Unusual inventions - The Pet Rock...
by Startacus Admin
Not every idea or invention, changes the World, but when Gary Dahl, an Advertising Executive from the US, invented the concept of the Pet Rock, he created a fad, that became the 1970’s equivalent of the Digital Pet Tamagotchi, and changed his fortunes forever...
The story goes that Gary Dahl was sitting in a bar with his friends, complaining about their household pets (as you do). Gary in that moment, had an epiphany, deciding that a Rock would be the perfect pet to have, as you would not need to feed, clean, walk...a Pet Rock. One wonders if Gary was stoned himself, but fast forward 6 months, the Pet Rock had become a phenomenon, and although, like all fads, they generally die a quick death, this pet project, ended up selling around 1.5 million units.
The Pet Rock sold with a tongue-in-cheek 32 page manual and although the styling was simplistic, the brand as you can see, stands out and works. You can imagine Gary Dahl on Dragons Den, they would have had a field day!
A lesson for all of us perhaps, that your idea, however stupid, wacky or unconventional it may seem, could do a Gary Dahl, and net yourself a small fortune. Even if others don’t take your idea seriously, the general public may do so...so we say, arise Sir Gary Dahl, the inventor of the Pet Rock!
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Published on: 16th July 2012
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