Hands up if you’ve ever used the Miracle Mop to clean your home floor. Joy Mangano is the inventor and entrepreneur behind this innovative product.
She got the idea for the Miracle Mop while cleaning spilled wine on a boat and getting frustrated with the mopping process.
However, instead of succumbing to her frustrations, Mangano invented a self-wringing mop that would help alleviate the annoyance and hassle of mopping.
Biography Summary
| Joy Mangano is a successful inventor, entrepreneur, and business leader best known for inventing the Miracle Mop.
She has created multiple successful products, including Huggable Hangers and Forever Fragrant line, and holds nearly 100 trademarks and patents. Mangano’s life story is a true rags-to-riches tale that inspires entrepreneurs and creators to pursue their dreams, goals, and opportunities. She has impacted the business development industry by creating an empathetic mindset and has also impacted women entrepreneurs and inventors through the TV show America’s Big Deal and her foundation. Today, Mangano ranks as one of the most iconic inventors in America, leaving behind a legacy that inspires entrepreneurs to be bold, innovative, and tenacious in business. |
The Life Story of Joy Mangano
During an interview, Joy Mangano told Forbes she asks herself one question when working on a new product. Will it be exceptional, innovative, and meaningful to people?
So long as the product meets these three criteria, Mangano works on it since she knows it will make a difference in people’s lives.
She’s asked herself this question in every innovation she’s touched, from the Miracle Mop to Miracle Clean to the Joy Huggable Hanger and Forever Fragrant line.
Joy Mangano has created multiple successful products and holds nearly 100 trademarks and patents.
Let’s look at her life story to see what led her to become an entrepreneur, business leader, and inventor.
Early Life and Inspiration
Joy Mangano was born on February 15, 1956, in Long Island, New York. She, however, grew up and studied at Huntington on Long Island.
As a child, Mangano loved tinkering with home products, trying to make them work better. She once blew up her parent’s toaster after taking it apart to create a new product.
Mangano’s knack for tinkering with equipment in her house earned her a negative reputation, especially when the product failed to function afterward.
During such situations, people often ask, “What’s wrong with Joy?” This question made her feel different from her peers.
“Overcome obstacles one at a time: Sometimes the end goal becomes too daunting, so take things one step at a time and overcome each obstacle as you get to it.” ~Â Joy Mangano
Education and Early Career
Mangano attended elementary and high school in Huntington on Long Island.
After graduating from high school, she worked briefly in a veterinary hospital, where she learned that the number-one cause of cat and dog injuries was getting hit by cars at night.
Mangano invented a fluorescent flea collar that would help make pets visible to oncoming traffic at night. Hartz Mountain released a similar product the following year.
Mangano pursued a degree in business administration at Pace University, New York, where she graduated in 1978.
She started a family, eventually having three children. Mangano worked as a waitress and airline reservations manager before leaving to open her first business.
First Successful Invention: The Miracle Mop
By 1989, life had taken a bad turn for Mangano. She was divorced, raising three kids while still working to support her children.
Life as a single working mom was not easy, but it was worth it since it exposed Mangano to her first successful idea: the Miracle Mop.
Mangano got the idea and concept for the Miracle Mop in 1990 while cleaning spilled wine on a boat. This experience reminded her of the multiple times she got frustrated cleaning up after her three children.
If only someone would design a more efficient mop, that would take away the sting of everyday mopping.
“I’ll see somebody struggling with something, and it doesn’t matter if it’s ironing or mopping or traveling, my brain just starts to percolate.” ~ Joy Mangano
She decided to become that “someone” and developed a prototype for the Miracle Mop. With the prototype ready, Mangano manufactured 100 units using $100,000 of her savings and money borrowed from friends.
Mangano marketed the Miracle Mop directly in parking lots, flea markets, and boat shows but achieved little success.
She later convinced the producers of QVC to feature her product on the network despite having no on-air experience.
This one show became her breakthrough to success. In under 30 minutes, Mangano sold 18,000 mops. Since then, she has sold millions of Miracle Mops.
The short QVC broadcast marked the beginning of Mangano’s success with the Miracle Mop and other inventions.
Since then, she has invented and sold a cohort of other innovative products, such as Huggable Hangers, Rolykit, and the Piatto Bakery Box.
Joy Mangano sold her company, Ingenious Designs, to the Home Shopping Network (HSN) in 1999. She remained with HSN as its president.
Television and Media
Besides serving as HSN’s company president, Mangano also made frequent TV appearances and was recognized as one of the network’s most successful vendors and businesswomen.
Her sales on HSN amounted to more than $150 million per year, topping at least $1 million with every show appearance.
Mangano has also been featured in shorter commercials and infomercials promoting her company’s products.
In an interview, she explained that selling on television presents a unique opportunity to reach a vast audience but calls for enthusiasm to convince customers who cannot touch or test the product.
“It’s easy to design expensive products. But there’s that product democracy that I believe very strongly in to make something affordable for almost anybody that would want to use it.” ~Â Joy Mangano
Mangano’s triumph in business and marketing is due to her ability to communicate her enthusiasm, excitement, and attention to detail to her viewers.
Mangano remained with HSN for nearly two decades after the acquisition. She left in 2019 to pursue other opportunities.
However, she still appears occasionally on the network. Her last appearance was in 2022 when she promoted CleanBoss, a line of home cleaning products.
Joy Mangano’s life has also premiered in a movie, Joy, released in December 2015. The film stars Jennifer Lawrence (who played Joy Mangano), Bradley Cooper, and Robert DeNiro.
Mangano also released her first book, Inventing Joy, for readers who seek to build a creative life.
Her advice to anyone with an innovative idea is to start with what they have and not give up until it comes to fruition.
She often says you don’t have to be intelligent or an expert to work on an idea. You just need to believe you can do it and work on it one step at a time.
Family and Personal Relationships
Joy Mangano is a mother of three children: Robert, Jacqueline, and Christie Miranne, whom she had with Anthony Miranne.
Robert and Christie Miranne help Mangano manage her company, while Jacqueline is a TV host and model.
After Mangano and Anthony divorced in 1989, they remained good friends. Anthony stayed close to the family and was the executive vice president of the company Ingenious Designs.
Philanthropic Work
One way Mangano gives back to the world is through The Joy Mangano Foundation. Partnered with Rising Tide Capital, the foundation educates women entrepreneurs on how to grow their businesses and succeed.
Legacy and Impact
Influence on the Home Shopping Industry
Some people refer to Joy as one of the world’s first influencers because she is one of the most successful pioneers of creating, introducing, and selling to mainstream customers.
She sold millions of her products live on television starting in the 1990s.
Mangano further impacted the business development industry by creating an empathetic mindset. She often says that she invents items to solve her problems and that the bestsellers are those that solve a problem for many people.
Applying this human-centered design during the product development journey is a pillar of many successful creations today.
Impact on Women Entrepreneurs and Inventors
Joy Mangano has impacted women entrepreneurs and inventors through the TV show America’s Big Deal.
This show creates a platform for women to showcase their readily available products and perhaps get their big break, much like she did in 1992.
She also started the Joy Mangano Foundation in 2017 to educate entrepreneurs on how to grow their businesses and be successful.
Significance of Mangano’s Life and LegacyÂ
Today, Mangano ranks as one of the most iconic inventors in America. She has left a legacy that inspires entrepreneurs to be bold, innovative, and tenacious in business.
Joy Mangano started by solving a problem to make her life easier and ended up with a range of products that solve problems for millions.
Conclusion
The life story of Joy Mangano inspires entrepreneurs and creators to pursue their dreams, goals, and opportunities.
It is a true rags-to-riches story that shows us that what we want is within reach if we work for it.
Mangano’s most famous invention, the Miracle Mop, revolutionized the cleaning industry and made her a household name.
She proceeded to create other innovative products, relying on the same formula and tenacity she had with her first invention.
Mangano was never one to give up on an idea. We shouldn’t, either.
Joy Mangano Timeline
Joy Mangano Timeline1956:
Joy Mangano is born in Brooklyn, New York.
1978:
Mangano graduates with a degree in business administration from Pace University and marries Anthony Miranne.
1989:
Mangano and Miranne get a divorce.
1990:
Mangano invents the Miracle Mop as a result of her own frustrating cleaning experience. She creates prototypes and begins selling.
1992:
Mangano pitches the Miracle Mop to QVC and sells more than 18,000 mops within half an hour after appearing on-air.
1997:
Mangano is named Long Island Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & Young.
1999:
Mangano sells Ingenious Designs, her company, to the Home Shopping Network (HSN) but remains to serve as president.
2005:
Mangano becomes a judge on a reality show named Made in the USA.
2015:
Mangano’s life story gets released as a half-fiction biopic, Joy.
2017:
Mangano releases her autobiography, Inventing Joy.
2019:
Mangano leaves the Home Shopping Network.
2021:
Mangano works with USA Network to create and produce America’s Big Deal, the live “shoppable” competition series.
Lessons From the Life of Joy Mangano
One of the main lessons we can learn from Joy Mangano is:
“A no is not a no. It’s a starting point.”
When Joy was marketing the mop she invented, she faced many rejections, and this is expected when you invent something before securing a marketing channel.
Selling something new comes with a struggle, especially when cold-calling.
Some people will give up after a few rejections. While others will keep moving forward with the mentality that someone is bound to be interested.
Why not try a different approach to help you keep going during the early stages of marketing your product?
Let’s have a look at this process.
Instead of just trying to sell your invention, why not make it a research project?
Approach the process as trying to make sales, but when you get a rejection, create a conversation and note the results for each conversation.
Listening to objections rather than fighting them can be extremely valuable information to help you turn a No into a Yes.
You don’t want to persuade the person in this instance but rather get the feedback you can use to improve your product or presentation for the next opportunity.
“Don’t be afraid to have a reality check. Taking risks is OK, but you must be realistic.”~Â Joy Mangano
Rejections Can Lead to Great Insights
You may find problems with your product you haven’t anticipated.
You might find weak selling points. You may find features people ask for that they didn’t realize were part of your product.
When a distributor or customer explains why they are unwilling to deal with you, your first task is to ensure they tell you the reasons and not just say something to get rid of you.
To do so, you can say something like, I would appreciate it if you would give a legitimate reason, and I promise not to try and sell you on it, and you won’t see me again.
You will be extremely helpful with your honest feedback so I can make improvements for the next person.
If the person agrees, your next step is to listen as if your life depended on it. Remember, don’t try and convince. Just get feedback and only ask questions if you need more clarity.
Gather Accurate, Clear Information
Your third task is to record everything the person said as soon as possible.
Recording the information from everyone who rejects your product or idea gives you valuable data to study for improvements and adjustments.
One key point when you have enough data is not to talk to new people until you have addressed the problems you found based on the feedback.
“Find a way and make it happen: I’ve always been the type of person who couldn’t rest until I found a way to make something happen. If I couldn’t go around the rock, I’d find a way to go over it or under it or through it.” ~Â Joy Mangano
It’s Not Always the Product
Sometimes the issues will be obvious. In Joy’s case, with the mop being sold on QVC, Joy knew the problem wasn’t with the product. It was the presentation.
She explained this but received the response, “sorry, it didn’t sell.” She demanded it wasn’t the mop but the presenter.
She also said she would do the TV presentation herself. She was also told no! And they had professional presenters that were talented and sold all QVC products.
She replied that she sold the idea to QVC that the mop worked and could demonstrate the benefits.
She made some great points and got the okay to present the presentation on QVC and was successful at it. Joy used a No as a starting point and got a Yes!
So the next time you receive a No for something important, use it as a starting point for a Yes!
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Frequently Asked Questions
Many of the answers to frequently asked questions related to the life of Joy Mangano are answered in the main article. However, for your convenience, they appear below.
1. How many Miracle Mops did Joy Mangano sell?
During her debut appearance on QVC’s platform in 1992, Mangano sold more than 18,000 units in half an hour. To date, Joy has sold over 10 million Miracle Mops.
2. How much of the movie Joy is a true story?
Director David Russell is said to have described the movie as “not a biopic” but a half-fiction. According to Jennifer Lawrence – the character portraying Joy – it was 50% inspired by the real story of Joy Mangano but is also 50% a work of imagination based on other women that have inspired David.
3. Why did HSN get rid of Joy Mangano?
We are unsure whether HSN purposefully got rid of Mangano.
Officially, she left to pursue new opportunities. In 2019, however, her company, Ingenious Designs, was facing closure due to the consolidation of QVC and HSN under the same parent company.
Joy started working with the HSN brand again in 2021 under her new line, CleanBoss.
4. How much does a Miracle Mop cost?
The original sold for $19.95 on QVC.
5. Is Joy Mangano still in business?
Yes, Joy Mangano is still in business with her new CleanBoss line and has returned to work with the Home Shopping Network since 2021.
6. What is Joy Mangano’s net worth?
Joy Mangano has an estimated net worth of $70 million.
7. What is Joy Mangano doing now?
Joy Mangano started a new line of products under her company, CleanBoss, after she left HSN. Besides writing her autobiography, Inventing Joy, she was also involved in creating and producing the movie Joy and the competition series America’s Big Deal.
8. What are Joy Mangano’s most successful inventions?
Joy Mangano’s most successful creations are the Miracle Mop, Huggable Hangers, Forever Fragrant, My Little Steamer, and Shades Readers.
9. How did Joy Mangano become successful?
Joy Mangano became successful by solving a problem that affected her and thousands of people across America.
She invented the Miracle Mop in the early ’90s. Self-wringing eased the cleaning process for the consumer, and the Miracle Mop quickly became a bestseller on the QVC network.
10. Is Joy Mangano still selling Huggable Hangers?
Yes, Mangano and HSN are still selling Huggable Hangers.
11. What is the Miracle Mop?
The Miracle Mop is a self-wringing mop-and-bucket combination that allows the user to squeeze the head of the mop without exerting much energy, bending, or getting their hands wet.
12. How much did Joy Mangano make from the Miracle Mop?
We can’t be sure how much Mangano made personally, but we know that since 2000, USA Network has been generating sales worth $10 million of Miracle Mops per year.
13. What other products has Joy Mangano invented besides the Miracle Mop and Huggable Hangers?
Joy has invented bestselling products under USA Network, such as:
- Performance Platforms: shoes giving extra height and comfort to the wearer
- Shades Readers: reading glasses sold in a set of three so the owner can store and access them in different locations
- Forever Fragrant: a line of wickless candles, drawer liners, sticks, and other home odor neutralizers
- Memory Cloud Pillows
- My Little Steamer