Who Founded Procter & Gamble
Procter & Gamble Company, also known as P&G, is a multinational company that specializes in personal care products, cleaning goods and pet foods. The company headquarters are in Downtown Cincinnati and their products are sold worldwide. Procter & Gamble employ over 126,000 people are reported a revenue of over $83 billion in 2012. The company is one of the largest consumer goods companies in the world and is one of the most successful companies in the world. Let’s find out who founded this famous company.
Who founded Procter & Gamble?
The company was founded on October 31, 1837 by candlemaker William Procter and soapmaker James Gamble. These men married sisters Olivia and Elizabeth Norris and founded the company on the suggestion of their father-in-law Alexander Norris. The company began in humble circumstances and produced both soap and candles for sale to the public. However, it wasn’t long before sales reached $1 million (1858-1859) and the company had more than 50 employees. The Civil War was a great boost to the company as they won contracts to supply the Union Army with soap and candles. This introduced many new people to the company.
In the 1879 the company produced an inexpensive soap that would float in water. This product was called Ivory soap and became one of the most popular soaps because it was inexpensive and was well marketed. This was a great boost for the company and helped it to be a major success long after the founders had passed away (Procter died in 1884 and Gamble died in 1891).
Did you know?
When radio became popular in the 1920’s and 30’s the company sponsored many radio programs. These radio shows became known as “soap operas” and this term is still used today for radio and television dramas. Procter & Gamble has produced and/or sponsored a number of television and radio dramas over the years. The popular television soap opera “The Young and the Restless” is still partially sponsored by Procter & Gamble!
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