Diddl Mouse celebrates comeback in Dresden – Collectible pads in hot demand at top prices

As a survey conducted by the market research company YouGov on behalf of "Kleinanzeigen" found, prices for Diddl collectible pads have risen by 357 percent compared to 2021. A spokesperson explained that on Google, the Diddl Mouse is back; the comeback is accompanied by a wave of nostalgia for products from the 1990s and early 2000s.

Trigger: an Instagram post

According to the bookshop, the catalyst for the rush in Dresden was a post on Instagram published on the 20th by employee Katharina Radtke. "Seit dem Instagram-Post hatten wir über das Wochenende enorm viele Anfragen," she is quoted as saying. She hopes the supplies will last until Friday.

Bookseller Marlena Riedel spoke of a "total flashback": "Es ist ein totaler Flashback," bookseller Marlena Riedel raved. A hint of nostalgia is wafting through the shop, among both the customers and the staff themselves, said the 35-year-old. "Da kommen schon Kindheitserinnerungen wieder," she said.

Background: The Diddl wave of the 90s

The mood among those waiting was exuberant. "Die Diddl-Maus war unser Hype," said one customer. Others also spoke about how they used to cultivate collecting with friends during school break and now wanted to catch up on parts of their childhood.

Behind the resale is the Warimex corporate group, which holds the brand rights to Diddl. The company launched its own retro campaign last year to appeal to older fans and gain new ones. With success, as current sales figures show.

According to "Kleinanzeigen," the trade also benefits from a general longing for tangible mementos. In Hamburg and other major cities, specialised collector shops have likewise recorded increased footfall, it said.

Outlook: new products in August

Parallel to the sale of the classic collectible pads, Warimex plans to expand the range. In addition to new booklets, postcards, stickers, and small plush figures inspired by the original design are planned. A first delivery to bookshops is scheduled for August.

Market observers see the run as an example of a growing "nostalgia market." Products that shaped childhood 20 to 30 years ago now fetch higher prices than during their actual heyday. Tonie figures, old Game Boy games, and VHS cassettes are also increasingly sought after.

For now, the situation remains calm: there were neither scuffles nor shortages beyond the counter. The bookshop in Dresden plans to offer additional opening hours on Thursday evening if possible to meet demand.