| In August 1975 Gary Dahl, an advertising | | | | the 'Pebble People' and not the 'Pet Rock'? |
| executive, came up with the wacky idea of | | | | You could have seen them and then taken the |
| having a 'rock' as a pet. He just didn't want | | | | idea a bit further by adding the manual and |
| the hassle of looking after traditional pets | | | | carrying case to your own version.What I'm |
| like dogs, cats and birds etc., which Gary | | | | saying to you is this...Instead of just |
| considered to be too messy, expensive and | | | | looking at the latest craze and saying:"Why |
| hard to look after.After the initial weird | | | | didn't I think of that?"You should be saying |
| looks and grunts from his friends, they soon | | | | to yourself:"What spin-off product could I |
| came round to the idea, and thought the | | | | create, which would be the perfect compliment |
| concept of 'Pet Rocks' was quite fun.Gary | | | | to this new 'fad' product that everyone is |
| spent a couple of weeks creating a 'Pet Rock | | | | buying?"This 'reactionary' method will give |
| Training Manual' and designed a small box to | | | | you a much higher chance of success. For |
| look like a miniature pet carrying case. The | | | | every successful invention/inventor there are |
| manual contained tips on how the owner should | | | | probably thousands of unsuccessful ones.Let |
| look after their new Pet Rock. The tips | | | | the inventors pioneer a new game or |
| included how to teach your Pet Rock to 'roll | | | | invention. Then, once you see something that |
| over and play dead' and how to 'house train' | | | | looks like a hit, that's the time to jump in |
| them.A Leap Of FaithHe really felt he was | | | | and take advantage.Let's suppose there's a |
| onto something, and decided to exhibit his | | | | new board game for adults. Everyone seems to |
| Pet Rocks at a gift show in San Francisco, | | | | be talking about it, AND buying it (very |
| later in the year. He also wrote a press | | | | important).You could look at creating |
| release and sent it out to all the major news | | | | spin-off info products. For example, just |
| agencies.As news of this latest fad began to | | | | fill in these blanks:* 7 Secret Ways To Win |
| get round, a number of local newspapers ran | | | | At _______* 21 Successful Strategies For |
| articles on the story, and the Pet Rock | | | | Playing ________* How To Play _______, A |
| phenomenon started to really gather pace.Gary | | | | Quick Start Guide* ________ A Beginners |
| enjoyed an almost overnight success, which | | | | Guide* ________ An Advanced Players Guide* |
| saw Pet Rocks being sold all over the world, | | | | Alternative Games To Play With ________* |
| and culminated with Gary being interviewed as | | | | Members Only Website For ________ Board Game |
| a guest on Johnny Carson's 'The Tonight | | | | EnthusiastsObviously, as I said before you |
| Show'.Ever since the success of the Pet Rocks | | | | have to consider copyright issues. However, |
| in the 70's, many a would be inventor | | | | you might be able to strike a joint venture |
| entrepreneur has tried to emulate the success | | | | deal with the new 'craze product' owners, or |
| of the Pet Rocks. But so far, nothing has | | | | buy an exclusive license for your spin-off.My |
| done quite so well. At least not something as | | | | Closing AdviceCreating your own craze product |
| wacky as a pet rock.My Childhood Memory Is A | | | | or even a spin-off from one can turn out to |
| Bit Faint, But...I was about 7 or 8 when I | | | | be extremely lucrative. However, by their |
| first saw the Pet Rocks, after my mum bought | | | | very nature, craze products usually have a |
| one as an ornament. I've always had this | | | | short shelf life. If you don't capitalize on |
| memory of these little rocks with painted on | | | | it early, the craze could be over before you |
| eyes, staring at me from on top of the | | | | are out of the blocks.Just keep your eyes |
| television.If my memory serves correctly, my | | | | open, and regularly look into different |
| mum bought a few different ones, but I never | | | | markets and products outside of your usual |
| remembered seeing a manual or a Pet Rock | | | | focus. Make a note of the spin-offs that are |
| carrying case. In fact, we always called them | | | | being created for products in these |
| 'Pebble People', not 'Pet Rocks'.I would | | | | markets.Then, when a new fad does hit the |
| hazard a guess that the ones we bought we | | | | marketplace, you might be able to borrow an |
| just a copy, or a 'knock off' of the original | | | | idea from an unrelated niche, and use a |
| Pet Rocks. That said, my mum enjoyed having | | | | similar method to create a spin-off product |
| them around the house, and I know my sister | | | | or service for the new craze.It all about |
| and I found them amusing at the time.This | | | | getting your brain in-tune, so that when an |
| does show you though, that you don't | | | | opening does present itself - A: you will |
| necessarily have to come up with a totally | | | | spot it, and B: you will know how to take |
| original idea to be successful. Sure, you | | | | advantage of it.I hope you found this |
| have to be careful that you don't get accused | | | | useful.Jason Lewis is a product developer, |
| of copyright or trademark theft, but 'spin | | | | publisher and author of 'The Business |
| offs' from 'fad' products can often prove | | | | Brainwaves Newsletter'. Uncovering new |
| very profitable.Consider This | | | | business ideas, unique concepts and marketing |
| Viewpoint...Lets say things had started off | | | | strategies. |
| differently. What if Gary Dahl had invented | | | | |