Dr. Ethan Fairbanks
Dr. Ethan Fairbanks, M.B.H., is a noted scholar of commerce and culture. He brings wit, wisdom, and a global lens to his regular column on the untold stories of small business history.





April 21: First African-American-owned bank chartered, IBM launches electric typewriter, first Starbucks opens in Chicago, Google introduces mobile-first indexing, and Ford reveals all-electric F-150 Lightning.
by Dr. Ethan Fairbanks & WBN News Global
April 20: Louis Pasteur revolutionized vaccines, the first pasteurization law was passed, RCA became a tech pioneer, 3M entered the household market, and Shopify launched to empower entrepreneurs.
by Dr. Ethan Fairbanks & WBN News Global
April 19: Amazon’s Kindle milestone, Volvo’s safety pledge, Uber’s Austin controversy, the launch of America Online (AOL), and Nintendo’s Game Boy debut reshaped industries.
by Dr. Ethan Fairbanks & WBN News Global
April 18: YouTube’s first video, Honda’s hybrid launch, Disney’s first Animal Kingdom park, Samsung’s first Galaxy smartphone, and Nokia’s iconic 3310 redefine industries.
by Dr. Ethan Fairbanks & WBN News Global
April 17: Ford’s Mustang debut, IBM’s Deep Blue triumph, Twitter’s launch, Starbucks’ sustainability pledge, and General Motors’ solar milestone transformed industries
by Dr. Ethan Fairbanks & WBN News Global
April 16: iPhone upgrades, Ford’s 20 millionth vehicle, AWS’s launch, Kodak’s camera, and Disney’s first parade revolutionized industries.
by Dr. Ethan Fairbanks & WBN News Global
April 15: McDonald’s franchise, GE’s incorporation, open-source software, Jackie Robinson’s impact, and Amazon’s Prime Now redefine industries.
by Dr. Ethan Fairbanks & WBN News Global
April 14: Income tax, the impact of Titanic, luxury cars, video games, and space exploration redefine business landscapes.
by Dr. Ethan Fairbanks & WBN News Global