When a Small Success Turns Big

In 1975, a guy was sitting in a bar talking with friends, and heard them all complaining about their pets. This guy made a joke about what would make a “perfect pet,” to which everyone laughed. That man – Gary Dahl. His “perfect pet”? A rock.

​Dahl, an ad executive (anyone surprised?), decided to “get serious” about his pet rock idea in the Spring of 1975, and developed the product, packaging and marketing 

campaign for it. It had initial success ​in the San Francisco area, and by Christmas 1975,the “Pet Rock” had become a national success story. Estimates are Dahl sold nearly 1.5 million “Pet Rocks” at roughly $4 each. By February of 1976, sales had slowed so dramatically the product was discontinued.

​What started out as a successful funny joke turned into a successful local product, which in turn morphed into a national icon of pop culture. Amazing!
 
A current client of mine, a child care center, recently held a FREE festival for the community – Games, prizes, food, ice cream. It was a party for current families of the facility, and a way to interact with the surrounding community on a more personal, welcoming level. Turnout was not “huge,” but about twice what was expected. A small success.
 
Several attendees of the event enjoyed it so much, they chose to enroll their children at the child care center. In addition, one of the families had just moved into a new subdivision in the area, and recommended this child care center to their neighbors. Additional families have since joined, and the child care has become the “official child care provider” of this new subdivision.
 
A small success with a FREE community festival turned into 20+ new children enrolling at the child care center. As you plan and implement events & marketing ideas for your business, keep in mind even the smallest success can lead to large rewards. Don’t be afraid to try things, and don’t get frustrated by a “perceived” lack of success. You may not always end up with a “Pet Rock,” but you may acquire loyal customers who spread the word about your business.