Michael Dell-Dell Computer Corperaion
...literally astound ourselves." -Thomas Edison
When Michael Dell was a high school student he came across the product that would change his life-the personal computer. He would take it apart, learn about how it worked, what was inside, and how to upgrade the machine. Even as a small child, he seemed to be a very astute and inquisitive child. As a second grader, he had his first business selling candy; at age 12 he washed dishes in a Chinese restaurant to save money for his stamp collection. Business issues and current events were always discussed at home around the dinner table. His mother was a financial advisor and his father an orthodontist.
How the Business Started: According to his bio, Michael Dell went to college intending to become a doctor. Meanwhile, his hobby was working with computers. His hobby got the best of him. Dell began selling computers out of his dorm room with IBM personal computers (PCs) that he upgraded. And as his new venture progressed, he developed an innovative approach to conducting business. His idea was to sell computers directly to the consumer without going through retailers, and in the process, design and deliver a computer based upon the customers' own specifications. Eventually, his mission grew to become "the most successful computer company in the world at delivering the best customer experience in the markets [they] serve". Thus in 1984, Dell founded the Dell Computer Corporation with $1,000 minimum as required by Texas law. In 1985, he then shifted to assembling and marketing his own brand of PCs. In Dell's first full year of operation, company sales hit $6 million. In fiscal 2000, company sales soared to more than $25 billion. So just how has Dell managed to distinguish his company from the rest?
According to the Census Bureau, in 1984, 8% of the household population had computers in their...
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