This book is one of the “How They Started” series published by Crimson that gives some excellent examples of businesses started during economic struggles. It’s a pretty apt book given the current climate that really helps to illustrate that businesses can succeed despite wider economic issues. You’d really be amazed at some of the businesses contained within the book and how big they actually are!
It’s not really the type of book that you would read from front to back. I really see it more as a reference type book that you can dip in and out of as you see fit. It’s broken down into various different industries including Internet, Technology and Retail etc and each case study is typically 7 to 8 pages in length. There’s 25 companies featured in the book that include massive companies like Microsoft and HP but it is also features more niche businesses like Red or Dead and Marmalade PR.
How They Started in tough times from Crimson Business <<< Amazon Affiliate Link >>>
My favourite featured company was dunnhumby which may or may not be a familiar name to our readers. I wasn’t aware that this business started life as a husband and wide team focussed around data analysis. They’re credited with being the “brains” behind the Tesco clubcard of all things which is now used by 13 million people across the UK. Staggeringly this business now has a turnover of some £220 million and profits of £40 million!
Overall I would recommend this book as it does have some amazingly inspiring stories. If it makes people see that you can do things like this during an economic crisis and it inspired people to go out and do just that then I think it will have done it’s job 
If you’ve read the book then we would love to hear your comments below.
