The century-old company
best exemplifies the value of not forgetting its humble beginnings. Before
getting into the petroleum business, Shell actually sold antiques and
embellishments—specifically, seashells. In an effort to expose the brand to the
Far East, a growing market for Western merchants during the company’s early
years, its founder Marcus Samuel named all of his tankers after a certain
seashell. Among these was his first tanker, the "Murex," named after
a genus of sea snails with intricate shells.
