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Pet rock sales have surged on e-commerce platforms, with most buyers being young women born after 1995. By Fan Yiying and Guo Yishun It doesn’t chirp, purr, or wag its tail; nor does it fetch, cuddle, or respond to its name. In fact, it doesn’t do much of anything besides sit quietly. But for a growing number of young Chinese, that’s exactly the appeal of owning a chongwu shi or “pet rock.” Inspired by the animated movie “Minions: The Rise of Gru,” where the character Otto treasures a pet rock, young consumers have embraced whimsical versions of their own, often decorated with plastic eyes, hats, and unique personalities. This year, pet rocks have surged in popularity on Taobao, China’s top e-commerce platform, with sales in August alone rising 246% month over month. The majority of buyers are women, and most born after 1995, according to domestic media reports. Left: Screenshots from animated movie “Minions: The Rise of Gru” showing Otto’s pet rock; Right:
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