research paper

Marco Luevano

Mr. Skipper

Encounters 7

March 5, 2023

William Wrigley Jr

Introduction

Did you know that the average person in the United States chews over 300 sticks of gum in just one year? When you think of gum you usually think of the chewy minty stick of gum but many people don’t think of the great people that make the gum. William Wrigley, Jr. was a legendary entrepreneur who revolutionized the chewing gum industry. He was born in Philadelphia in 1861 and later moved to Chicago, where he built his business by selling soap and baking powder. He eventually switched to selling chewing gum, introducing iconic brands such as Juicy Fruit and Spearmint. His business grew to become one of the most popular chewing gum companies in the world. William Wrigley, Jr. was an innovative leader and an inspiration to entrepreneurs everywhere.

Early Life

William Wrigley jr was born to, William Wrygly and Mary A Ladley, on September 30, 1861, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. William was also the oldest of 9 kids. When William was young, he showed interest in his father's soap company (Wrigley Manufacturing Company). When he turned 13, his dad gave him a job at his company which was storing soap inside soap vents for ten hours a day. He was only paid an insanely low 1.50 a week. William was a very bad kid in school. William got kicked out of school a handful of times. After all of the troubles he had in school, he got a job from his  dad. Outside of school, he wasn't too good of a kid either. He ran away to New York and got a job there as a newsletter boy and lived there for three months only coming back home because the weather got too cold.William was a very good salesmen but lost interest in it quickly and headed out west but lost his train ticket in Kansas City so another time he headed home.In 1885, William Wrigley jr married his wife , Ada Foote, they had 2 kids("Wrigley" Pennsylvania Center For The Book.)

Beginning Of Career

After getting Married William decided to move to Chicago in 1891 to sell baking powder and soap using the label of William Wrigley Jr company. He didn't have much money so he decided to give a free thing when you bought one of his products, he started off by upping his prices and giving out the item for free. First he gave out red umbrellas and books,but he found success with chewing gum. He realized how popular chewing gum was and dropped all of his other products and started selling chewing gum.

By 1893 William developed his own two types of chewing gum "sprite mint" and " juicy fruit." he spent his days and nights in railroad cars across the country to promote his gum. When a depression hit the American economy in 1907 William was not affected as much as anyone else. While this was happening he became a pironear in advertising. Other gum companies had to cut a lot of expenses to keep up, although wrigley took out a loan of $250,000 to launch an ad campaign. Luckily this risk worked out for him and 

he was able to compete with all the other companies in the depression.(Steven Herb.)

Significant Accomplishments

William Wrigley Jr. made chewing gum more affordable by developing a new method for manufacturing it. Prior to Wrigley's innovations, chewing gum was made using a labor-intensive process that involved boiling chicle, a natural gum obtained from trees, and then shaping it into small blocks or balls. This process was expensive and time-consuming, and it made chewing gum a luxury product that was only affordable to a small group of people.("Wrigley" Pennsylvania Center For The Book.)

Wrigley, however, realized that he could make chewing gum more affordable by using a different type of gum base that was easier and cheaper to manufacture. He began experimenting with different ingredients, and eventually he settled on using a type of synthetic rubber called chiclets as the base for his chewing gum. This new method allowed him to produce chewing gum much more quickly and cheaply, and it made it possible for him to sell it at a lower price than other manufacturers (Clayman).

In addition to developing a more efficient manufacturing process, Wrigley also used innovative marketing techniques to promote his products and make them more widely available. He offered free samples of his chewing gum, and he used colorful packaging and catchy slogans to attract customers. These efforts helped to make chewing gum a popular and affordable treat for people of all ages, and they helped to establish Wrigley as a leading manufacturer of chewing gum (Herb).

Wrigley Field was named after its owner, William Wrigley Jr., who was a famous chewing gum magnate and the owner of the Chicago Cubs from 1921 until his death in 1932. The ballpark was built in 1914 and originally known as Weeghman Park, but was renamed in 1926 after Wrigley bought the team and the stadium. Wrigley was known for his marketing and for making the Cubs a successful and popular team, and the ballpark has since become one of the most famous and beloved sports venues in the United States ("Wrigley" Pennsylvania Center For The Book.)(Herb).

Impact on the world 

Wrigley's impact on the world was significant, particularly in the realm of business and marketing. He was known for his innovative and ambitious approach to marketing, which helped to establish chewing gum as a popular consumer product. He also played a role in the development of the modern advertising industry, as his advertising campaigns were among the first to use slogans, catchy jingles, and other techniques that are now common in advertising (Herb)("Wrigley" Pennsylvania Center For The Book.).

In addition to his impact on the business world, Wrigley's philanthropic efforts also had a lasting impact on society. He was a strong supporter of education and donated generously to various educational institutions, including the University of Chicago and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He also supported the construction of the Wrigley Building in Chicago, which is now a historic landmark and a major tourist attraction (Herb)

Overall, William Wrigley Jr. had a significant impact on the world through his successful business endeavors and his philanthropic efforts. His legacy continues to be felt today through the enduring popularity of his company's products and the enduring impact of his charitable work ("Wrigley" Pennsylvania Center For The Book.).

William Wrigley Jr. had a significant impact on the world as a successful businessman and philanthropist. He played a key role in the development of the chewing gum industry and was an impactful   marketing strategist and charitable contributions (Herb) ("Wrigley '' Pennsylvania Center For The Book.)

Conclusion

William Wrigley Jr. was a successful entrepreneur and businessman who managed to turn a small soap peddling business into one of the most successful chewing gum companies in the world. He was able to do this by creating innovative products and marketing strategies that appealed to consumers. His success was also due to his strong understanding of the market and willingness to take risks to make his business successful. Wrigley's legacy is still seen today with the success of the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co. and its products. Wrigley's legacy serves as an inspiration to entrepreneurs and business people alike, showing the potential for success through hard work, dedication, and creativity.

Works Cited

Clayman, Andrew. ¨Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company, est. 1891.¨ Made in Chicago Museum, 2022, www.madeinchicagomuseum.com/single-post/wrigley.  

Herb, Steven. "Wrigley." Pennsylvania Center For The Book, The Pennsylvania State University, https://pabook.libraries.psu.edu/wrigley__william