Tweet

The Man Behind Coca-Cola: The Early Years of Asa Candler

Article Overview: It has become such an integral part of American culture that when the Coca-Cola Company tried to change the original formula for its flagship drink in the mid-1980s, the public backlash was overwhelming; the Old Cola Drinkers of America was even established and tried to sue the company. Today, Coke is sold in the stores, restaurants, and vending machines of over 200 countries. The company is one of the largest in America, and also the largest manufacturer, distributor and marketer of nonalcoholic drink concentrates in the world, with over $24 billion in revenue and 71,000 employees. The man behind all of that growth is Asa Candler.

The Man Behind Coca-Cola: The Early Years of Asa Candler

It has become such an integral part of American culture that when the Coca-Cola Company tried to change the original formula for its flagship drink in the mid-1980s, the public backlash was overwhelming; the Old Cola Drinkers of America was even established and tried to sue the company. Today, Coke is sold in the stores, restaurants, and vending machines of over 200 countries. The company is one of the largest in America, and also the largest manufacturer, distributor and marketer of nonalcoholic drink concentrates in the world, with over $24 billion in revenue and 71,000 employees. The man behind all of that growth is Asa Candler.

Born on December 30, 1851 in Villa Rica, Georgia, Asa Griggs Candler was the eighth of eleven children to Samuel and Martha Candler. He grew up during the time of the American Civil War. Candler’s father was a well-established merchant and property owner, but the war would take its toll on the family; they often had no more than the bare necessities. Candler’s formal education began when he was five years old, but was sporadic throughout. When he was ten years old, he left school and spent his time working on his father’s farm. While he could have opted to attend Emory College, he instead let his brother, Warren attend in his place, believing that Warren’s desire to enter the Ministry was a noble one.

Candler had a keen sense for business from an early age. One day, after hearing some noise coming from under the kitchen of the family farm where they kept their chickens, Candler went down to discover the presence of a mink. He chased the animal out of the house and through the yard until he finally caught it with his bare hands. The mink bit Candler on the arm – leaving a permanent scar – but Candler managed to kill it. He finally sent the mink’s pelt off to Atlanta, thinking he would get perhaps seventy-five cents for it, but instead he made a profit of one dollar. “The man who bought it wanted more,” said Candler. “I started people in the neighbourhood catching minks, and the skins we sold brought quite a sum.”

Candler was anxious to enter the working world. He had an interest in the medical field, but with no money for medical school, he decided to pursue a career as a druggist. He took on an apprenticeship with two pharmacists in his hometown, but his earnings were meager. So, Candler decided to move to Atlanta in search of better opportunities.

In 1873, with just $1.75 in his pockets, Candler made the move to Atlanta, where he would live out the rest of his life. He landed a job with a local druggist by the name of George J. Howard. His early success and work ethic led to his promotion as chief clerk. However, after a falling out with Howard – Candler had begun a relationship with his 15 year old daughter of which Howard disapproved – Candler decided to strike out on his own and become his own boss.

Related Articles
  Lesson #5: You Are Worth More than Your Net Worth
  Lesson #4: Look Hard to See the Mighty Oak in the Acorn
  Liquid Gold: How Candler Turned a Drink into an Empire
  Starting the Business: Asa Candler Pops His Way to the Top
  Lesson #1: Make Your Marketing Message Memorable

Article Tags: american civil war, asa candler, asa griggs candler, bare necessities, candlers, coca cola company, cola drinkers, emory college, five cents, formal education, griggs, keen sense, manufacturer distributor, mid 1980s, mink, minks, public backlash, vending machines, villa rica georgia, warrens



Related Forum Posts
Asa Griggs Candler - Coca-Cola Founder - Just wanted to offer another brand name that has lasted and had controversy associated with it. Would be good to learn about it's founder - Asa Griggs Candler
Happy New Years! - Happy Belated New Years! Out of curiosity what are your new years resolutions for your business? Did anyone manage to honour their past resolutions?
My Holiday - I'm taking a trip to India for 3.5wks. haven't seen my grandma in 15years and there's also going to be a wedding. Can't wait. Oh and I'll be spending New Years in Goa... Anyone been there? That's the place my grandparents are from but I've never visited as they moved to Mumbai a while ago. Does anyone have recommendations of Hotels they've been to? Will be checking out TripAdvisor...
Re: Best Internet Marketing Strategies - I would honestly say, don't put all of your eggs in one basket. Years ago I was so proud to say that I could 'sell' to anyone in any industry. Over time I realized that certain industries were much more lucrative in terms of commissions and order quantity. I think the same idea definitely exists in internet advertising - if you are looking to one or two single sources of online marketing, you aren't seeing the whole picture. Keep with it, and try and make some kind of consistant effort.
Re: New Year Resolutions... - My New Years Resolution is to be earning $500+ with my online business. This includes any freelance work that I do. I'm about half-way there now. Another Resolution is to look into selling more on eBay and maybe finding a reputable dropshipper that offers competitive pricing on high-demand items. I like eBay and the opportunity that it provides. I've mainly been selling personal items, but I'd like to start tapping into a larger market and making some significant income on eBay.


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Tweet

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

Emotional Intelligence in Business

Making the Most of Your Trade Show Experience

The five pillars of internet marketing strategy

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.