These 15 Life Changing Things Started in a Garage
Apr 21, 2014 20:17
Never underestimate the power of a startup. It can go from an idea in a garage to a multi billion dollar valued company. These entrepreneurs, inventors, artists and visionaries have one thing in common. They all started out in a garage.
John Lennon was a member of a group called The Quarrymen, but when the parents of one band member couldn't stand the noise anymore, he and his bandmates were forced to practice in a back garden air-raid shelter. Imagine if they hadn't.
Jeff Bezos founded Amazon as an online bookstore that was run completely out of his garage in 1994. In July 1995, he sold his first book and packed it in the same garage. It was located at 10704 NE 28th, Bellevue, Washington
Still the most valuable technology company in the world, everyone knows the story of Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak and how it all started in Jobs' parents garage. It began in 1976, and it is in that garage they handbuilt 50 computers in 30 days for a local retailer. Today, they have a spaceship campus on the way.
Bill Gates and Paul Allen founded the company that makes the operating system that just about everyone in the world has experience with in 1975.
Michael Kittredge started making candles for his parents from melted crayons in 1969. Neighbors expressed interest in buying them, and he started to produce them in mass. In 2013, Yankee Candles was acquired for $1.75 billion.
John Cummings and Thomas Erdelyi formed the Ramones in 1974, and they practiced entirely in garages. Where else could they have done it?
A toy factory in a garage? You'd better believe it. In 1945, Ruth and Elliot Handler decided to start a business out of their garage. They initially sold picture frames, making dollhouse furniture from leftover scraps. Today, Mattel is an iconic brand that makes children toys. And they sell tons of it.
Walt and Roy Disney moved in with their uncle, Robert Disney in 1923. The brothers set up "The First Disney Studio" and started filming the Alice Comedies as part of the original Alice's Wonderland. Today, Disney owns Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars and just about every movie you're going to want to watch.
Weezer started its roots in a garage, where it also featured their music video for their 1995 hit "Say It Ain't So". They've sold 17 million albums worldwide.
Yvon Chouinard operated out of his parents' garage and back garden and started to make and sell pitons for $1.50 each. In 2012, Patagonia had netted $500 million. It is one of the biggest names in outdoor apparel.
Anthony Colin Bruce Chapman started building the first Lotus race cars in 1984 in his parents’ garage.
Google
Larry Page and Sergey Brin started working on Google during the summer of 1998 and they borrowed Susan Wojcicki's garage and started creating what would be known as today's most trafficked site in the world.
Nike, or formerly known as Blue Ribbon Sport from 1964 to 1978 was born, not in a garage, but similar. Ok not so similar: it was done entirely from their car trunk.
The Beatles
John Lennon was a member of a group called The Quarrymen, but when the parents of one band member couldn't stand the noise anymore, he and his bandmates were forced to practice in a back garden air-raid shelter. Imagine if they hadn't.
Amazon
Jeff Bezos founded Amazon as an online bookstore that was run completely out of his garage in 1994. In July 1995, he sold his first book and packed it in the same garage. It was located at 10704 NE 28th, Bellevue, Washington
Apple
Still the most valuable technology company in the world, everyone knows the story of Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak and how it all started in Jobs' parents garage. It began in 1976, and it is in that garage they handbuilt 50 computers in 30 days for a local retailer. Today, they have a spaceship campus on the way.
Microsoft
Bill Gates and Paul Allen founded the company that makes the operating system that just about everyone in the world has experience with in 1975.
Yankee Candle
Michael Kittredge started making candles for his parents from melted crayons in 1969. Neighbors expressed interest in buying them, and he started to produce them in mass. In 2013, Yankee Candles was acquired for $1.75 billion.
The Ramones
John Cummings and Thomas Erdelyi formed the Ramones in 1974, and they practiced entirely in garages. Where else could they have done it?
Harley Davidson
In 1901, William S. Harley and his friend Arthur Davidson built a motorcycle engine out of a wooden shack. Iconic!Mattel
A toy factory in a garage? You'd better believe it. In 1945, Ruth and Elliot Handler decided to start a business out of their garage. They initially sold picture frames, making dollhouse furniture from leftover scraps. Today, Mattel is an iconic brand that makes children toys. And they sell tons of it.
Disney
Walt and Roy Disney moved in with their uncle, Robert Disney in 1923. The brothers set up "The First Disney Studio" and started filming the Alice Comedies as part of the original Alice's Wonderland. Today, Disney owns Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars and just about every movie you're going to want to watch.
Weezer
Weezer started its roots in a garage, where it also featured their music video for their 1995 hit "Say It Ain't So". They've sold 17 million albums worldwide.
Patagonia Clothing
Yvon Chouinard operated out of his parents' garage and back garden and started to make and sell pitons for $1.50 each. In 2012, Patagonia had netted $500 million. It is one of the biggest names in outdoor apparel.
Hewlett-Packard
Lotus Cars
Anthony Colin Bruce Chapman started building the first Lotus race cars in 1984 in his parents’ garage.
Larry Page and Sergey Brin started working on Google during the summer of 1998 and they borrowed Susan Wojcicki's garage and started creating what would be known as today's most trafficked site in the world.
Nike
Nike, or formerly known as Blue Ribbon Sport from 1964 to 1978 was born, not in a garage, but similar. Ok not so similar: it was done entirely from their car trunk.
