Big Brown

Although its brown vans are on every block and its delivery service reaches more than 200 countries, UPS is among the world s most underestimated and misunderstood companies. For the first time, a UPS lifer tells the behind-the-scenes story of how a small messenger service became a business giant. Big Brown reveals the remarkable 100-year history of UPS and the life of its founder Jim Casey one of the greatest unknown capitalists of the twentieth century. Casey pursued a Spartan business philosophy that emphasized military discipline, drab uniforms, and reliability over flash a model that is still reflected in UPS culture today. Big Brown examines all the seeming paradoxes about UPS: from its traditional management style and strict policies coupled with high employee loyalty and strong labor relations; from its historical anti-marketing bias (why brown?) to its sterling brand loyalty and reputation for quality.