In today's fast-paced digital landscape, London Glorfield can hardly recall a time when smartphones and screens were not an integral part of daily life. The 23-year-old former recording artist was only five when the first iPhone made its debut, marking the beginning of a tech-saturated environment. Growing up surrounded by constant digital stimuli, Glorfield and his friends found themselves overwhelmed by the demands of social media and screen time.
"I was spending an exorbitant amount of time glued to my screen, glued to my phone, communicating with fans, friends, etcetera," Glorfield reflects. This relentless connection to technology left him feeling "very, very unhappy." Recognizing a shared sentiment among his peers, he was inspired to forge a path toward a simpler, more intentional lifestyle. This realization led to the creation of Kickback, a retro tech brand tailored for Gen Z consumers.
Based in New York, Kickback offers an array of nostalgic products, including CD and record players, cameras, speakers, and cassette players. Glorfield notes that the company has particularly thrived by providing products that facilitate genuine unplugging experiences. "That's the feeling that my generation never really got to experience," he adds, highlighting a growing trend among young people seeking to disconnect from their devices.
According to the Future of Wellness 2025 Report by the Global Wellness Summit, this desire to embrace retro and analog technologies is on the rise, with Gen Z and young Millennials increasingly turning to these alternatives. Beth McGroarty, research director at the Global Wellness Institute, explains that this trend may stem from a fundamental human need for tactile experiences rather than mere nostalgia. "I think it's a rebellion against that shapeless, disembodied, throwaway digital world of screens," she states, emphasizing a growing appetite for physical objects that engage the senses.
As music, communication, entertainment, and work converge on our screens, McGroarty points out that younger generations are increasingly eager to escape the overwhelming flood of passive information. "When you look at the stats of Gen Z and how much time they've spent in front of screens, it's basically a lifetime," she notes. Since its launch last year, Kickback has generated over $500,000 in revenue, a testament to the brand's resonance with a generation eager to push back against the hyper-consolidated world they were raised in.
Glorfield shares a personal perspective on the joys of analog experiences: "There's something really nice about taking a walk with a camera and just having that camera to take photos and not having the temptation to dive into your phone or take work emails." This sentiment is echoed by Adam Fuerst, operator of the retro tech site Retrospekt, which has been in operation since 2015. Fuerst acknowledges that while high-tech devices have undoubtedly simplified life, they often render experiences sterile and devoid of meaning.
"The more convenient things get, the more the experience matters," Fuerst explains, highlighting the added value of engaging with physical objects like Polaroid cameras, Game Boys, and typewriters. Retrospekt boasts annual sales of $8 million, with a customer base primarily between the ages of 13 and 39. Fuerst believes that living our lives primarily on digital devices contradicts our human nature, depriving us of the tactile joy that comes from holding and using real objects.
"There's just something so meaningful and so special about having that physical object that I don't think we humans are ready to get rid of," he asserts. As society moves further into a digital future, the sentiment around retro technologies continues to grow, proving that these items hold a special place in the hearts of many.
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