Entrepreneurs are entrepreneurs no matter how small. One of these innovative individuals is Hart Main. In 2010, 13-year-old Main created ManCans, a candle company that sells manly scented candles in soup cans. The original driving force for the formulation of the business venture was to purchase a $1,200.00 bike to compete in triathlons. Production used to occur in the Main’s kitchen but has quickly grown and production now happens at Beaver Creek Candle Company and ManCans are now sold in nearly 150 stores across the United States of America. Main and his father co-wrote One Candle One Meal. This 90 paged book depicts Main’s journey of starting his own business and provides inspiration to other young entrepreneurs looking to achieve the same goal.
ManCans first came to light when Camyrn, Main’s sister, was selling candles for a school fundraiser. As a teenage boy, Main thought the candles that his sister was selling were too girly and that most men probably would not purchase such a girly scented candle. Main aimed to create manly scented candles and put them in soup cans rather than glass jars in order to aid the brand perception. For the first few months of production, the Main family and close friends ate the soup before then using the empty can for candle. As production increased the demand for empty soup cans also increased. Main then decided to donate the soup to local soup kitchens. As of a few years ago, Main’s growing company has given 100,000 cans of soup and $35,000.00 to 25 soup kitchens in four states. In one interview Main states, “my goal in the book is to teach entrepreneurship and promote it for youth because that’s something that’s very important to me.”
Recent sources report that Main plans to attend Kent State University to major in economics. He wants to learn more about the topic not only for his business but because he wants to be a sports agent. Main states that sports is something that he’s always been interested in but when he started ManCans he didn’t expect for it to take off like it did.
