pitch.

We don’t know anymore what’s real and what’s not, and perhaps we don’t care. Imagination, not reason, is how we navigate through the world.

Rather than seeing toys, mascots and games as childhood nostalgia, kidulting or immaturity, I see them as a modern cultural expression — a remix spurred by the AI,