As I began to research entrepreneurs, it came to my attention that there are no requirements to having a creative mind. Anyone is capable of being an entrepreneur and long as you are capable of defining a problem and then establishing a valuable solution. This concept became very clear to me when I stumbled upon an article about a young boy named Hart Main.
Hart is only 14 years old but that is plenty old enough to understand that there was a problem. The problem he was determined to address was that there were no manly scented candles. Originally he was simply teasing his sister about selling girly scented candles for a fundraiser, but then he realized she was selling feminine scents because those were the only scents that existed.
All Hart did was put in an initial investment of $100 and his parents chipped in $200 and then the three of them worked together to make the idea a reality. Today, the company is called ManCans and these candles come in many different scents, of which include: campfire, sawdust, bacon, fresh cut grass, and grandpa’s pipe. These candles are being sold in over 60 stores across the country and have sold over 9,000 units so far.
Reading about Hart Main really made me think. There is no reason why someone cannot be an entrepreneur; all you have to do is set your mind to it and be willing to ask for help when needed. If Hart can do it at age 14, I can do it at age 20.
Great post! What an awesome product that a 14 year old was able to come up with. There is so much opportunity for creativity. Hart obviously used the right side of his brain on this product. Thanks for sharing!
I really enjoyed reading about this. I love how he created a product that is useful for adults as a fourteen-year-old. This product really is marketable too. Yankee Candle has been doing well with the same sort of product. “Man candles” are part of Yankee Candle’s repertoire and I believe they sell similar smells to what Main created. Leather and Green Grass are just a few of Yankee Candles smells that are geared towards men.
It’s amazing how successful he already has become from just a $300 investment. Truly young entrepreneurs are something to recognize and be inspired by.
I really enjoyed reading your post, Dani! I think your observation that the only thing necessary is to be an entrepreneur is to define a problem and establish a valuable solution is something that is very important for young people to understand. I believe that Hart Main came up with a product that many men will be interested in.
This is adorable. Who knew a 14 year old could come up with something as simple as a scented candle and make it into a reality! Your article is very entertaining and Main is a perfect example to all of us to do what inspires us. Like you said, if he can do it at 14, we can do it in our 20s.
Businesses like this are awesome to hear about. This wasn’t a business intended to make money, instead, it was something that was created to fulfill a hobby for a 14 year old boy. Great article and even more inspiring story!