John BarrePeriod 4

Due Date: 3/19/10

HISTORY

• In May of 1886 Coca-Cola was invented by a pharmacist named John Pemberton. Pemberton was from Atlanta, Georgia. • Coca-Cola was first sold to the public on May 8, 1886 in Jacob’s Pharmacy in Atlanta, Georgia, where it was taste tested then pronounced excellent and sold for five cents a glass. •The name Coca Cola was a suggestion given by John Pemberton's bookkeeper Frank Robinson. Being a bookkeeper, Frank Robinson also had excellent penmanship. It was he who first scripted “Coca Cola" into the flowing letters which has become the famous logo of today.•Sales for the first year added up to a total of about $50, but it cost John Pemberton over $70 in expanses to produce the soft drink, so the first year of sales were a loss.• Up until 1905, the soft drink, marketed as a tonic, contained extracts of cocaine as well as the caffeine-rich kola nut.

HISTORY

•In 1887, the Coca Cola formula was sold to an Atlanta pharmacist and businessman named Asa Candler. Candler bought the formula from John Pemberton for $2,300. By the late 1890s, Coca Cola was one of America's most popular fountain drinks, largely due to Candler's aggressive marketing of the product. With Asa Candler, now in control, the Coca Cola Company increased syrup sales by more than 4000% between 1890 and 1900.•Until the 1960s, people everywhere enjoyed carbonated beverages at the local soda fountain. Often housed in the drug store, the soda fountain counter served as a meeting place for people of all ages. The soda fountain declined in popularity as commercial ice cream, bottled soft drinks, and fast food restaurants became popular.•On April 23, 1985, the trade secret “New Coke" formula was released. Today, products of the Coca Cola Company are consumed at the rate of more than 1.6 billion drinks per day. That’s 66,666,667 products an hour; 1,111,111 products a minute; and 18,518 products a second!

Business RisksWhen John Pemberton first invented Coca Cola he did not face any large business risks. He was not really focused on starting a new business. He was just experimenting and trying to invent a new drink. When Coca Cola was sold to Asa Candler he spent a lot of money on marketing and trying to expand and make Coca Cola a large business. He did not face many business risks either because the company took off, and their was not much competition at the time. Many people tried to imitate Coca Cola but none were near as seccessful. Coca Cola is the most successful soft drink company in the world, and the name Coca Cola, in English, is probably the most recognizable name in the world.

Business RisksBusiness RisksImpact on Georgia

• The Coca Cola Company has had a major impact on Georgia.•The impact may not have been felt immediately, but over time it has created thousands and thousands of jobs, not just for people in Georgia, but people throughout the country and around the world.• Coca Cola has also made Atlanta a more popular city. Because of the fact that Coca Cola was invented in Atlanta and that Coca Cola’s main office is in Atlanta people around the world are more familiar with the name Atlanta, Georgia.

Transportation

• Interstate Highway System: The Coca Cola Company uses trucks to ship products to local customers on the interstate-highway system. Coca Cola also uses the interstate highway system to ship products to costumers in different states.

•Hartsfield Jackson International Airport: The Coca Cola Company uses the Hartsfield Jackson International Airport in Atlanta to ship products and supplies to offices and factories in other states and international offices and factories where the products can be produced and then distributed to international customers.

•Deepwater Ports: For Coca Cola offices and factories that are near the ocean, deepwater ports are used to ship products and supplies to local, state, and international offices and factories where the products can be produced and distributed.

Connection

•Starting a new company, like the Coca Cola Company, today would be much more difficult. The reason being because 120 years ago there were not nearly as many soda companies to compete against. 120 years ago it was also probably easier to get attention from people with a new product because new products weren’t being invented left and right like they are today.•A product that would be successful today would be something that there is a high demand for, or one that there is a low supply for. Another product that would be successful today would be one that is a must need necessity in the daily life of all people, so that they must purchase this item. Keep in mind that this “must need” item should probably be in low supply also for it to be successful. •A company that would be successful today would be a company that is needed in high demand, like a cell phone company, plumbing company, shoe company, etc. Companies like these along with good advertisement and reliable service would be very successful today.