CENTURIES OF SUCCESS:
Lessons from the World’s Most Enduring Family Businesses
By William T. O’Hara
Publication Date: November 4, 2003
emolter@adamsmedia.com
Price: $24.95 Hardcover; 352 pages
ISBN: 1-58062-937-7
Contact: Gene Molter
Publicist
508-427-6760
CENTURIES OF SUCCESS
Lessons from the World’s Most Enduring Family Businesses
By William T. O’Hara
Family business symbolizes the entrepreneurial spirit of perseverance and success. Business
founders are intently driven by creativity, challenge, and the desire to unearth new roads. They
want to improve people’s lives by making a difference. For centuries, an endless number of
family businesses have been established but most have not survived. In America alone, there are
20 million family-owned businesses, but over time only a third of them will survive to the
second generation. Those few that do are linked most often by classic overachieving spirit of
collaboration and drive to succeed.
CENTURIES OF SUCCESS: Lessons from the World’s Most Enduring Family Businesses
(November 4, 2003; $24.95 Hardcover; 352 pages; ISBN: 1-58062-937-7) by William T.
O’Hara, is the first book to ever chronicle success stories and timeless lessons of twenty of the
world’s oldest family businesses (including several in North America). Readers will find
comprehensive historical retrospectives from every conceivable angle—including how these
businesses came into being and the obstacles they overcame, in addition to the business tactics
and values that have been passed from one generation to another.
Bryant College President Emeritus William T. O’Hara did his homework in developing
CENTURIES OF SUCCESS. The book is an examination of twenty still-thriving companies,
all of which are more than 200 years old. O’Hara traveled the world, visiting headquarters,
studying business strategies, and interviewing management teams. Some of the companies
profiled include:
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Kongo Gumi (founded 578, Japan)
Beretta (founded 1526, Italy)
Zildjian (founded 1623, Turkey)
Shirley Plantation (founded 1638, United States)
Bixler’s Jewelers (founded 1785, United States)
Molson Inc. (founded 1786, Canada)
George R. Ruhl & Sons Bakery (founded 1789, United States)
This unique and authoritative book is loaded with first-hand quotes and anecdotes by or about
past and present company leaders, and summaries of how these businesses function today.
Family members throughout the world have controlling ownership in 75-90% of all businesses.
In fact, family businesses are the fastest growing segment of the global economy. They employ
approximately 70-80% of the workforce and generate more jobs than their non-family
competitors. Additionally, about 35% of Fortune 500 companies are family owned and 60% of
all public companies in the United States are family controlled. Family enterprise accounts for
60% of total U.S. employment, 78% of all new jobs, more than 50% of the GDP, and 65% of all
wages paid worldwide. Family business statistics are generally comparable and family firms
remain the dominant force of business enterprise.
With all these facts in mind, it is no wonder that William T. O’Hara keys in on the enduring
features of family enterprise. He says learning from those who are older and wiser is a logical
step for people wishing to avoid making the same mistakes that others have made. What’s
interesting is that all 20 family businesses profiled in CENTURIES OF SUCCESS trade in
products and services that satisfy basic human needs such as food, clothing, or shelter. These
businesses include construction, lodging, brewing, firearms, musical instruments, house wares,
jewelry, and financial services.
This book is ideal for family businesses of all types—small or large, start-ups, and those heading
into a second generation and beyond. It is for students of family business of all ages and for all
those truly seeking to create an everlasting entrepreneurial legacy!
About the Author
William T. O’Hara is President Emeritus of Bryant College in Rhode Island, where he founded
the Institute for Family Enterprise. He has authored three books, including John F. Kennedy on
Education and The Student/The College/The Law. O’Hara also completed a groundbreaking
study identifying the oldest family companies in each of the fifty states. That study was featured
in Family Business Magazine and was written about in over 100 U.S. publications including The
Wall Street Journal, Newsday, and The Philadelphia Inquirer.
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CENTURIES OF SUCCESS:
Lessons from the World’s Most Enduring Family Businesses
By William T. O’Hara
Publication Date: November 4, 2003
Price: $ 24.95 Hardcover; 352 pages
ISBN: 1-58062-937-7
Visit Adams Media Corporation On-line at:
www.adamsmedia.com
Profiled Businesses in Centuries of Success
Kongo Gumi
founded 578, Japan
Temple Builders
Hoshi Ryokan
founded 718, Japan
Innkeepers
Marchesi Antinori SRL
founded 1385, Italy
Winemaker
Fabbrica D’Armi
Pietro Berretta
founded 1526, Italy
Firearms
John Brooke & Sons
Holdings, Ltd
founded 1541, England
Textiles/Business
Development
Freiherr Von
Poschinger Glasmanufaktur
founded 1568, Germany
Handcrafted Glass
R. Durntell & Sons, Ltd.
founded 1591, England
Construction
Mellerio dits Meller
founded 1613, France
Jewelers
Avedis Zildjian Co.
founded 1623, Turkey
Cymbal Makers
Shirley Plantation
founded 1638, USA
Agriculture/Historic
tourism
Hugel & Fils
founded 1639, France
Winemaker
Van Eeghen
International BV
founded 1662, Netherlands
Shipping
C. Hoare & Company
founded 1672, England
Banking
William Clark & Sons
founded 1739, Northern Ireland
Linens
Boplaas
founded 1743, South Africa
Agriculture
Bachman Funeral Home
founded 1769, USA
Funeral Director
Confetti Mario Pelino
founded 1783, Italy
Candy Maker
Bixler’s Jewelers
founded 1785, USA
Retail Jewelry
Molson, Inc.
founded 1786, Canada
Brewery
George R. Ruhl & Son
founded 1789, U.S.
Bakery Supplies