Why was the pet rock really invented?

Answer 1

In 1975, Gary Dahl working as an advertising executive at the time, launched the sale of the pet rock which quickly turned him into a multi-millionaire. This enormous profit is much more asnonishing considering it only took him six months to achieve his multi-millionaire status and the extremely low cost of the product.

The pet rock sold for $3.95 and estimates state Dahl sold over 5 million of his pet rocks in a six month period. Even more, each pet rock was purchased for a few pennies and Dahl estimated that the packaging and accompanying manual cost him under 30 cents per rock in bulk to produce. Therefore, assuming incidentals and delivery cost Dahl another 65 cents per rock, then Dahl was profiting 3 dollars per rock. With these totals Dahl earned over 15 million dollars during a six month period in 1975 which would be estimated at $56,166,419.02 today.

Dahls somewhat innovative marketing included commonplace gray pebbles, which were then sold to the public as live pets. The idea Dahl said, was inspired by the hassle, mess, and money that pets such as dogs, cats and fish require.

Dahl began. He imported the rocks from Rosarito Beach in Baja, California, Mexico. Packaging for the rock included a "Pet Training Manual" and a card board box, designed to be a pet carrier. The pet training manual contained instructions on how to properly care for the pet, including how to house train a pet rock by placing it on a piece of newspaper and other commands including sit, stay, play dead.

Part of Dahl's marketing meathod was to state that pet rocks give us more joy than with real pets.Dahl clearly displayed that it is not an actual item that brings joy to the child in the human mind, but merely the idea of the item. The pet sits in a niche in the mind, created by the power of the owners imaginations.

It is quite a valid point that such productive and effective uses of recreation than even the most advanced psychological treatments. People who purchased these unusual "pets" often gave them names, talked to them, and attempted to teach them to perform simple "tricks".

Unlike most fads, the pet rock continues to live on and has seen a resurgence on the internet. There are memorial pages, spin-offs, and one can still purchase such a pet, though new manufacturers have given their rocks new features and looks. For instance, not many plain gray pebbles are sold any more. One can buy rocks that are inscribed, painted, and decorated in many a manner, lending the rock much more personality than afforded Dahl’s creation. One can purchase a rock with an agenda, or one can buy a rock that is individually painted in memory of any dearly loved pet, or one can still purchase that rock that is completely void of previous perception, and let its idea grow in the mind.

Lesley O'Doherty currently has the worlds largest pet rock collection. She began her collection at the age of 6 when she received her first pet rock as a birthday gift from her mother. "I remember the exact day when I first got it. I had just unwrapped all of my presents and I thought there was no more to open. Then all of a sudden, mother handed me a small box and when I opened it, there was my first pet rock." Lesley said in an interview with Rock Collection Magazine in 2005. "I named him Pickles."

Lesley keeps her collection of rocks locked in a safe because she is said to believe the pet rock business is going to boom soon and she has several "special editions" which she hopes will be of value.

Dahl's idea was simple, effective and highly successful similar to other fads such as the Hula Hoop and Cabbage Patch Kids. With the pet rocks resurgence comes inspiration to create the next million dollar opportunity. As indicated by Dahl all that is needed is a good idea and good marketing.