.I thought it might be kind of fun to use today's blog to write about a few inventions that were hugely popular, yet seem very silly. See how many of these you remember. Perhaps maybe have even owned one or two of them!
We all know that inventions improve our lives. And it's been said that "Necessity is the mother of all invention." But these five examples clearly show that if you are clever with your marketing, necessity has nothing to do with how successful a gizmo or gadget will be. You only need to create the desire to own one.
1. Fidget Spinners. These is a relatively new gizmos and can be found in nearly any convenience store, discount mart, or dollar store around the globe. These gadgets emphasize the need by many of us for a good distraction and way to release tension. "The design consists of a ball bearing center with flat, spindly lobes attached. With a simple flick, it can be spun around the axis, providing instant stress relief. Some sellers are even marketing them as a way to ease anxiety and help calm those experiencing neurological disorders like ADHD and Autism." I'm not sure I'd go that far, but they do seem to provide some relief for fidgety folks. Finger spinners rode their first wave of popularity in April of this year. They are so popular with children, that many schools have banned the toys, citing them as "too distracting." The person responsible for inventing the fidget spinner isn't exactly clear. Credible news reports have cited the inventor as Ms. Catherine Hettinger, a chemical engineer. In fact, she did file for and receive a patent for such a spinning toy back in 1993, but was unable to find a manufacturer. Her patent expired in 2005. Other sources claim an IT worker named Scott McCoskery sold an earlier version of the toy back in 2014. Whoever did invent it, it is a wild, wacky, non-necessity of a blockbuster invention.
2. And who can forget Pet Rocks? These were the perfect "pets" for those humans with no time to care for an actual pet. They debuted in 1975 as a hot holiday gift item and by 1976. sales were in the millions of dollars. We can thank Gary Dahl for this no-maintenance pet. Dahl even went so far as to write a humorous instruction booklet entitled, "Care and Training of Your Pet Rock" which explained how to feed, bathe, and even train the pet rock. The actual cost of the rocks was about a penny each. Most of the cost for these "critters" went into packaging and marketing. Dahl became very popular on the late night talk show circuit and even inspired a song by the artist, Al Bolt, "I'm in Love With My Pet Rock."
We all know that inventions improve our lives. And it's been said that "Necessity is the mother of all invention." But these five examples clearly show that if you are clever with your marketing, necessity has nothing to do with how successful a gizmo or gadget will be. You only need to create the desire to own one.
1. Fidget Spinners. These is a relatively new gizmos and can be found in nearly any convenience store, discount mart, or dollar store around the globe. These gadgets emphasize the need by many of us for a good distraction and way to release tension. "The design consists of a ball bearing center with flat, spindly lobes attached. With a simple flick, it can be spun around the axis, providing instant stress relief. Some sellers are even marketing them as a way to ease anxiety and help calm those experiencing neurological disorders like ADHD and Autism." I'm not sure I'd go that far, but they do seem to provide some relief for fidgety folks. Finger spinners rode their first wave of popularity in April of this year. They are so popular with children, that many schools have banned the toys, citing them as "too distracting." The person responsible for inventing the fidget spinner isn't exactly clear. Credible news reports have cited the inventor as Ms. Catherine Hettinger, a chemical engineer. In fact, she did file for and receive a patent for such a spinning toy back in 1993, but was unable to find a manufacturer. Her patent expired in 2005. Other sources claim an IT worker named Scott McCoskery sold an earlier version of the toy back in 2014. Whoever did invent it, it is a wild, wacky, non-necessity of a blockbuster invention.
2. And who can forget Pet Rocks? These were the perfect "pets" for those humans with no time to care for an actual pet. They debuted in 1975 as a hot holiday gift item and by 1976. sales were in the millions of dollars. We can thank Gary Dahl for this no-maintenance pet. Dahl even went so far as to write a humorous instruction booklet entitled, "Care and Training of Your Pet Rock" which explained how to feed, bathe, and even train the pet rock. The actual cost of the rocks was about a penny each. Most of the cost for these "critters" went into packaging and marketing. Dahl became very popular on the late night talk show circuit and even inspired a song by the artist, Al Bolt, "I'm in Love With My Pet Rock."
3. Chia Pets. Even though these pets did require a bit more care than the pet cock, they were still extremely low-maintenance. They first debuted in the 1980's and hand one of the catchiest jingles ever written. "They were essentially terracotta figurines of animals and household pets, as well as busts of different famous people and characters. The twist: the statues grew chia sprouts to mimic hair and fur." The idea was the brainchild of Joe Pedott who sold the "Chia Guy" in September, 1977. "Since then, the Chia Pet product line has included a turtle, pig, puppy, kitten, frog, hippopotamus, and cartoon characters such as Garfield, Scooby-Doo, Looney Tunes, Shrek, The Simpsons, and SpongeBob."
It wasn't until 1982 and the release of the Chia Ram that the product became a household name. As of 2007, about 1/2 million chia "pets" were sold annually during the holiday season. Joseph Enterprises currently holds several licensing deals and now offers a wide-range of chia figurines that has enabled the product to maintain its popularity with modern day audiences. There are, for instance, Chia heads, which depict famous figures such as former President Barack Obama, Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. For nature lovers, the company Joseph Enterprises also offers various Chia Trees, Chia Herb, and Flower Gardens.
It wasn't until 1982 and the release of the Chia Ram that the product became a household name. As of 2007, about 1/2 million chia "pets" were sold annually during the holiday season. Joseph Enterprises currently holds several licensing deals and now offers a wide-range of chia figurines that has enabled the product to maintain its popularity with modern day audiences. There are, for instance, Chia heads, which depict famous figures such as former President Barack Obama, Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. For nature lovers, the company Joseph Enterprises also offers various Chia Trees, Chia Herb, and Flower Gardens.
4. The Mood Ring. In 1975, back in the days of discos and lava lamps, the mood ring became a cult favorite as one of the "hippest and grooviest" pieces of jewelry one could wear. The ring, supposedly, changed color to match the mood of the wearer at any given time. "Of course, the concept was more of a fanciful gimmick than anything else. The thermotropic liquid crystals used in mood rings change color in response to changes in body temperature. And while changes in mood do affect body temperature, there is no correlation between, say, the color red and being upset." Joshua Reynolds, the ring's inventor, marketed his idea as a 'portable biofeedback aid' and convinced the very upscale department store Bonwit Teller to carry them as part of their accessories line. Some rings sold for as much as $250...a bunch of money for those days. Within a matter of a few months, Reynolds made his first million. Celebrities like Muhammad Ali and Barbara Streisand were some of the first to wear this trendy new fashion item. It didn't take long for more affordable versions to become available so that everyone could tell their mood simply by looking at their ring. Certainly easier than paying attention to your feelings....
These rings are still available, should you wish to own one, through several online retailers.
These rings are still available, should you wish to own one, through several online retailers.
5. The Snuggie. This is probably the closest thing on this list of inventions that actually might be classified as a "necessity." The Snuggie is a blanket with sleeves that allows the wearer arms to be kept warm while still being able to perform tasks like turning the pages of a book or using the TV remote. The Snuggie quickly became a pop culture sensation. "It started with the direct marketing advertisements. Commercials and ads depicted people comfortably lounging around, all seemingly unaware of how ridiculous they looked. It was about as creepy as it was comical. Some have described it as a robe worn backward and others likened it to a "monk's ensemble in fleece." it didn't take long for humans to get swept up by the craze. It may be hard to believe, but groups of people actually got together and formed Snuggie cults, putting together such events as pub crawls and house parties where everyone wore their Snuggie! By 2009, four million Snuggies had been sold. One company in Germany came out with a knock-off version that included attached gloves, while other versions sold abroad included a pocket for your cell phone. We now "fortunate" to have a line of Snuggie-like products that depict comic book superheroes and cartoon characters.
These inventions just go to show that you can sell almost anything if you have the right marketing campaign.
I hope you've enjoyed this trip down "Memory Lane" with me. Please join me tomorrow for my last blog of 2017 where we will look at the January, 2018 Calendar of Special Days.
Peace.
I hope you've enjoyed this trip down "Memory Lane" with me. Please join me tomorrow for my last blog of 2017 where we will look at the January, 2018 Calendar of Special Days.
Peace.
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