Hart Main was 13-15 years old when he created ManCan, a candle company that makes “manly” scents. The idea came when he made fun of his sister for her “girly” scented candles that she was selling. So, Hart, who was saving up for a $1,500 bike, made it happen. He and his parents invested some money into making manly-scented candles in soup cans, came up with the clever name ManCan, and started selling.
They are now handmade by Beaver Creek Candle Company in Lisbon, Ohio, by a developmentally disabled workforce. The flavors have included Hot Coca, New Mitt, Grandpa’s pipe, root beer, gun powder, Santa’s beard, Dirt, Cigar, New car, campfire, sawdust, New York Style Pizza, and more. As of 2016, Hart’s candles are sold in every state, with sales exceeding six figures annually. Additionally, part of each sale is donated to soup kitchens in Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Michigan.
Hart also went on the Steve Harvey show to talk about his entrepreneurship. When he told him that he was a freshman at Kent State, Harvey said “You know who you’re talking to? You’re talking to the most famous dude to ever flunk out of that school!” as Harvey went there as well. Additionally, in a different interview, he said that at first he started the business for purely selfish reasons, but keeps it going because of the developmentally disabled people and soup kitchens it supports.
I love how this example shows how a funny, non-serious idea can also be successful. The pain the entrepreneur identifies does not need to be a serious matter!
Ideas like these are some of my favorites, as they evolve from real life situations, and entrepreneurs find a reasonable solution. It is also inspiring to see someone give up their savings to create a brand that they are truly passionate about.
I love how this entire business began with him making fun of his sister. I’m curious how this young entrepreneur came up with a way to capture manly scents like “new car” and “dirt.” It seems a lot more difficult than most feminine scented candles. This post reminds me to not grumble about any mundane tasks in my day because even the most dull, everyday, and sometimes mean occurrences like laughing at your sister can spark a million dollar business idea.
Hey Caleb, loved reading your post. I think the product is super creative and has a huge potential. I usually have a candle burning in my room at home and manly scents would be great.