What buyers are searching for right now isn’t about chasing trends or changing your whole business.
It’s about recognizing why certain items are suddenly moving again — and pulling the right things forward in your inventory.
Google search data is showing three very clear shifts in buyer behavior right now. If you sell online, you probably already have some of these items sitting in your bins.
1. 2016 Is Back — and Buyers Are Looking for It on Purpose
People aren’t “accidentally” buying 2016-era items. They’re actively searching for them.
Searches like “2016 vibes” and “why is everyone posting 2016 pics” are at all-time highs. That tells us buyers are feeling nostalgic — and shopping accordingly.
What this looks like in real inventory:
- Festival and Coachella-era clothing
- Graphic tees, band tees, slogan tees
- Denim jackets, distressed denim, skinny jeans
- Bomber jackets
- Adidas, Nike, Vans, Converse from the mid-2010s
- Early streetwear and logo pieces
- Beauty items tied to bold brows (brow kits, tools, vintage makeup comps)
If you’ve been thinking, “Why is this suddenly getting likes again?” — this is why.
Reseller tip:
You don’t need to relist everything from scratch. Resurface it.
With List Perfectly, you can update photos, tweak titles, refine descriptions, adjust keywords, and more — and that flexibility is unlimited on all plans. Sometimes small listing changes are all it takes to bring older inventory back to life.
2. “Going Analog” Is a Buying Behavior, Not a Trend
This one matters for sellers because it shows purchase intent, not just curiosity.
Searches for “going analog,” “analog bag,” and “phone brick” are all at all-time highs. People are intentionally buying items that help them step away from screens.
Items sellers are already sourcing or selling that fit this perfectly:
- 35mm film cameras
- Point-and-shoot film cameras
- Camera bags, camera straps, film accessories
- Film rolls
- Journals, planners, notebooks
- Typewriters
- Needlepoint kits, embroidery kits, cross-stitch kits
- Desk organizers and physical calendars
- Minimalist bags designed to carry “just the essentials”
These items aren’t niche anymore — buyers are actively searching for them.
Reseller tip:
If you sell one of these items, your description matters.
You can optimize listings using List Perfectly’s Listing Assistant to make sure your titles, descriptions, and keywords include the right terms so buyers can find you faster — without having to guess what to write.
3. Buyers Want Playful, Fun, and a Little Human Again
Searches for “whimsy,” “how to be more playful,” and “how to add more whimsy to your life” are climbing fast.
Translation: buyers are tired of overly polished, mass-produced everything.
Items performing well in this moment include:
Colorful vintage home decor, like:
- 1970s–1990s pottery and planters
- Hand-painted mugs or bowls
- Funky vases with faces or bold shapes
- Retro wall art, mirrors, or clocks
Ceramics with character, such as:
- Pottery repaired in the Japanese style where broken pieces are put back together with gold (kintsugi)
- Handmade ceramics with glaze variations
- Vintage ceramics with visible age, wear, or repairs
Items with flaws (clearly disclosed):
- Handmade pottery that isn’t perfectly symmetrical
- Vintage items with small chips, crazing, or paint wear
- Textiles with visible stitching or mending
Nostalgic toys and games, including:
- Lite-Brite
- Etch A Sketch
- Original Game Boy or Game Boy Color
- Tamagotchi
- Vintage Polly Pocket compacts
- Fisher-Price classics
- 80s–90s board games
- Handheld electronic games
These aren’t just items — they’re memory triggers.
Reseller tip:
This is where storytelling in your listing helps.
One good sentence about why an item feels fun or nostalgic can be the difference between sitting and selling. With List Perfectly’s Listing Assistant, you can use a storytelling tone and still create and optimize listings fast.
What This Means for Your Business
This isn’t about panic sourcing or switching everything you do.
It’s about:
- Looking at your existing inventory differently
- Understanding why certain items are moving again
- Making smarter listing decisions
Buyers are telling us what they want through their searches:
nostalgia, tactile items, personality, and joy.
If you’re listing with that in mind, you’re not behind — you’re right on time.
