25 Iconic Brands That Were Started With NOTHING

 

25 Iconic Brands That Were Started With NOTHING

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1. Sainsbury's (1869)

Sainsbury’s began as a humble dairy shop founded by John James Sainsbury and his wife Mary Ann in London’s Drury Lane. With a commitment to quality products at affordable prices, they quickly built a reputation for excellence. Starting with just butter, milk, and eggs, the Sainsburys introduced innovations like self-service stores and branded packaging over the years, evolving into one of the largest and most respected supermarket chains in the UK, all from a modest start in a crowded Victorian neighborhood.

2. Kroger (1883)

Barney Kroger invested his life savings of $372 to open a small grocery store in downtown Cincinnati. His core principle was, “Be particular. Never sell anything you would not want yourself.” Unlike competitors, he baked his own bread and made his own goods to ensure quality, paving the way for the first in-store bakeries and meat departments. Kroger’s focus on low prices and customer satisfaction helped it grow into one of the biggest supermarket chains in America.

3. Wrigley (1891)

William Wrigley Jr. initially started out selling soap and baking powder door-to-door. As a promotional tactic, he gave away chewing gum with purchases — and soon realized the gum was more popular than the original products. Pivoting fully to gum, Wrigley’s attention to branding, advertising, and product quality made Wrigley’s Spearmint and Juicy Fruit household names worldwide, building an empire on what began as a free giveaway.

4. Harley-Davidson (1904)

William S. Harley and Arthur Davidson began building small engines in a tiny wooden shed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Their early prototype was more bicycle than motorcycle, but they steadily improved the design. With persistence, innovation, and a knack for branding rugged individualism, Harley-Davidson grew into a legendary American icon synonymous with freedom, power, and rebellion — all from a modest backyard workshop.

5. UPS (1907)

United Parcel Service started as a small messenger service founded by James E. Casey with $100 in borrowed funds. Operating out of a Seattle basement, Casey emphasized the motto “best service and lowest rates.” Initially serving local retail stores, UPS expanded rapidly with the rise of catalog shopping, eventually developing into a global logistics giant — all while staying true to its humble beginnings and strong service ethic.

6. Hewlett-Packard (1939)

In a garage in Palo Alto, California — now famously dubbed the birthplace of Silicon Valley — Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard started their company with just $538. Their first product, an audio oscillator, was sold to Walt Disney for the movie Fantasia. Through a combination of technical innovation, smart business decisions, and a focus on quality, HP grew into one of the largest and most influential tech companies in the world.

7. IKEA (1943)

At just 17, Ingvar Kamprad founded IKEA in Sweden, selling small household items like pens, wallets, and picture frames. Kamprad’s innovation — flat-pack furniture that customers could assemble themselves — revolutionized the furniture industry. With a relentless focus on affordability, efficiency, and Scandinavian design, IKEA grew from a tiny mail-order company into a global phenomenon, redefining how millions furnish their homes.

8. Mattel (1945)

Mattel was founded in a California garage by Harold "Matt" Matson and Elliot Handler. Initially producing picture frames, they began making dollhouse furniture from frame scraps. Recognizing the opportunity, they pivoted fully to toys, eventually creating iconic products like Barbie and Hot Wheels. Mattel’s rise was powered by a focus on imaginative play and powerful marketing — starting with nothing but scraps and a dream.

9. Estée Lauder (1946)

Estée Lauder began by selling homemade skincare products crafted from her chemist uncle’s formulas. She demonstrated products on women at salons, believing that personal touch would win loyalty. Her persistence paid off with a counter in Saks Fifth Avenue, and from there, she built a luxury beauty empire known worldwide. Lauder's keen instinct for marketing and commitment to quality turned a kitchen operation into a billion-dollar brand.

10. Sony (1946)

Founded by Masaru Ibuka and Akio Morita in a bombed-out department store in post-war Tokyo, Sony started with repairs and simple electronics like rice cookers. Their first breakthrough came with Japan's first tape recorder. Driven by a bold vision for innovation and quality, Sony introduced world-changing products like the Walkman, PlayStation, and Trinitron TV, growing from the ashes of war into a global tech powerhouse.

11. Domino’s Pizza (1960)

Tom Monaghan and his brother James bought a small pizza store in Ypsilanti, Michigan, called DomiNick’s, for $900. Tom later bought out his brother’s share in exchange for a used car. Focused on speedy delivery and consistent quality, Tom rebranded it Domino’s Pizza and introduced the revolutionary 30-minutes-or-less guarantee. What started as a single shop grew into one of the largest pizza chains globally, all on a shoestring budget.

12. Nike (1964)

Bill Bowerman, a track coach, and Phil Knight, a middle-distance runner, co-founded Blue Ribbon Sports to distribute Japanese running shoes. Operating out of a car trunk, they realized there was a demand for better athletic footwear and eventually developed their own line, renaming the company Nike. With brilliant marketing like the "Just Do It" slogan and product innovation like the Air Jordan line, Nike soared from humble beginnings to dominate global sportswear.

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