The Times of India

In the 1890s, William Wrigley Jr. accidentally turned a free gum giveaway into a billion-dollar empire

William Wrigley Jr. began selling soap in Chicago with free baking soda samples. Customers preferred the gum he later included. Wrigley shifted focus to gum, creating iconic brands like Juicy Fruit and Spearmint. His aggressive marketing, including sending gum to every American with a phone number, paid off. This strategy became a turning point in consumer marketing.