McIlhenny's Gold by Jeffrey Rothfeder
7.5 out of 10Ingredients: vinegar, red pepper, salt.
A Maryland banker successfully relocated to New Orleans. But, he lost his fortune during the Civil War and couldn't rebuild his practice during Union occupied Reconstruction. Forced to try something new, he created a business that has lasted 150 years--so far. The formula is straightforward: Provide housing and community activities as compensation for laborers willing to accept low wages. Develop strong relationships with distributors and convince them that the product is premium quality. Work with politicians and lawyers to supply invaluable patents and copyrights.
The McIlhennys have tried to produce new products. They've tried to adopt machinery to harvest and process Tabasco. They've tried flashy advertising campaigns. Their success, however, comes mainly from the simplicity of the operation.