Josiah Wedgwood

Josiah Wedgwood (12 July 1730 – 3 January 1795) was an English potter and entrepreneur. He founded the Wedgwood company. He is credited with the industrialisation of the manufacture of pottery; "...it was by intensifying the division of labour that Wedgwood brought about the reduction of cost which enabled his pottery to find markets in all parts of Britain, and also of Europe and America." The renewed classical enthusiasms of the late 1760s and early 1770s was of major importance to his sales promotion.^[2] His expensive goods were in much demand from the nobility, while he used emulation effects to market cheaper sets to the rest of society.^[3] Every new invention that Wedgwood produced - green glaze, creamware, black basalt and jasper - was quickly copied.^[4] Having once achieved perfection in production, he achieved perfection in sales and distribution.^[5] His showrooms in London gave the public the chance to see his complete range of tableware.^[6]

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josiah Wedgwood