Buzz
We usually associate companies with the specific products or services they provide. Take Shell, for example, which is known for oil, Nokia for phones, and Nintendo for gaming. However, these companies—and many others—did not begin in the fields they’re famous for today. Some even predate their current industries and ventured into them for the most unexpected reasons.
10. Royal Dutch Shell
The origins of Royal Dutch Shell date back to 1833, when London shopkeeper Marcus Samuel began importing oriental shells—used for interior decoration—from the Far East. By 1886, his children, Sam and Marcus Samuel Jr., took over the business, expanding imports to include rice, silk, copper, and chinaware. They also exported machinery and textiles to Japan and the Far East, as well as trading in wheat, sugar, and flour.
The brothers soon took an interest in the oil industry, becoming pioneers in transporting oil via tankers. This method allowed them to ship larger quantities of oil, reduce spillage, and offer lower prices compared to the traditional barrel method. Their new venture was initially called 'The Tank Syndicate,' but in 1897, it was renamed Shell Transport and Trading Company.
Shell Transport and Trading Company rapidly grew, extending its reach to the Far East, where it encountered competition from the Royal Dutch Petroleum Company. The rivalry lasted until 1903, when the two companies merged to create Asiatic Petroleum Company, aimed at competing with the giant Standard Oil.
By 1907, the Asiatic Petroleum Company was renamed Royal Dutch Shell, with Royal Dutch holding a 60 percent stake and Shell Transport and Trading Company owning 40 percent. The iconic scallop shell logo, adopted in 1904, was originally chosen by Shell Transport and Trading Company after they switched from a mussel shell design.
9. Samsung
In March 1938, Lee Byung-chull, with just $27 in capital, opened a small grocery store and company in Taegu, Korea. Named Samsung, the company initially dealt in the import and export of dried fish, vegetables, and noodles. Over time, Samsung expanded into sugar refining, insurance, security services, and textiles. At one point, it even owned the largest textile mill in Korea.
Samsung ventured into electronics in 1960, establishing several subsidiaries to produce products such as televisions, microwaves, telephones, switchboards, fax machines, washing machines, and mobile phones. In 1987, the company split into distinct entities: Samsung Electronics, Shinsegae Group, CJ Group, and Hansol Group. Samsung Electronics focused on electronics, construction, engineering, and technology, while the others focused on retail, chemicals, food, logistics, and entertainment.
In 1993, Samsung sold off several subsidiaries to concentrate on electronics, engineering, and chemicals. Today, it stands as a conglomerate of 80 companies, spanning industries like electronics, telecommunications, construction, shipbuilding, medicine, and finance.
8. Nokia
Nokia’s origins date back to 1865 when engineer Fredrik Idestam established a paper mill in the Tammerkoski Rapids of Finland. Six years later, he opened another paper mill along the Nokianvirta River, which inspired him to name the company Nokia Ab.
Over time, Nokia Ab diversified into electricity generation and was eventually acquired by Finnish Rubber Works. In 1922, Finnish Rubber Works itself merged with Finnish Cable. The three companies operated independently until 1967, when they unified to form Nokia Corporation, initially focused on producing toilet paper, car tires, rubber footwear, bicycles, and computers.
In 1979, Nokia ventured into mobile phone manufacturing by partnering with Salora to establish Mobira Oy. The company’s inaugural product was the Mobira Senator, a 10-kilogram car phone that made history as the first of its kind. Nokia Corporation took control of Salora in 1984, and three years later, they introduced the Mobira Cityman 900, the first-ever mobile phone.
By 1988, Nokia Corporation reorganized into six different subsidiaries, each dedicated to sectors like telecommunications, data, electronics, cables, machinery, and mobile phones. One such subsidiary, Nokia-Mobira Oy, was rebranded as Nokia Mobile Phones in 1989. In the 1990s, Nokia streamlined its focus by selling off all subsidiaries except for the mobile phone division, which became its sole focus.
7. Nintendo
Nintendo was established in 1889 under the name Nintendo Koppai, initially specializing in producing playing cards. These playing cards became quite popular in Japan, particularly within the Yakuza, the Japanese mafia, where they were commonly used for gambling.
As Nintendo’s leadership grew uncertain about the future of playing cards, they explored new ventures. They opened a love hotel offering windowless rooms for couples seeking privacy, as well as a taxi service. They also attempted to manufacture instant rice and vacuum cleaners, but none of these ventures succeeded.
The playing card market eventually became oversaturated, pushing Nintendo to the brink of bankruptcy. It was only rescued by the success of its Ultra Hand toy, an arm extension device that allowed users to grab items beyond their reach.
Nintendo's interest in the gaming world began when it became the official distributor of the Magnavox Odyssey, the world’s first gaming console, in Japan. The company shifted focus to creating games for consoles and, in 1983, launched its own video game console, the Family Computer (Famicom), which was later redesigned and renamed the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES).
6. Toyota
Toyota was founded by Sakichi Toyoda, a Japanese engineer who invented the country’s first mechanical weaving machine in 1897. His innovative ideas earned him patents, and in 1918, he established Toyoda Spinning and Weaving to produce thread for his machines.
In 1926, Toyoda launched Toyota Automatic Loom Works (later Loom Works), focusing on manufacturing weaving machines, while Toyota Spinning and Weaving continued producing thread. In 1927, he introduced his G-Type weaving machine, which allowed one worker to operate 25 machines simultaneously. Two years later, he sold the global patent rights to the Platt Brothers of Britain for 100,000 yen, which he gave to his son Kiichiro. Kiichiro used the funds to research automobiles.
The automotive division operated under Loom Works and produced its first car in 1935, using parts from Chrysler, Ford, and Chevrolet. That same year, they also launched their first truck and rebranded the company as Toyota to make it easier to pronounce. In 1937, Toyota Motor Corporation became independent from Loom Works, which continues to produce weaving machines, air-conditioner compressors, and forklifts, as well as engines for Toyota vehicles.
5. Wrigley
Wrigley, known for its iconic chewing gums, was founded by William Wrigley Jr. in 1909. Before embarking on his gum venture, Wrigley worked as a salesman in his father’s soap business. As a promotional tactic, he gave away free umbrellas to customers who bought his soap, but the umbrellas would quickly fade in the rain. He then switched to giving away baking powder, which turned out to be far more popular than the soap, prompting him to leave soap behind and focus on selling baking powder.
Instead of continuing to offer free soap with his baking powder, Wrigley gave away chewing gum, which, like the baking powder, became even more popular than soap. Recognizing the potential in the gum market, he purchased Zeno Manufacturing in 1909, the company that supplied him with chewing gum, and transformed it into the Wm Wrigley Jr. Company.
4. Peugeot
In 1810, brothers Jean-Pierre and Jean-Federic Peugeot transformed their flour mill into a steel mill, where they began producing saw blades, coffee grinders, and pepper grinders. These items inspired their now-famous logo—a lion with its jaws open—symbolizing the power and durability of their grinders. Over time, they expanded into making crinolines (dresses reinforced with steel frames), followed by umbrella frames, wheels, bicycles, and eventually automobiles.
Peugeot produced its first bicycle, the Le Grand Bi, in 1882, followed by its debut car, a three-wheeled vehicle, in 1889. As the company evolved, it was divided into two branches—one focused on producing tools, and the other on making bicycles and cars. In the 20th century, the two divisions merged and redirected their efforts toward manufacturing cars and bicycles.
13. M
In 1902, five entrepreneurs established what is now the global conglomerate 3M in Two Harbors, Minnesota. However, their initial goal wasn't to create the diverse range of over 50,000 products they offer today. Instead, they set out to mine corundum to process and sell as sandpaper. This intention is reflected in the company's original name: the Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, which was later shortened to 3M in 2002.
Soon after founding, the entrepreneurs discovered that the mineral they had thought was corundum was actually a worthless rock. Despite this setback, they imported another mineral, which resulted in a product of lower quality. In 1905, on the brink of bankruptcy, businessmen St. Paul and Lucius Pond Ordway invested $25,000 into the company, gaining 60 percent ownership in return.
This investment enabled the entrepreneurs to enhance and grow their sandpaper business, eventually branching out into masking tape, cellophane tape, post-it notes, and floppy disks. These new ventures were successful, and today, 3M operates in numerous industries, including communications, office supplies, healthcare, security, and transportation.
Hasbro Inc., the renowned toy manufacturer, ranks as the second-largest in the world after Mattel Inc.
Founded in 1923 by the Hassenfeld brothers, Hasbro was initially named Hassenfeld Brothers Incorporated and specialized in selling fabric leftovers. They eventually repurposed these leftovers to create pencil box covers, which were sold alongside their pencils.
When their suppliers raised the prices of pencils and began manufacturing pencil boxes themselves, the Hassenfeld brothers, determined to stay in business, began producing their own pencils. This led them to venture into toy production, which they initially considered a form of school supplies.
In 1968, the company rebranded as Hasbro Industries and split into two divisions: one that focused on toy production and another on pencil manufacturing. The two divisions often clashed, particularly because the toy division received more funding, despite the pencil division generating higher profits. Hasbro also ventured into the nursery and cookware industries, though neither proved successful. Eventually, they sold the pencil-making division and refocused on toys.
1. Suzuki
Founded in 1909 by Michio Suzuki, Suzuki began as a manufacturer of weaving machines under the name Suzuki Loom Works. By 1920, the company had changed its name to Suzuki Loom Manufacturing Company, and due to the success of its weaving machines, the company expanded into the automobile industry.
In 1937, Suzuki created its first car prototype, and by 1941, the company released its first vehicle. During World War II, the Japanese government shifted Suzuki's operations to manufacturing war materials. After the war, the company resumed production of its weaving machines.
In 1951, the weaving machine market collapsed, leaving Suzuki on the verge of bankruptcy. The company quickly pivoted back to automobile production. In 1952, Suzuki introduced a motorized bicycle that proved extremely popular. The Japanese government supported the company with subsidies to boost the production of bicycles and motorcycles. This laid the foundation for the creation of the Suzuki Motor Corporation, which became an independent entity from Suzuki Loom Manufacturing Company in 1954.
