Retail Chains

The company was originally called Echo Bay Technology Group — named after a picturesque bay near founder Pierre Omidyar’s home. But the domain echobay.com was already taken (by a gold mining company), so Omidyar simply shortened it to ebay.com. That’s how a name that would become a global brand was born — completely by chance, but forever part of e-commerce history.

The first Apple logo, depicting Newton under an apple tree, was created in 1976 by company co-founder Ronald Wayne. However, in 1977, the now-famous bitten apple logo appeared, designed by graphic designer Rob Janoff. Rob received about $500 for his work — and no royalties, even though the logo became one of the most recognizable in the world.

FedEx became part of the storyline in the cult film “Cast Away” (2000) starring Tom Hanks, without spending a dollar on advertising. The company provided props, uniforms, and logistical expertise to create a realistic image of a delivery service. In return, it gained worldwide recognition — the FedEx logo became a symbol of reliability, and the brand is firmly associated with the story of survival and returning home.

Gottlieb Daimler drew a three-pointed star on a postcard for his wife, writing that it would one day shine over every engine and factory he built. After his death, his sons turned this symbol into a logo. The three points represent the company’s ambition to succeed on land, sea, and air. A four-pointed version was also patented, but the three-pointed one was chosen for its stronger visual impact. Since then, the core of the logo has remained unchanged.

The Ford logo, with its iconic blue oval and elegant script, was first used in 1907. Here’s a fun fact: the famous handwritten font associated with the brand wasn’t actually created by Henry Ford himself, but by a company designer who simply copied his autograph! So every time you see the Ford logo, you’re looking at the “handwriting” of someone who never imagined it would become so iconic.