Los Gatos Is A Rocky Town

 

                           Al Freni/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Image

LOS GATOS - In 1975, Gary Dahl, an advertising guru, found himself between a rock and a hard place when inspiration struck in a California bar. As his friends lamented their pet peeves, Gary envisioned a pet that wouldn't bark up the wrong tree: the Pet Rock. This idea wasn't just solid; it was groundbreaking. Packaged in boxes with air holes and straw, these rocks became the pet sensation that didn’t need to be walked, fed, or groomed, and most importantly, they were rock-solid silent.

For a fleeting six months, Pet Rocks were the bedrock of holiday shopping, making Gary a millionaire. With his newfound wealth, he opened "Carry Nations," a bar in Los Gatos, CA that stood as a monument to his quirky venture. Despite facing lawsuits and threats from those who took his pet project for granite, Gary's sense of humor was never eroded.

The Pet Rock came with a 32-page manual that was a quarry of puns, teaching owners how to care for their sedimentary companions. Commands like "sit" and "stay" were a breeze, but "roll over" might have required a gentle nudge. Gary proved that with a little creativity, you could not only move mountains but sell them too, one rock at a time. The original retail price was $3.95 selling 5 million in the first 6 months earning Dahl $5 million dollars.
ROCK ON!

Fun Fact Shared By UNITE Strategies

Frozen Water In San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO - The story of the Popsicle's creation is indeed attributed to Frank Epperson, but it occurred in San Francisco 1905 when he was just 11 years old. Frank mixed a powdered soda mixture with water in a cup and left it with the stirring stick on the porch overnight. The temperature dropped significantly that night, causing the liquid to freeze with the stick in it.

When Epperson discovered the frozen treat the next morning, he realized he had accidentally invented a delightful and refreshing treat on a stick. He initially called it the "Epsicle." Eventually, his children began referring to it as the "Pop's sicle," and the name stuck. In 1923, Epperson patented his invention and began selling it at a fireman's ball. The Popsicle gained popularity over the years and became a well-loved frozen treat enjoyed by people of all ages.

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L'Eggo My Eggo

 

SAN JOSE - Embark on a culinary journey back in time to the bustling streets of San Jose, California, where the air was infused with the tantalizing aroma of innovation. Meet the unsung hero of home-cooked delights, Frank Dorsa, a maverick inventor with an insatiable appetite for transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary. As a serial inventor, Frank's genius sparked a gastronomic revolution, starting with the convenience of jarred mayonnaise and the crunch of perfectly crafted potato chips.

But it was the dawn of a frozen breakfast era that truly set his legacy ablaze – the birth of the Fraffle, a Frozen Waffle that defied the breakfast norm. In 1966, the sizzling success of Frank's creation caught the attention of Fearn Foods, Inc., leading to a savory acquisition and, ultimately, a dance with destiny in the arms of The Kellogg Company in 1970. Thus, the Eggo Waffle emerged, a crispy sensation christened for its real-egg infusion. Unravel the layers of flavor and history as we delve into the delicious narrative of Frank Dorsa, the culinary visionary whose innovations left an indelible mark on the breakfast table.

Fun Fact Shared By UNITE Strategies

Clorox Bleach

OAKLAND - In the early 20th century, the Electro-Alkaline Company, now known to us as Clorox, teetered on the brink of failure. Its inception in 1913 by a diverse group of five investors who plunked down $100 each was marked by innovation, yet public unfamiliarity with liquid bleach nearly led to its demise. Enter Annie Murray, whose vision and determination played a pivotal role in the company's turnaround.

In 1916, with the company struggling, her husband, investor William Murray, took charge and Annie stepped into an informal but crucial role. She recognized the potential of liquid bleach not just as an industrial product but as a household necessity. Annie ingeniously proposed a less concentrated version suitable for home use, a move that not only revolutionized the product line but also directly engaged potential customers. Her strategy of distributing free 15-ounce sample bottles at the family's grocery store in Oakland was nothing short of marketing genius. This grassroots approach built customer demand from the ground up, transforming Clorox into a household name and today boasting $7 billion annual gross revenue. Annie Murray's intuition and entrepreneurial spirit essentially saved the company.

Fun Fact Shared By UNITE Strategies