Hat boxes/Credit: Flickr user Valerie Everett

They say that some things never go out of style, and during this recession, some are on a come back, stronger than before.

Take this story: A family business in New Hampshire still makes old-fashioned, wide-brimmed hat boxes (yes, hat boxes), but they ’re used for far more than hats these days.

“Sarah’s will sell around ten-thousand hat boxes this year, a majority to other businesses that’ll put their products inside the fabric-covered boxes. Think upscale popcorn tubs and scented candles, jewelry and fancy lingerie,” Todd Booker reports for KUOW.

With digital music taking over, even CDs are on their way out, but vinyl records are seeing a resurgence, both among true collectors and casual new fans. As jazz writer Felix Contreras blogs on the NPR Music web site, turntables and vinyl are growing in popularity – both in terms of vintage items and records from new indie bands.

“Sales of newly-pressed vinyl albums are up, but still very, very small compared to both CD sales and downloads. But many electronics stores (among those that are left) have added turntables to their inventories.”

Looking back for inspiration isn’t limited to collectors’ items and gift ideas. As NPR reported earlier this year, Pepsi and Mountain Dew are repackaging their products in “Throwback” versions, axing the high fructose corn syrup and creating a marketing campaign that reminds consumers of how things once were. Does old timey packaging remind us of a simpler time, before the current job losses and recession?