How did we get from making whiskey to making sauces for your BBQ?

I don’t know, but it’s a tasty market.

Stroh’s originally made beer. Prohibition forced them to make things like ice cream instead. Even after Prohibition was repealed, though, the ice cream was pretty popular so they kept it along with the beer.

Also, Proctor and Gamble is famous for putting new things out there for you to buy. They know it’s hard to break into new markets, though, so they brand the new thing with a name you’re already familiar with and trust. This is how we end up with things like “Crest” mouthwash (when Crest is known as a brand of toothpaste). They hope you take the good feelings associated with the toothpaste, and buy the mouthwash with the same name – and it works.

Adding the whiskey you make into a BBQ sauce to sell is also known as “adding value,” (even though these manifestations of value added are often not so valuable). In the old days, farmers would often add value to raw products like milk (which sold cheaply) by making it into cheese (which brought in more money). Unfortunately, it’s illegal for most farmers in the U.S. to add value to their own goods right on the farm, because it puts them in shaky legal status as a farm and invites a host of new regulations, but that’s a rant for another day.

Wrigley’s gum. Started off making soap. It wasn’t selling well so they included a stick of gum to entice buyers. It worked too well. People loved the gum but hated the soap. Wrigley’s listened and ditched the soap to become a chewing gum company.

@rangerr
Great answer! I was hoping I would get one and I did :) good job

@ laureth-
Sorry I posted your compliment under rangerr…I’m new here

@75movies another greta answer, I didn’t know that! interesting thanks!