15 Big Projects That Started in a Small Garage
The vast majority of us dream of doing something outstanding in our lives. Write a book, set a sports record, make a scientific discovery, or start a great company. We have a lot of ideas, but insurmountable obstacles always appear unexpectedly on the way: lack of money, lack of premises, lack of time, and dozens of other reasons in various combinations. However, not all of them stop. Today we want to remind you of several world-famous projects that were born in your spare time in kitchens, sheds and garages.
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1 Apple
Apple is now one of the most powerful technology companies in the world, and it started out in the garage of Steve Jobs' parents. In 1976, Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak (aged 21 and 26 respectively) settled in this garage and manually assembled 50 computers in 30 days for a local retailer, selling them for $500 each. Since then, everything has turned around.
2. The Beatles
Prior to forming The Beatles, John Lennon was a member of a band called The Quarrymen along with several high school friends. When one band member's parents couldn't take the noise anymore, the future superstars were forced to move rehearsals to an old backyard bomb shelter.
3. Amazon
In 1994, when Jeff Bezos founded Amazon as an online bookstore, it was located entirely in his garage. In July 1995, the company sold its first book, which was packaged in the same garage.
4 Harley-Davidson
In 1901, William S. Harley plans to install an engine on his bicycle. Within a few years, Harley and his friend Arthur Davidson created a new engine and built their first motorcycles in a small wooden shed. Thus began the legendary Harley-Davidson.
5. Yankee Candle
Today it is one of the most famous candle makers in the world. The story began on the day that, on Christmas Day 1969, 17-year-old Mike Kittredge melted some wax crayons in his garage to give his parents a present. The product turned out to be so successful that the first orders began almost immediately.
6.Microsoft
In 1975, Bill Gates and Paul Allen founded the future Microsoft Corporation in a garage. It was here that they licensed their first operating system to IBM for $80,000. They later came up with Windows, which still dominates the personal computer market today.
7 Maglite
In 1955, Anthony Maglika rented a garage and bought his first machine tool for $125. On this basis, a small workshop was created, which a few years later began to produce the famous lanterns. Now Maglite is a globally popular brand, and their products are even included in the standard equipment of police officers in America.
8 Mattel
In 1945, newlyweds Ruth and Elliot Handler decided to start their own business. They made picture frames in their garage and used the scraps to make houses and furniture for the dolls. Before the production of toys, there was only one step left, which they took in 1959, presenting the world with a Barbie doll.
9. Linksys
Linksys was founded in 1988 by Taiwanese immigrants Jenny and Victor Cao. Like many companies of the time, Linksys started out in a garage converted into a workshop. Interestingly, in parallel, Victor continued to work until 1991 in his former place - at the Taco Bell diner. Today, Linksys is a renowned brand of networking products for the home and small office.
10.Disney
In 1923, Walt and Roy Disney moved in with their uncle Robert. In his garage, the brothers created The First Disney Studio, which became the prototype of today's largest film studio in the world.
11. Google
In the summer of 1998, two Stanford students, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, began working on Google as part of their academic project. The creation of the future search giant took place in the garage of Susan Wojcicki, and all three employees of Google Inc. easily fit there.
12. Hewlett-Packard
In 1939, HP, one of the world's largest technology companies, was formed in a garage with a $538 investment. It was in this garage that Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard made audio oscillators, which were subsequently sold to the Walt Disney Company, one of the future giant's first customers.
13 Lotus Cars
In 1984, Anthony Colin Bruce Chapman started building his first racing cars in his parents' garage. Today Lotus is one of the leading British manufacturers of sports and racing cars.
14. Nike
Nike (from 1964 to 1978 - Blue Ribbon Sport) was founded by a student runner and his coach. Their business idea was simple and straightforward: with an investment of $500 each, they bought 300 pairs of Asian sneakers and resold them under their own brand. At the same time, at the initial stage, the company could not even afford to rent a garage, and trade came from the trunk of a car.
15 Patagonia Clothing
In 1953, at the age of 14, Yvon Choulnard became interested in mountaineering. At the age of 18, he bought the necessary equipment, which he installed in his parents' garage. The company began making and selling specialty pegs for $1.50 each. By 2012, Patagonia Clothing had a turnover of $500 million, becoming one of the most famous names in the outdoor clothing industry.
It is unlikely that any of the founders of the mentioned companies could have imagined what their garage undertakings would turn into. They just felt great enthusiasm, were not afraid to take the first step and strived to create something new. It doesn’t matter where and how your business starts, what matters is what it brings to people as a result.