Video: How the smiley face became a $500m business

The Hustle

March 23, 2023

The Smiley Company office in London, England, is a wonder to behold.

Smiley paintings line the walls. Smiley plush pillows adorn the couches. There are smiley backpacks, smiley T-shirts, smiley exercise balls, smiley toys, smiley chocolates, and even smiley chicken nuggets.

Nearly 50 years ago, one man “invented” the modern smiley face. Then, another man halfway across the world made it into a multimillion-dollar cash cow.

But how did it get there?

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Video: How the smiley face became a $500m business

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Video: How the smiley face became a $500m business

Get the 5-minute roundup you’ll actually read in your inbox​

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TRENDING ORIGINALS

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“Entertaining, informative, keeps you coming back for more...”

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