Here are two stories that show how good marketing turned a substance with low to mediocre value to be prized by the general public. Believe it or not diamonds are not as valuable as you may think, they just have good marketing. Crisco had to be sold as a replacement for something that didn’t need a replacement. Two great podcasts explain.
Planet Money Episode 335: Who Killed Lard?0/163834119/episode-335-who-killed-lard
Diamonds Are a Marriage Counselor’s Best Friend: A New Freakonomics Radio Podcast