History Main / TheRedStapler

* ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'': Ask around any knife/blade shop and chances are they have had a number of people asking about [[ButterflyKnife butterfly knives]], thanks to that globetrotting rogue, the Spy. The game is also responsible for the popularity of real-life NiceHat obsession among its fans, though part of it is also due to said fans wanting to {{Cosplay}}.

* When Nissan came up with the Skyline GT-R line of sports cars based on the Skyline luxury car range, it was not officially sold in Western markets. However, the likes of ''VideoGame/GranTurismo'' and ''Film/TheFastAndTheFurious'' among others spurred so much mainstream interest in the "Godzilla", as it was [[FanNickname nicknamed]] by an Australian auto magazine, that grey-market importers stepped in to cater to the demand. One such importer was Motorex, who supplied the GT-R used by Paul Walker's character in the first film. Nissan eventually took notice and developed the R35 GT-R, first conceptualised in 2001 and [[SavedFromDevelopmentHell released in 2007]]. The R35 [[DivorcedInstallment branched off]] from the mainline Skyline range, as part of its ContinuityReboot.

* "Fuck Communism" Zippo lighters only became popular ever since they were featured in ''ComicBook/{{Preacher}}''.

* ''Film/GroundhogDay'' has led to many collectors of flip-style digital clocks and clock radios trying to obtain the exact same model of clock seen prominently in the film, a Panasonic RC-2605 that dates from the early 80's.

* ''Series/TheBill'' and ''Series/LawAndOrderSpecialVictimsUnit'' featured the 1983-1987 Mazda 626 in a few episodes, and as a result of that, it became quite popular on the used market during UsefulNotes/TheTurnOfTheMillennium and UsefulNotes/TheNewTens, with Mazda 626 LX and Mazda 626 coupe versions becoming unlikely [[CoolCar cool cars]] and quite collectible.

* Creator/OJSimpson's infamous chase down the UsefulNotes/LosAngeles freeway in a white Ford Bronco saw sales of that vehicle skyrocket by seven thousand in the following year, despite it being a fairly primitive model of SUV compared to Ford's Explorer and other modern, four-door vehicles.

* Some specialist software used by British city councils is now undergoing this trope due to [[http://www.whatdotheyknow.com WhatDoTheyKnow.com]]

* Music/GrooveArmada released the single [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxohJX9ElpE My Friend]] on 5 November 2001, and in 2019, the "Let It Rock" crop top worn by one of the female models in the video (believed to be the protagonist) is still highly in demand, although it's not known who produced it, or the identity of the actresses who wore it.

* Music/KatyPerry's video for "Part of Me" has made the Volvo 200 series a somewhat popular car again, with the 260 model being particularly collectible. The version in the video was a U.S.-spec 240 GL 2.3 sedan, 1991 model year. Volvo buyers are even demanding new, {{retraux}} Volvo [=240s=], similar to the new MINI Cooper and Fiat 500, as they feel the S40 is too small but the S60 is too large/expensive and more of a premium executive car.

* ''ComicStrip/{{Popeye}}'' and its use of spinach as a PowerUpFood led to people eating more spinach. Crystal City, TX has a statue of Popeye in thanks, as spinach is the city's staple cash crop.

* ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'': Because of Squidward playing one, more children have been playing clarinets.

* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' created a craze for unicorn-themed media, as its' protagonist was a unicorn. The craze still goes on to this day.
** ''WesternAnimation/DespicableMe'' may have also contributed to the unicorn craze, as one scene features Agnes winning a stuffed unicorn from a carnival.

* The ''Franchise/JamesBond'' films caused all sorts of demand for the toys and gadgets the suave spy has used over the years:

** Solitaire's [[TarotMotifs tarot deck]] from ''Film/LiveAndLetDie'' was eventually produced as a full deck, originally sold under the name "007 Deck" and later renamed "Tarot of the Witches". Its reception by actual tarot readers is mixed.

* Enoshima, an island off the coast of Kamakura, is a favorite destination among {{otaku}}s, since it is featured prominently in several popular shows such as ''Manga/ElfenLied'', ''Manga/SweetBlueFlowers'' and ''Anime/UtaKata''.
* ''Manga/InitialD'':
** This manga popularized the Toyota [=AE86=] Sprinter Trueno/Corolla GT-S by virtue of its protagonist beating seemingly much [[CoolCar cooler cars]] with one on a regular basis, simply with raw driving skill. It didn't help that the manga contributed to the car's high resale value, which made obtaining an 86 in good working order a challenge, let alone in mint condition.
** The real life touge courses in the anime have become immortalized in real life as well. Mount Haruna (which is what Mount Akina is based on) often gets many visitors in the Gunma area, and the real tofu shop also gained popularity before it was [[TearJerker torn down]].

* The town of Takehara's popularity has risen quite a bit since it has been featured in ''Anime/{{Tamayura}}'', and the town's inhabitants appear to be very proud of that fact. Restaurants and shops advertise with posters from the show (especially the ones actually [[RealPlaceBackground used as scenery]]), and one of the local ferries even sports huge posters of the show's main heroines. The announced TV series might raise the town's popularity to even greater heights.

* ''Anime/YuriOnIce'':
** Chanel lip balm [[http://en.rocketnews24.com/2016/11/24/a-figure-skating-anime-is-suddenly-boosting-chanel-sales-and-not-everyone-is-happy/ increased in sales]] after being used by Victor on Yuuri in Episode 5.
** Karatsu, the city in Saga, Kyushu that Yuri's hometown of Hasetsu is [[RealPlaceBackground heavily based on]], became a popular pilgrimage for fans of the anime even before the success of ''Anime/ZombieLandSaga'' boosted tourism in Saga even further.
* ''Manga/LaidBackCamp'':
** The show became an unpaid advertisement for camping around Mt. Fuji. Indeed, since the show began, there has been [[https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2018-02-11/news-program-laid-back-camp-inspires-newbies-to-try-winter-camping/.127607 a tripling of camping attendees this winter]] around the mountain.
** Not only that, but in February, dealers reported that the Yamaha Vino scooter in the same color like the one Rin uses was sold out.
* ''Franchise/LoveLive'':
** For ''Anime/LoveLive'' School Idol Project, some places in the show like Kanda Shrine (where Nozomi works as a part-time {{Miko}}) and Takemura (the basis for Honoka's house) have become popular tourist sites.
** After ''Anime/LoveLiveSunshine'' came out, fans have been taking trips to Numazu to see the sights featured on the show.

* ''Literature/SoundEuphonium'':
** Similarly to ''K-On!'', the anime was likely many viewers' first introduction to the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euphonium euphonium,]] an obscure concert band instrument that doesn't get much real spotlight otherwise.
** ''Sound! Euphonium''[='=]s anime adaptation also inspired a minor surge of tourism to its setting of Uji in the Kyoto region, and in particular to Daikichiyama, a small mountain overlooking the city, which is visited in key scenes. Searching up the mountain will bring up results related to the series, and as a promotional tie-in, cardboard character stands are often placed by its observation deck.
* ''Anime/CastleInTheSky'' caused a boost in tourism [[https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/coronavirus-as-chinese-tourists-stay-home-a-world-that-has-grown-dependent-on-them-feels-their-absence/2020/02/07/0ff7a37e-46a4-11ea-91ab-ce439aa5c7c1_story.html to an Italian city featuring a structure that looked similar to the titular location.]]
* ''Manga/BungoStrayDogs'''s popularity increased tourism to Yokohama, where the series takes place.
* ''Manga/KaguyaSamaLoveIsWar'' resulted in fans flocking to [=YouTube =]searching for videos related to [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwmB2eptXz0 Soran Bushi.]]

* After the passing of Creator/BettyWhite on December 31, 2021, demand for merchandise based on her increased. For example, on Amazon, a figurine set based on ''Series/TheGoldenGirls'' and the complete series of ''Series/HotInCleveland'' were among the top-selling items on Amazon on January 1, 2022.

* According to the movie's trivia section over at Website/IMDb, the use of caller ID increased more than threefold after the release of ''Film/{{Scream|1996}}''. The movie also increased demand for Ghostface masks/costumes, which existed before (and which is actually a minor plot point in the first film).

* Music/DireStraits' decision to place Mark Knopfler's National Style O resonator acoustic on the cover of their 1985 album ''Music/BrothersInArms'' resulted in a surge in demand for the guitars, leading to high prices which continue to this day.

* After Fox aired the special ''Breaking the Magicians' Code: Magic's Biggest Secrets-Finally Revealed'' there was a renewed interest in magic shows with magic shows seeing a spike in attendance and magicians needing to constantly come up with new tricks to amaze the audience after new installments of the program revealed the new tricks.

* Music/EricClapton and Music/JimiHendrix drove up sales of the Fender Stratocaster and Gibson Les Paul in TheSixties to legendary status; neither model were known as high sellers at the time. The Les Paul had been discontinued for years when Clapton and his peers started using it. Not only did Gibson bring it back to great success, it also drove up the prices of the original 1950s models to insane levels. A 1959 Les Paul Standard is the most expensive guitar in the world, all thanks to Clapton. Sales of high-wattage Marshall amplifiers also increased, along with effects boxes like wah-wah pedals, distortion boxes and phase shifters.

* Inverted by ''Film/{{Deliverance}}''. The Appalachian camping industry was nearly bankrupted following the film's release.

If a work increases demand for another work, that's the ColbertBump; if it changes demand for a song, that's RevivalByCommercialization. If it increases demand for a pet, that's PetFadStarter. If a name becomes popular because of a work, that's BabyNameTrendStarter. The opposite of this trope is AluminumChristmasTrees, where something real but outlandish is shown in fiction and people think it must be fictional.

* ''Manga/LuckyStar'':
** The town of Washimiya, Saitama, Japan experienced a massive surge in tourism thanks to ''Manga/LuckyStar'', as the Hiiragi family shrine is based on the local Washinomiya shrine. It has since become a pilgrimage site for otaku of all ages, with many prayer plaques featuring weird prayers asking Konata to be their wife.
** The show also re-popularised anime merchandise and conventions. There has even been talk in the city council to make the local high school dress code match the one seen in the series. In turn, the girls became official honour residents of the city.

* The Hikawa Shrine from ''Franchise/SailorMoon'' also exists in real life (although real life has two Hikawa Shrines, and the first [[Anime/SailorMoon anime]] moved one to the location of the other). It's also a tourist spot for fans. Crown Game Center also ''used'' to exist but has since gone out of business and been replaced by a [=McDonalds=].

* Cuenca, Spain has seen a noticeable increase in Japanese tourism since being featured in ''Anime/SoundOfTheSky''.
* Similarly, ''Anime/HeidiGirlOfTheAlps'' has drawn thousands of Japanese pilgrims to the Swiss Alps.

* The city of Kamogawa hopes their tourism gets a boost with their [[AliensInCardiff being the main city]] in ''Anime/RinneNoLagrange''.
* The town of Oorai enjoys this due to the success of ''Anime/GirlsUndPanzer''. The real life annual Anglerfish festival saw a huge spike in attendees the year after the anime debuted. The massive increase in tourism helped rescue the town's finances in the wake of the 2011 tsunami.

* ''Anime/YourName'': Itomori's RealLife inspiration, Hida City, Gifu Prefecture, [[http://en.rocketnews24.com/2016/11/26/city-that-inspired-settings-in-hit-anime-your-name-sees-unbelievable-boost-in-tourist-dollars/ has seen millions in tourist revenue]] from visiting fans.

* ''Anime/ZombieLandSaga'' takes place in [[UsefulNotes/TheFortySevenPrefectures Saga Prefecture]], and it's frequently lampshaded how [[AliensInCardiff obscure the setting is]]. However, the series has successfully boosted tourism sales in Saga, particularly for Drive-in Tori, which is a real restaurant that the characters help advertise for in the series. Since the Saga prefecture government [[BackedByThePentagon was part of the production committee]], this may actually have been invoked.

* ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'':
** In "[[{{Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS2E13Surprise}} Surprise]]", Angel gives Buffy a claddagh ring for her 17th birthday, explaining the different meanings in how you wear it, with obvious romantic overtones. The scene caused a boost in popularity for claddagh rings.

** Creator/CharismaCarpenter -- who played Cordelia Chase in ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' and ''{{Series/Angel}}'' -- has said that numerous fans tell her they named their daughters Cordelia after her. The name had declined in popularity after the 1800s, and the show gave it a small resurgence.

* A rather [[http://youtu.be/mYy6UaDkVu4 sweet old advert]] for the Yellow Pages featured an old man looking for a book called "Fly Fishing" by J. R. Hartley. The ad proved so popular that the book was later [[http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fly-Fishing-Memories-Angling-Days/dp/B000KP322S/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1417535491&sr=8-2&keywords=fly+fishing+by+jr+hartley written and published.]]

* The German comic ''ComicBook/{{Werner}}'' heavily [[ProductPlacement featured]] the beer from the then-small Flensburger brewery, which was obscure even in its home in northern Germany. It was known for being among the last few German beer brands sold in swing-top bottles. Then, when the comic popularized the brand, it got so popular in Germany that the brewery had trouble keeping up with demand. Then Werner made his own beer in the sixth book, which would be {{Defictionaliz|ation}}ed (and stopped the free advertising for Flensburger).

** {{Franchise/Barbie}} dolls also got a boost from the second film, although Mattel's paranoia almost prevented this from happening. Creator/{{Pixar}} had wanted to use Barbie in the first movie, but Mattel said no, objecting to her being used as a [[Franchise/{{Terminator}} Sarah Connor]]-esque badass. Then Mattel saw how the toys the movie ''did'' feature got a sales boost (particularly Mr. Potato Head), and they were only too happy to see Barbie used in the second and third movies (with something of a compromise in personality).

* Ever since ''WesternAnimation/DespicableMe'' came out, real life carnival booths stocking real life Fluffy Unicorns have become a common sight.

** ''Film/{{Jaws}}'' codified the ThreateningShark trope, and people took that to heart in real life. Beach attendance and other oceanic activities took a big hit. There were serious stories of people being afraid to [[UpToEleven take a bath]] after seeing ''Jaws''. It also caused a spike in shark hunting, as people would attack even harmless sharks, to the point of endangering them (especially the Great White). Creator/PeterBenchley, author of the novel ''Jaws'', was so troubled by this that he devoted much of his later life to shark conservation. A popular Asian {{Urban Legend|s}} also claims that ''Jaws'' increased the demand for shark fin soup.

* The My Buddy doll line has never recovered from the first ''Film/ChildsPlay'' movie. Making this stranger is that the writer claims that he was basing it on the Cabbage Patch Kids line. Given that the doll seen in the movie bears virtually no resemblance to a Cabbage Patch Kid, and a strong resemblance to a My Buddy doll, and even has a name more similar to My Buddy than Cabbage Patch Kids -- namely "Good Guy" -- it's understandable where the "confusion" could occur.

* Much like with the book (see Literature), the release of the ''Film/TheHungerGames'', alongside the releases of ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'' (featuring BadassNormal archer {{ComicBook/Hawkeye}}) and Pixar's ''{{WesternAnimation/Brave}}'' (about a young Scot who becomes a bow-wielding warrior), and likely added on to by ''Series/{{Arrow}}'' has led to heavy increase in interest in archery, to the point where it won't be shocking if, in the future, we will probably end up hearing an Olympic Gold Medalist credit these movies as their reason for getting into the sport.

* ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy'' and [[Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxyVol2 its sequel]] caused of a lot of interest in music from the 60s, 70s, and 80s, thanks to Peter Quill's beloved Awesome Mix Vol. 1 and 2 Cassette tapes and Sony Walkmen, which have also enjoyed a surge of popularity. [[http://marvel.com/news/movies/23343/marvels_guardians_of_the_galaxy_awesome_mix_vol_1_is_now_certified_gold So they went ahead and actually released it on vinyl, as well as digital.]] There was also a limited cassette release packaged to look like a homemade mix tape.
** [[https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/guardians-galaxy-walkmans-selling-hundreds-ebay-1001307 It also caused prices of the original Walkman to skyrocket]] on sites like eBay selling for hundreds if not thousands of dollars.

** [[Wrestling/TheNewDay The New Day]] attached their stable's logo to matching track suits as a way to get around the company's dress code. This would later be turned into official merchandise.

* A bizarre meta example: In ''VideoGame/{{Persona 3}}'', one of the social links involves playing an online MMO themed around the ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei'' series. The character involved in the link mentions that the MMO does not have a lot of players and is dying. Cue the {{Defictionalization}} into ''VideoGame/ShinMegamiTenseiIMAGINE'', a game based on the ''Shin Megami Tensei'' series where, following a very obscure release and some very bad choices on the developer's part, one of the most frequent complaints until it finally shut down in 2016 was that the game does not have a lot of players and is dying.

* For a number of years now, [[http://www.thinkgeek.com/ thinkgeek.com]] has been {{defictionaliz|ation}}ing its most popular AprilFoolsDay jokes. Such products include the [[http://www.thinkgeek.com/tshirts-apparel/hats-ties/9352/ 8-bit tie]], the [[http://www.thinkgeek.com/geektoys/cubegoodies/98ab/ Grow Your Own 1-Up Mushroom,]] the [[http://www.thinkgeek.com/tshirts-apparel/interactive/a5bf/ Personal Soundtrack T-Shirt]] and [[http://www.thinkgeek.com/caffeine/wacky-edibles/e5a7/ Canned Unicorn Meat.]] But perhaps their most famous was the [[http://www.thinkgeek.com/geektoys/plush/bb2e/ Tauntaun Sleeping Bag]], named after the creature from ''Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack'' whose stomach Han and Luke ''slice open'' to hide inside for shelter on Hoth.

* A famous UrbanLegend about a chemical [[PuttingThePeeInPool that makes urine in a swimming pool]] turn cloudy red or purple has led many pool owners to ask retailers selling pool cleaning supplies to buy this item. No such chemical actually exists but this doesn't stop the customers from asking.

* French SpaceOpera comic-book ''ComicBook/{{Valerian}}'' [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valérian_and_Laureline#Laureline invented the name Laureline]] for the female protagonist. It is not an unheard name for French women today.