Thread by @itsjasonai

8 companies built around a single product:🤯

1/ Crocs (2002)

Everyone called Crocs "ugly."

But doctors and chefs loved them for their comfort and easy-to-clean design.

Now, they sell 150 million pairs a year. Sometimes, being "ugly" pays off.

2/ LEGO (1932)

They started by making wooden toys during the Great Depression.

In 1949, they introduced plastic bricks with one simple idea: every brick had to fit with all the others.

That commitment to compatibility continues to drive them today.

3/ Spanx (2000)

Sara Blakely cut the feet off her pantyhose to create seamless underwear.

She wrote her own patent to save $3,000.

That ingenuity led to a billion-dollar shapewear revolution.

4/ Play-Doh (1956)

It began as a struggling wallpaper cleaning company.

Then a teacher used it in her classroom as modeling clay.

That pivot to children's toys saved the company and turned it into a cultural icon.

5/ Tupperware (1946)

Earl Tupper created airtight containers from plastic waste.

They didn’t sell in stores until Brownie Wise suggested hosting home parties.

That sales innovation gave birth to the modern direct selling industry.

6/ Tupperware (1946)

Earl Tupper created airtight containers from plastic waste.

They didn’t sell in stores until Brownie Wise suggested hosting home parties.

That sales innovation gave birth to the modern direct selling industry.

7/ Duracell (1924)

It started by making mercury batteries for military equipment.

For 100 years, they've had one mission: to make batteries that last longer.

That singular focus turned them into a household name.

8/ Red Bull (1987)

I discovered a Thai energy drink used by truck drivers to stay awake.

I modified it for Western tastes.

I spent 20 years perfecting ONE drink while others launched dozens of flavors.