The Price of Internet Fame

Welcome back pricing people! This week, we’re exploring how internet fame is changing the pricing game and the global ripple effect when products go viral.

Chocolate Pricing Goes Nuts

Dubai chocolate has become the sweetest internet sensation of the year with tangible price impacts across the world. On TikTok alone, the hashtag #DubaiChocolate has racked up a mouth-watering 337,800 posts. Originally created by Emirati chocolatier Fix as a UAE exclusive, the pistachio-laden treat has inspired major manufacturers worldwide to create their own versions.

But this viral popularity comes with consequences – pistachio prices have surged from $7.65 to $10.30 a pound over the last year according to nut trading company CG Hacking. The craze has gotten so intense that some UK supermarkets are rationing chocolate bars to just two per customer. In Germany, authorities even caught one chocoholic smuggling 90kg into the country.

Switch-ing Up The Game

Meanwhile, gaming giant Nintendo is riding its own wave of social media hype with the forthcoming Switch 2 console. Japan’s first pre-order lottery drew a staggering 2.2 million applicants, prompting retailers across the country to implement creative crowd control measures.

Japanese electronics stores are using existing customer loyalty as currency, restricting lottery entries to members who’ve spent significant amounts previously. Bic Camera, for instance, limited applications to credit card holders who spent over 30,000 yen (about $207) in the past two years, while Joshin restricted entries to their Platinum and VIP loyalty members.

While there’s little controversy around the price of the console, the games are another matter. Mario Kart World is expected to retail for a whopping $80, with manufacturing costs and a new 24% US tariff on Japanese imports cited as contributing factors.

In today’s connected world, you need pricing strategies as dynamic as your social media feed. So slide into our DMs today for pricing solutions worth sharing. Until next time, power to you pricing people!