The Learning Lab

December 31, 2013 News

How the Name "10 Pound Gorilla" Came to Be

Question: Where Does an 800 Pound Gorilla Sit?

Answer: Anywhere It Wants To

The old expression "800 Pound Gorilla" derived from this little joke.

If you're unfamiliar with this term, it's basically a saying to describe something or someone that is overbearing and all-powerful. According to Wikipedia, it can be described as "...a powerful corporate entity that has such a large majority percentage of whatever market they compete within that they can use that strength to crush would-be competitors."

These big businesses and corporations, aka the 800 Pound Gorillas, can pretty much take over, write the rules, and eliminate any competition.

So the question remains — How do the small, hardworking individuals and businesses, aka the smaller gorillas, compete in a market where it seems like success will be almost impossible?

And this is where the name was born...10 Pound Gorilla.

We're a small business who wants to help other small businesses, who are being overtaken by the shadow of their much larger competitor. We want you to have a chance to compete with the big boys. If you're a small business like us, you're a 10 Pound Gorilla too...Welcome to the Team! *High-Five*

But a being a 10 Pound Gorilla doesn't mean you can't win; it just means that you're not a superhero. (Wouldn't it be nice if we all were?) You need to have the right strategy to stand out.

10 Pound Gorilla believes that through the right web strategies (good design, content structure, coding, and marketing) anyone can have the power to compete with and even beat the 800 Pound Gorilla — no matter how small the operation you're running.


If you're struggling with you're online presence or would just like to know what else you could be doing, contact us for a free consultation to discuss what you're options are.