Pet rock
Pet Rock ( English pet 'pet'; rock 'stone', 'rock') is the name of a successful toy in the 1970s. Pet Rocks were invented by Gary Dahl in Los Gatos , California in 1975 . After a brief but big hype about Pet Rocks, interest in them fell. Since 2012 they have been marketed again by a manufacturer in the United States.
history
Gary Dahl himself reported that he got the idea for Pet Rocks while talking to friends about pets. The simplest form of a pet is a pet stone, a pet rock, was the humorous result of the conversation. Dahl packed simple pebbles in packaging designed like animal transport boxes with air holes and an educational guide for the Pet Rocks. Within a short time, Dahl sold large quantities, which he also sold through department store chains such as Macy's or Bloomingdale’s . By the end of the year, Dahl had already made over $ 1 million . In the course of the following year, the popularity of the Pet Rocks declined. Dahl could no longer build on the success of the Pet Rocks with further products.
content
The original Pet Rocks were made up of pebbles of various sizes. These were packed in the transport boxes in a kind of straw nest. Enclosed was a multi-page book with training and posture tips as well as instructions for dressage in pet rock. Dahl later referred to the book as the actual product. Dahl bought the stones from Mexico for a few cents and later resold them for several dollars a piece.
reception
In December 1975, the New York Times recommended Pet Rocks as an inexpensive and fun item for people who love pets but are sometimes tired of the stresses and chores it would bring. Dahl's success with pet rock is widely quoted in English business literature. The term "pet rock" is defined in the Oxford English Dictionary as something that is viewed as a short-term fad and useless and pointless.
Web links
- Information about Pet Rocks at individual.utoronto.ca (English)
- Official website