First invented in Atlanta by pharmacist Dr. John Pemberton in 1886, Coca Cola’s first sales were at a loss. When Pemberton sold his Coca Cola product as a soft drink addition inside his local pharmacy which housed a small soda fountain counter, his sales for that initial year topped out at fifty dollars. Pemberton’s production of his still local soft drink cost him seventy dollars in supplies alone thus losing him twenty dollars worth in profit.
But Pemberton knew his Coca Cola soft drink offered his patrons something different than the usual soda fountain drinks of that day. His bookkeeper, Frank Robinson, who also penned the wistfully written trademark name we see today, convinced him to sell his recipe to fellow Atlanta pharmacist, Asa Candler. Pemberton sold the coveted Coca Cola recipe to Asa Candler in 1887.
With Asa Candler at the helm of the advertising, Coca Cola spurred forth all over the United States and Canada. First formulated using the caffeine filled kola nut and cocaine extracts, which was stopped in 1905, despite urban myth-type rumors hitting the streets during the 1980’s, the soft drink was first marketed as a tonic.
Candler quickly realized that softening the advertising to include a more casual, less medicinal suggestion of use would also invite a general sense of the soft drink to more of the population. Coca Cola began being sold in syrup form to vendors in various soda shops and ice cream bars all over the country. With Candler directing the advertising to a more general audience and changing the sales to target specific vendors within the market, by 1890 Coca Cola had become one of the most consumed and requested soft drinks available among soft drink vendors, ice cream suppliers and patrons alike.
With its trademark style reverse hour glass bottle, Coca Cola could be enjoyed easily while on the move. One of the first portable drinks to be packaged, this particular product packaging has seated itself at the top of the most recognized brands even when not named. During the holiday seasons and celebrations, the Coca Cola Company, headquartered in its state of origin in Atlanta, Georgia, labels its bottles and cans with Holiday inspired themes such as Santa Clause and snowflakes once again broadening its advertising to include these seasonal themes.
Having its headquarters remain in its home town, the Coca Cola Company in Atlanta offers an interactive museum to showcase the history of this iconic product. Originally opened in Underground Atlanta in 1990, the World of Coca Cola Museum moved to Pemberton Place celebrating its grand opening on May 27’Th of 2007.
Realizing the benefits of reaching out to its customer base, the Coca Cola Company offers redeemable rewards and coupons attached to their product packaging. Various offers can include money off coupons redeemable at the register when purchased, while some are available online by registering at www.mycokerewards.com . Store coupons may be found and printed at www.mahalo.com and at www.retailmenot.com when available.