How To Build Empire on an Orange Crate: Or 121 Lessons I Never Learned In School

by Ed Mirvish

How to Build an Empire on an Orange Crate : Or 121 Lessons I

Genres: Nonfiction, Business

Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

Reviews

[Deb Lernout-Banks]

Ed Mirvish, who built the princess of Wales theater in Toronto ( where I have had the pleasure of watching some of my favourite theatrical productions live), restaurant owner and owner of baragian store Honest Ed, memoir. I enjoyed reading the history of his experience growing up in Toronto and how he went from a broke, high school drop out to a very successful and rich business man. The novel was basically 3 parts..the first being how his family originally come to USA from Europe then to Canada; how his family tried to survive in Canada and what growing up in Toronto was like for him, second part how he built his store, resturants and acquired the theatres and lastly the third part ramblings of "what he learned". My least favourite part of the book was definitely his ramblings on what he learned. Generally though the book was interesting if you are into learning a bit about Toronto history and a Canadian version of business entrepreneurship.

[Jonathan]

Two years ago exactly Honest Ed's closed its doors. That was a sad day. For as long as I can remember my parents dragged me to that lightshow at Bathurst and Bloor to buy ridiculously cheap merchandise. Once a year we would also attend Ed Mirvish's massive birthday celebration on Markham Street where free food was just shoved in our faces. It was very nice to read about how Ed started it all, from his many successes and his occasional follies. Throughout his book, Ed kept insisting he had no idea what he was doing, relying on gut instinct rather than actual business smarts. His writing is easy to read and the stories are charming and hilarious.

[Mike Steinborn]

A great little book on the origins and principles behind the beginnings, growth, and success of Honest Ed! Although Ed's humour is corny sometimes, it's an entertaining read in which Ed is as refreshingly open about his failures and embarrassing moments as he is about his successes.

[Andrew Louis]

I picked this book up as a joke but ended up really enjoying it. If you can get past Honest Ed's hyperbole, there are lots of tales and Toronto history to enjoy.

[dirty derk]

a real bargain at only 5 dollars.

[Stephanie]

Truly entertaining.

[Zguba Salemenska]

In the midst of all the boasting and false humility there are some genuine insights.