A half-remembered land

Marketing is (in)famous for looking for solutions to unmet consumer needs - although some of my colleagues are also partial to Say's Law which states that increasing production can lead to increased demand for a good or service.

So what does it say that at a time when the shops and websites are groaning under the weight of consumer goods, so many of us will spend lots of money re-accumulating the goods of our childhood? But only if those 'memories' are in a pristine, unopened condition, not played with, read, or scribbled on in a moment of boredom. Memories of childhood may be priceless but now we learn that their consequences will affect today's market values!