Joy Mangano facts for kids

Joy Mangano (born February 1, 1956) is an American inventor and entrepreneur. She is famous for creating many useful products, like the self-wringing Miracle Mop. Joy was the head of Ingenious Designs, LLC, and often appeared on the TV shopping channel HSN. She later started her own company called Clean Boss, which makes cleaning products.

Joy wrote a book about her life called Inventing Joy in 2017. A movie from 2015, also called Joy, was inspired by her story. The actress Jennifer Lawrence played Joy in the movie. A musical based on her life, also named Joy, started in 2022. In 2021, she hosted a TV show called America's Big Deal. This show helped new inventors share their ideas.

Joy Mangano's Early Life and Education

Joy Mangano was born in Brooklyn, New York. She grew up in Huntington, New York. Joy started inventing things when she was young. As a teenager, she worked at an animal hospital. She thought of a special collar that would glow in the dark to keep pets safe. Another company released a similar product soon after.

After high school, Joy went to Pace University. She studied business and graduated in 1978. She worked many different jobs. She was a waitress and managed airline reservations. She also raised her three children as a single mom.

Joy Mangano's Career as an Inventor

Joy Mangano has invented many products. She has patents for over 100 different inventions. She believes her products are popular because they help many people. Joy says she is like everyone else. She is a mom who works and has a house to clean. She tries to create products that solve common problems.

The Famous Miracle Mop

In 1990, Joy got tired of ordinary mops. She decided to invent something better. Her first big invention was the "Miracle Mop." This mop can wring itself out. It has a long cotton head that keeps your hands dry.

Joy used her own savings and money from family and friends. She made a first version of the mop. Then, she made 1,000 mops in her father's body shop. She sold the mops at shows and in local stores. Later, she sold 1,000 mops to QVC, a TV shopping channel.

At first, the mops sold slowly. But then, QVC let Joy go on TV to sell the mop herself. She sold 18,000 mops in less than 30 minutes! Joy named her company Arma Products. Later, she changed it to Ingenious Designs. In 1999, she sold Ingenious Designs to USA Networks. By the year 2000, her company was selling millions of dollars worth of Miracle Mops each year.

Other Popular Inventions

Joy Mangano has invented many other successful products. Here are some of them:

• Huggable Hangers – These hangers are covered in velvet. They are thin and stop clothes from slipping off. They also save space in your closet. Oprah Winfrey liked them, and over a billion have been sold!
• Forever Fragrant – This is a line of products that make your home smell nice. They include sticks, candles, and shoe shapers. Joy once sold 180,000 units in one day on HSN.
• Clothes It All Luggage System – This is a line of wheeled luggage. It has many pockets and features to help you organize your things. There are different sizes, from small bags to a portable dresser.
• Performance Platforms – These are shoes with a special rubber heel. They give you extra height. Joy sold 30,000 pairs in three hours on HSN. The shoes come in different styles like sneakers and sandals.
• Comfort & Joy Textiles – This includes bedding made from soft cotton. The duvet covers have zippers and are easy to clean.
• Shades Readers – These are reading glasses. They are sold in sets of three or more. This way, you can keep them in different places around your home. Joy has sold over 13 million pairs of these glasses.

Joy Mangano on Television

Joy started appearing on QVC in 1992. Soon after, she became a regular on HSN. She is one of the most successful sellers on HSN. Her sales often go over $1 million in just one hour! Joy also appeared in commercials for her products.

She says selling on TV lets her reach many people. But she needs to be truly excited about her products. This helps convince people who can't touch or try the product. An HSN executive said Joy's success comes from her "passion, excitement and pride." In 2019, she left HSN to try new things. However, by 2022, Joy was back on HSN. She was promoting her CleanBoss line of cleaning products.

Other TV Shows

In 2005, Joy was a judge on a TV show called Made in the USA. She also appeared on the ABC show The View in 2007.

Awards and Honors

In 1997, Joy Mangano was named Long Island Entrepreneur of the Year. This award recognized her as a top business person. In 2009, she was on Fast Company's list of The 100 Most Creative People in Business. The next year, she was on their list of The 10 Most Creative Women in Business.

Joy is also on the advisory board for the United Inventors Association (UIA). This group helps other inventors.

Joy Mangano's Personal Life

Joy Mangano married Tony Miranne in 1978. They both graduated from Pace University. They divorced in 1989. They have three children: Christie, Robert, and Jacqueline. Joy lives in St. James, New York.

See also

In Spanish: Joy Mangano para niños

• List of inventors