Video summary
Professor Jeremy Black places one figure, Josiah Wedgwood, above all others as a hero of the Industrial Revolution.
From relatively humble beginnings he built up a business empire by creating and then meeting customer demand.
While he certainly made pottery in his factories, his real genius lay in making people want this pottery – getting them to see his goods as desirable must-haves, just like today’s designer brands.
It was Wedgwood who pioneered the idea of a showroom where he could meet and chat to his customers and, instead of loading them up in the shop, he could encourage them to order from his mail order catalogue.
Perhaps his greatest triumph was in exploiting the fact that he had made a tea service for the Queen.
If his wares were good enough for royalty then a marketing genius like Wedgwood could make everybody else want their teacups from the same maker.
This short film is from the 鶹Լ series, Why the Industrial Revolution Happened Here.
Teacher Notes
This short film could be used to consider the historical significance of 18th and 19th century entrepreneurs, starting with Josiah Wedgewood.
Criteria for significance could include impact made during their lifetime, whether this has been of lasting benefit, whether there is evidence to show they are remembered today, and the extent that their work influenced others both at the time and since.
This short film is suitable for teaching history at Key Stage 3 and GCSE, Third Level and National 4 & 5, in particular units on the Victorians and the Industrial Revolution.
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