| 1800–1850 | USA | A revolution in retail and wholesale trade occurs: specialization transforms the urban retail market, replacing the general store with individual stores for hardware, groceries, dry goods, furnishing, books, tobacco, and so on. Cash-only sales policies are instituted around 1806. |
| 1845 | UK | Henry Jones of Bristol, England, creates self-raising flour. |
| 1857 | USA | The first toilet paper, Gayetty's Medicated Paper, is launched in the USA. |
| 1870 | Denmark | The Jürgens Mekaniske Establissement in Copenhagen, Denmark, begins manufacturing the Skrivekugle, the first commercial typewriter. |
| 1890 | USA | The National Carbon Co. launches Ever Ready batteries in the USA, the first dry-cell battery to be made commercially. |
| 1891 | USA | US inventor Whitcomb L Judson patents the zip fastener under the name of ‘Clasp Locker or Unlocker’. It is initially designed for use on shoes and boots, and is not called the ‘zipper’ until 1926. |
| 1900 | Norway | Norwegian Johann Vaaler patents paper clips in Germany. |
| 1902 | USA | A Russian immigrant toy-shop owner Morris Mitchom in New York City, inspired by Clifford Berryman's cartoon of US president Theodore ‘Teddy’ Roosevelt refusing to shoot a bear cub, creates the teddy bear. |
| 1903 | USA | US manufacturer King C Gillette patents disposable safety razor blades. |
| 1904 | | The Telegraphone, the first telephone answering machine in the world, goes on sale in Britain. |
| 1905 | United Kingdom | The Gillette safety razor is introduced in Britain. |
| 1905 | USA | The US company Chapman & Skinner launches the first portable electric vacuum cleaner for domestic use. |
| 1907 | USA | The Hurley Machine Corporation launches the Thor, the first self-contained electric washing machine, in the USA, designed by Alva J Fisher. |
| 1907 | USA | The US company General Electric launches a more efficient light bulb, replacing the usual carbon filament with tungsten. |
| 1907 | USA | The US Hoover Suction-Sweeping Co. launches the first effective portable vacuum cleaner for domestic use. It is designed by James M Spangler. |
| 1908 | USA | The US Eck Dynamo & Electric Co. produces the first oscillating electric fan. |
| 1908 | USA | Smith Richardson relaunches Vicks VapoRub in the USA, with the slogan ‘Rub it on, sniff it in, it's good for you, it's made by Presbyterians.’ |
| 1908 | Germany | The German company Rowenta launches the first commercial electric iron. |
| 1910 | USA | The US company Hamilton Beach Manufacturing Co. launches the first electric food mixer. |
| 1913 | USA, Germany | The first domestic refrigerators appear on the market in the USA and Germany. |
| 1914 | USA | The Crescent Washing Machine, the first domestic electric dishwasher, is launched in the USA. |
| 1915 | USA | US researchers Eugene C Sullivan and William C Taylor at the Corning Glass Works create Pyrex, a heatproof and shockproof kitchenware. |
| 1916 | USA | Coca-Cola launches its distinctively shaped bottle. |
| 1919 | United Kingdom | The British company Kynoch of Birmingham introduces the zip fastener, under the name the Ready Fastener, but it is some time before it catches on commercially. |
| 18 March 1931 | USA | Schick Dry Shaver Inc. in Stamford, Connecticut, markets the first electric shavers. |
| 18 April 1934 | USA | The first launderette opens in Fort Worth, Texas. It charges by the hour. |
| 1 April 1960 | UK | R Griggs & Co. begin to produce Doc Martens boots under licence in Britain. |
| August 1960 | Japan | The Japan Stationery Company, in Tokyo, markets Pentel, the first felt-tip pens. |
| 1961 | USA | Dr William Scholl invents the Scholl sandal in the USA. The functional footwear will enjoy a revival as a fashion accessory in the mid-1990s. |
| 1961 | USA | The Squibb Co., New York City, manufactures the first electric toothbrush. |
| 1962 | UK | Bacofoil, the first aluminium kitchen foil, is launched on the British market. |
| 1962 | USA | Royal Crown Cola launch Diet-Rite Cola in the USA, the first sugar-free soft drink on the market. |
| 1962 | USA | Iron City Beer in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, produces the first aluminium can with a ring-pull. These are not immediately popular because they add to the cost of the product and early designs are awkward. |
| 1966 | USA | The US manufacturer Procter and Gamble launches Pampers, the first disposable nappies. This product will go on to take nearly 50% of the worldwide market. |
| 1968 | USA | Waterbeds are first brought onto the market in the USA. |
| 1975 | USA | Gillette of Boston, Massachusetts, launches the first disposable razors, made of plastic. |
| 1978 | UK | The first product bar code in the UK is used, on a packet of Melrose's 100 Century Tea. |
| 29 September–1 October 1982 | USA | Seven Americans die when cyanide is placed in bottles of Tylenol. The makers of the drug, Johnson and Johnson, recall 264,000 bottles, and new tamper-proof packaging for pharmaceuticals and other products is developed. |
| 1983 | Switzerland | In Switzerland, the Swatch timepiece is created. |
| 1 March 1983 | UK, France, West Germany, Netherlands | A group of companies, including Sony and Philips, launches compact disc players in Britain, France, West Germany, and the Netherlands. Around 200 discs are available, costing between £9 and £12. |
| 1984 | world | The Filofax, a portable looseleaf filing system, emerges as the indispensable yuppie accessory. |
| 1989 | UK | Only 30% of albums sold in Britain are now available in the vinyl LP format. |
| 1990 | Netherlands, UK | The Dutch electronics company Philips launches Carvision, the first in-car television in Britain. It has a 10-cm/4-in LCD screen. |
| 1990 | Japan, UK | The Japanese electronics company Sharp introduces the first colour fax machine in Britain. It costs around £14,000. |
