The Analog Renaissance, Episode 2: The Trade Show Gamble

About this episode

Bonnie Christine explores the significance of tactile experiences in a digital world during her first visit to a major trade show.

When Bonnie Christine gathered her team together in April 2025, she asked a question that would change everything: What if the biggest innovation isn't digital at all? The data was undeniable. Vinyl sales hitting 18 consecutive years of growth. Barnes & Noble opening 60 new stores. Eleven million Americans are raising backyard chickens. 80% of Americans now garden, a 5-year high. Etsy's reporting a 40% surge in analog-themed shops. This wasn't nostalgia; it was a coping mechanism. A collective reaching for things we can touch in a world that feels increasingly untouchable. Welcome to The Analog Renaissance, Episode #2. In this episode, Bonnie tells the story of attending the world's largest licensing expo in Las Vegas for the first time, arriving with only six appointments on the calendar and a minivan packed with fresh flowers, fabric swatches, and real garden beds. While nearby booths shimmered with LED lights and polished displays, her team built something tactile — something you could smell, touch, and feel. A space rooted in texture, scent, and real-world beauty. She walks through the decision to invest massively in face-to-face connections when everyone else was optimizing…

People in this episode

Host: Bonnie Christine

Topics covered

• analog renaissance
• trade shows
• face-to-face connections
• tactile experiences
• digital strategy
• partnerships

Keywords

• analog
• trade show
• tactile
• partnership
• Etsy
• Barnes & Noble
• vinyl sales
• gardening
• face-to-face connections

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Barnes & Noble, Etsy

More episodes of The Professional Creative

• The Analog Renaissance, Episode 9: Come With Me · February 16, 2026 · 10 min
• The Analog Renaissance, Episode 8: Meeting Them In Their Analog Life · February 16, 2026 · 7 min
• The Analog Renaissance, Episode 7: The Completion Obsession · February 16, 2026 · 12 min
• The Analog Renaissance, Episode 6: The Box On Your Doorstep · February 16, 2026 · 12 min
• The Analog Renaissance, Episode 5: Inside My Process · February 16, 2026 · 16 min
• The Analog Renaissance, Episode 4: Print Holds Attention · February 16, 2026 · 11 min