Sublime
An inspiration engine for ideas
To this day, the promotion of Extra Large AA eggs is one of the foundations of Trader Joe’s merchandising, not just because of the program per se, but because it set me to wondering whether there weren’t other discontinuities out there in the supplies of merchandise. Eight years later, we built Trader Joe’s on the principle of discontinuity.
Patty Civalleri • Becoming Trader Joe: How I Did Business My Way and Still Beat the Big Guys
Lehman Brothers, founded by Henry Lehman, a Jewish immigrant
Rich Cohen • The Fish That Ate the Whale: The Life and Times of America's Banana King
The cohort and incubate approach works well when customer relationships are stationary—changing slowly over time.
Neil Bendle • Marketing Metrics: The Definitive Guide to Measuring Marketing Performance
Coupons were invented in 1888 by John Pemberton and Asa Candler, cofounders of the Coca-Cola Company.
Andrew Chen • The Cold Start Problem: How to Start and Scale Network Effects
Costco was cofounded in 1983 by WHY-type Jim Sinegal and HOW-type Jeffrey Brotman. Sinegal learned about discount retailing from Sol Price, the same person from whom Sam Walton admitted to “borrowing” much of what he knew about the business. And, like Walton, Sinegal believes in people first. “We’re going to be a company that’s on a first-name basi
... See moreSimon Sinek • Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action
Membership
After law school at the University of Southern California, Mr. Price started his career representing grocers and other merchants. With the temperament of a shopkeeper who obsesses over his customers and fusses over the smallest of details, in the 1950s Mr. Price began converting empty San Diego warehouses into members-only bazaars where f
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