Entrepreneurs on Fire - The Story of City Bonfires

This episode is a fun chat with the cofounders of City Bonfires. These are two suburban dads who started a company during the pandemic (now their fulltime jobs) making candles and selling all you need for Smores. Yes, candles in a can and marshmellows.... and a business is born. Thom Singer saw their ad on Instagram and knew they had to be guests on the "Making Waves at C-Level" podcast. This episode is a throwback to when the show was called "Cool Things Entrepreneurs Do"....as this is true coolness in action.  About City Bonfires As you can imagine, Covid-19 has impacted many industries across the globe. Maryland natives, Chris McCasland, a sports and concert industry broker and restaurateur, and Michael Opalski, a senior restaurant industry salesman, both endured a loss of income during the pandemic. As the story goes, both were at home for long periods of time with their families (Chris' son Brooks is 4 and Mike's son Alex is 12 and daughter Anna is 9). While at home, Chris started teaching himself e-commerce and searching for cool product ideas. He came up with City Bonfires, a portable, reusable mini bonfire that you can take on all of your outdoor adventures. He enlisted the help of Mike who came up with the design of the product. A 4 inch by 2 inch round metal tin that is filled with non-toxic soy wax. Unlike other soy wax-based products, City Bonfires entire surface becomes the flame - creating a mobile heat source - a mini bonfire! Thus, City Bonfires was born! Each City Bonfire is handmade in Maryland with American-made materials by two Dads whose jobs were impacted by Covid-19. We believe that bonfire nights are the best nights. Gather around our City Bonfire and make memories! As Covid-19 has taught us, life is best spent making memories with our family and friends. So get outside, light up the starry sky and make lasting memories! Meet Chris Co-founder of City Bonfires! Chris is from Germantown, Maryland - in Montgomery County, outside of Washington, D.C. Prior to the pandemic, Chris was in the concert, sports and event ticket industry. He is a part-owner of Quincy's Bar & Grille in Rockville @quincyssouth and Potomac @quincyspotomac. He lives in Potomac with his wife and son, Brooks (5). Here are a few things about Chris:  Dad Superpower? Grilling  What's Your Fav Family Activity?  Watching the @nationals  Parenting True Confession? It's ME who eats all the Goldfish   Meet MichaelCo-founder of City Bonfires! Michael is from Easton, Maryland -  on the Eastern Shore. He went to Clemson University and lives in Potomac, Maryland with his wife and two kids. Here are a few fun things about Michael:  Dad superpower? “Keeping it fun!”  Fav Show to Binge Watch: Big Bang Theory  Fav Song for a Family Dance Party: @lizzobeeating Truth Hurts https://www.thomsinger.com/podcast/city-bonfires Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices