Joseph Pedott, whose decades of commercials for the zany plantlike figurines known as Chia Pets launched them into the pantheon of American consumer culture, died on June 22 in San Francisco. The origins of the Chia Pet’s popularity can be traced to March 1977, when Mr. Pedott (pronounced PEE-dot), an independent advertising executive, wandered around a Chicago home and housewares trade expo looking for new clients. “He said, ‘There’s this stupid item called the Chia Pet. I don’t know why anybody buys it,’” Mr. Pedott later recalled. The sales executive faxed Mr. Pedott a picture of the stupid item in question.

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Persons: Joseph Pedott, Chia Pets, Sherry Ettleson, Pedott, ’, faxed Mr Locations: San Francisco, Chicago, Oaxaca, Mexico