During the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, one of the most popular souvenir items were the red mittens. These mittens weren’t expensive, at just $10 a pair, and they featured a maple leaf on the palm. It helped to provide a sense of national unity for Canadians and it proved to be very lucrative for HBC, the official store for Olympic merchandise.

It seems that they are now prepared to re-release the mittens, but in a new form. The design is different, with the maple leaf wrapping around the side of the mitten rather than in the palm, but the concept is similar. It’s clear that Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) is trying to capitalize on the existing popularity of the original mittens, which have since been discontinued. The Olympics may have only been earlier this year, but the nostalgia factor is certainly there.

Looking at your own business, did you have a very popular item that you think is worth re-inventing and re-releasing? Some customers may see this as a clear cash grab and, indeed, it really is. However, you still have to consider when you have opportunities to profit and you have to jump on these kinds of chances when you can. There is certainly something to be said about nostalgia.

From vintage sports jerseys to vintage-inspired cars, they can have huge sellers. What products in your lineup are worth re-launching in some renewed form? Would they be just as profitable as when they were first sold?