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A Pack of Gum and Some Soap – How the Wrigley Empire was Built

ENTREPRENEUR STORY

A Pack of Gum and Some Soap – How the Wrigley Empire was Built

When William Wrigley Jr. arrived in Chicago in 1891, he had a dream of making it big. Wrigley had come to town with just $32 in his pocket, hoping to sell enough soap from his father’s company to start his own business. A creative and intuitive salesman, Wrigley began including two free packs of chewing gum with his soap – a way to set himself apart from his competition and endear himself to customers. Despite tight margins, Wrigley made the gum trick work. The business grew fast.