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Manly Bands started out making rings for guys who were looking for more options than gold/silver and found a lot of couples resonated with our non-traditional designs made from materials like aged whiskey barrel, meteorite and dinosaur bone. They dedicate a portion of their budget every single month to giving back to organizations such as Team Rubicon, The Trevor Project and other charities since they believe that success involves helping the whole community.
We interviewed Johnathan Ruggiero, founder of Manly Bands:
When did you start doing what you do and why?
Can you share some tips for men when they find success in their business?
Build a good team. That was and always will be our first priority here at Manly Bands. Without your team, your business will most likely run into problems as you grow. We treat our team like family – ie. with transparency, the desire to help them grow (at Manly Bands and beyond), respect for their strengths and ideas and have complete trust that they will do what is best for the company and the team as a whole.
We contribute to a different charity every month and have since we started Manly Bands. Giving back to our community is one of our core values and I believe one of the most important things you can do as a successful business. As business owners, we are stewards of our team and communities. Our decisions impact those who live nearby (our team members) and their families. What better way to show the best of who we are than by donating to causes that have great meaning.
The mission of Manly Bands is to make buying a wedding band a better experience for men (and women if possible!) I’ve spoken to so many guys who didn’t know they could get a cool ring with awesome materials. I’ve heard so often the phrase “I wish you guys were around when I got married!”. Our goal is to make sure guys get an affordable ring they are absolutely blown away by and consider getting a second, or even a third ring to switch out when they want.
You’ve stated: “One of our goals at Manly Bands is to show guys that there is no “one type” of manliness”- can you expand on what that means to you?
What are some of the unique challenges you and/or your company have faced during COVID-19? And how have you overcome them?
For us, our first priority in the COVID-19 crisis is to take care of our team and our customers. It’s been challenging, but we’ve made significant investments in protective equipment, thermometers, masks and sanitation supplies to keep our team safe. For our customers, we’ve made cleanliness and disinfection workflows a priority.
If there is anything else you’d like to share to help us understand your company, please do.
We greatly appreciate the opportunity to get involved with the Good Men Project. You are bringing awareness to men’s issues that are rarely discussed in the open. By elevating these issues and helping share a more inclusive and diverse viewpoint, I believe you’re doing a great service to men around the world and showing them how they can not only be “manly” in their own way, but also be there for each other.
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