Thread: How to make millions selling rocks.

The Beginning

In 1975, Gary Dahl working as an advertising executive at the time, launched the sale of the pet rock which quickly transformed him into a multi-millionaire. This enormous profit is much more impressive 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.


Gary Dahl, Pet Rock Inventor

Dahl’s somewhat innovative marketing involved commonplace gray pebbles, purchased from a construction supplier, which were then sold to the public as live pets. The idea Dahl stated, was inspired by the hassle, mess, and money that pets such as dogs, cats and fish require.

The Marketing

Dahl began by creating the company called "Rock Bottom Productions." 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 like a pet carrier. The pet training manual contained instructions on how to properly care for one's pet, including how to house train a pet rock by placing it on a piece of newspaper and other commands including sit, stay, roll over, play dead, and come.

Teaching Pet Rock To Attack
The Consumers

Part of Dahl's marketing strategy was to state that pet rocks give us more pleasure than we know. He convinced the consumer that these pet rocks support this argument through their very existence, and clearly display 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 in the actual exercise of the mind that such pleasure is found.

It is quite a valid point that finding such productive and effective uses of recreation time can be more preventative and beneficial to the health of our minds than even the most advanced psychological treatments. People who purchased these unusual "pets" often gave them names, talked to them, petted them, and attempted to teach them to perform simple "tricks".
Pet Rocks Live On

Like most fads, the pet rock continues to live on and has seen a resurgence on the internet especially ebay. 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.
Largest Collection of Pet Rocks


Pet Rock Breeds

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.

The Multi-Millionaire Idea

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 multi-million dollar opportunity. As indicated by Dahl all that is needed is a good idea, a thorough plan, hard work, and good marketing

Wasn't there someone along these same lines that was selling "invisible fish", which was nothing more than a plastic bag filled halfway with water? Not sure how well that went over, tho.

That's what you need...just one idea can make you a millionaire. Have I ever told you about my idea?
No...what is it?
Well...it's a mat..with conclusions on it...that you can jump to!
Wow;...it's just like you described.

Originally Posted by Sehcill

That's what you need...just one idea can make you a millionaire. Have I ever told you about my idea?
No...what is it?
Well...it's a mat..with conclusions on it...that you can jump to!
Wow;...it's just like you described.

You should actually make these, women and men could buy them to give to each other, since they don't seem to be able to communicate clearly with one another.

Anyway the pet rock is a real thing, I am old enough to remember and it was wierd but real.

I don't wanna get sued by the Office Space people!

-Jason

Originally Posted by Sehcill

I don't wanna get sued by the Office Space people!

-Jason

I've only seen Office Space once and I wasn't really paying attention so I didn't really remember that part, but my friend has a Jump-To-Conclusions mat that he brought to our fantasy football draft the other day. It was pretty funny for those who understood.

Love that movie... I love it when the guy is in the wheelchair and says something like, "Hey Peter maybe something great will happen to you too one day!"

Awesome.