Joseph Enterprises, Inc. is a gadget company owned by the National Entertainment Collectibles Association and founded by Joseph Pedott and based in San Francisco, California, United States, North America.[1] Two of their most popular products are The Clapper and the Chia Pet.[2][3]

Joseph Enterprises, Inc.
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryChristmas items
Founded1981
HeadquartersSan Francisco, California
United States
North America
Key people
Joseph Pedott, founder
ProductsChia Pet, The Clapper, more...
OwnerNational Entertainment Collectibles Association
Number of employees
40 (2013)
Websitechia.com

History

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Joseph Enterprises was founded in California in 1981 by Joseph Pedott. The Clapper, whose slogan is "Clap On! Clap Off!", was first sold to the public on September 1, 1985. A trademark was filed on the brand name "Clapper" with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on July 9, 1986.[4] A design patent was applied for on November 13, 1985, which was issued as D299127 on December 27, 1988.[5] The apparatus was used for activating switches in response to different acoustic signals.

The Chia Pet was first introduced on September 8, 1977, and although its name is trademarked, the Chia Pet is not a patented invention. The first Chia Pet, "Chia Guy", was marketed and distributed in 1977. The first widely marketed Chia Pet, the ram, was marketed and distributed in 1982 although the trademark was not applied for until 1998.[6]

Products marketed by Joseph Enterprises tend to be advertised on television during the Christmas shopping season, and therefore they are marketed as gifts.[citation needed]

Founder Joseph Pedott passed away on 22 June 2023, at the age of 91.[7]

References

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  1. ^ "About Us". Chia Pet. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
  2. ^ Joe Pedott, Joseph Enterprises. Vol. 4. Dwell, LLC. April 2004. p. 140.
  3. ^ Key, Stephen (4 May 2009). "The success behind Chia Pet, The Clapper & the Oven Glove. What's The Secret?". All Business.
  4. ^ "CLAPPER". U.S. Patent & Trademark Office Trademark Applications and Registrations Retrieval (TARR). Retrieved 2007-11-29.
  5. ^ "Method and apparatus for activating switches in response to different acoustic signals". U.S. Patent & Trademark Office Patent Full-Text and Image Database. Retrieved 2010-08-31.[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ "CHIA PET". U.S. Patent & Trademark Office Trademark Applications and Registrations Retrieval (TARR). Retrieved 2010-08-31.
  7. ^ Traub, Alex (30 June 2023). "Joseph Pedott, 91, Dies; Made Chia Pets an 'as Seen on TV' Sensation". The New York Times. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
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