Pre-90s companies first clients
How problems were solved and products created
Madam C. J. Walker
Problem
Sarah suffered severe dandruff and other scalp ailments, including baldness, because of skin disorders and use of harsh products to cleanse hair and wash clothes. Poor diet, illnesses, and infrequent bathing also contributed
Solution
Hair products and straightener comb for African American women “Madam Walker’s Wonderful Hair Grower”. She adapted existing products created for white women, to be used by black women
First Clients
She first went door-to-door presenting her products to black women. After being successful, expanded through ""Madam C. J. Walker System"", training 20,000 black women
Twinings Tea
Problem
Thomas Twining worked for a Tea Merchant back in 1701 and noticed rich people were drinking gin, beers and coffee in the breakfast because water was extremely polluted
Solution
He bought a coffee shop in 1706 to sell brewed and dry tea alongside coffee and test the market
First Clients
First customers were acquired in his coffee shop, and after a while, he realised dry tea was selling way more than brewed and also coffee
Gore-Tex
Problem
High costs with cable isolation used on Bob Gore's company
Solution
Micropores resulting from stretched Teflon in an attempt to reduce those costs were bigger than water vapour and smaller than water droplets. Bob discovered another use for it and patented the invention
First Clients
After 6 years, the first tent was manufactured by an outdoor company. Then 1 year later, the first jacket using Gore-Tex was manufactured by the same company
Where's Wally
Problem
Where's Wally publisher was going to Bologna Books Fair in 1 week and didn't have anything exciting to show
Solution
He asked Martin, an artist specialised in crowded scenes since he was 5 years old, to draw a scene with someone to look for
First Clients
The next day, people were looking to buy those books
Lego
Problem
During the 1929 Great Depression, Ole Christiansen's woodworking shop had almost no orders
Solution
He then moved to miniature wooden toys, which then led to Lego's creation in 1949
First Clients
His clients from the toy shop were the first Lego customers
Liquid Paper
Problems
Bette Graham used to make many mistakes as a typist
Solution
She combined her arts passion, observing how artists used to correct their errors, not removing, but painting over and created a white liquid at her kitchen
First Clients
She acquired her first clients at the office she worked at the time. Her colleagues asked for the liquid, as it was solving a common problem
Barbie
Problems
1950, dolls represented infants Ruth’s daughter played with dolls, giving them adult roles
Solution
Ruth, Mattel’s co-founder, spotted a gap! She found adult-figured doll in Germany
Barbie was designed and named after her daughter, Barbara
First Clients
New York Toy Fair. 350k units sold in the 1st year
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