Entrepreneur behind chia pet craze dies at 91

 

Seana Smith

·Anchor

Sat, July 1, 2023 

Joseph Pedott, the entrepreneur behind the Chia Pet plant and light-switch gizmo The Clapper, died on June 22 at the age of 91. Remembered by longtime colleague Michael Hirsch as a businessman who was always 'fair and honest', Pedott turned the once money-losing Chia Pet product into a profitable business with cultural relevance.

Video Transcript

- The marketing mastermind behind the Chia Pet craze and the Clapper died this week at the age of 91. Joseph Pedott was a pro at selling products through unforgettable jingles. Turning the once money losing Chia Pet into a massive moneymaker and household name.

TV COMMENTATOR: There's a new pet. Chia. Chia Pet, the pottery that grows. It's fun and easy. Soak your Chia, spread the seeds, keep it watered, and watch it grow.

- And do is that catchy chit chit chit chit tune that helped the Chia Pet become one of America's best selling products of all time with more than 25 million sold in the US alone. Pedott's other hit product was the Clapper, first sold in 1985. And like the Chia Pet it was made memorable through catchy TV commercials.

- And commercials like that led to big sales. Now both of these products are archived in the Smithsonian and the Chia Pet is included in the New York Times time capsule to be opened in the year 3000. 

 

And it's evident from social media trends that Pedott's most famous products still resonates with younger generations. The Chia Pet hashtag has more than 491 million views on TikTok.