For Subscribers

She's Got Legs Pantyhose vending machines

By Pamela Rohland

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

On her way to a job interview four years ago, Janice McLean gota hole in her stocking that "you could see from Seattle."Horrified, she ran into a convenience store and bought a pair ofpantyhose, then realized that she had no place to put them on.Fortunately, her future employer didn't hold the fashion fauxpas against her, and she got the job. But her experience set the31-year-old former administrative assistant on a mission: Toinstall pantyhose vending machines in restrooms across America.

Today, her Baltimore company, McLean Machines and Company Inc.,exists to keep women safe from pantyhose disasters, offering fourtypes of legwear styles in small to extra large for $2 to $4 apair. Twenty-three vending machines are installed in churches,municipal buildings and airports in the Baltimore area, but McCleanhopes that's just the beginning. She plans to install themachines wherever hoseless women can be found: in schools, busdepots, hospitals, theaters and other hot spots around the country.McLean will also offer the vending machines to women-friendlybusinesses.

McLean researched the business before jumping in, readingvending industry publications and visiting the U.S. Patent andTrademark Office to learn whether anyone else had a similarbusiness. "There were vending machines that sold pantyhosealong with other products," she says, "but no one had acurrent patent on a vending machine that sold only pantyhose."The coast was clear for McLean to have an engineer design a vendingmachine that she could turn into a prototype. She invested $3,000in the endeavor-$2,000 in personal savings and a $1,000 microloanfrom a local business incubator, Women Entrepreneurs of Baltimore.Marketing the business wasn't a problem. Baltimore BusinessJournal and other media learned about the enterprise throughword-of-mouth and ran articles about the vending business. NowMcLean is working on a new line of hosiery called Uni that shehopes retailers will pick up. "The biggest hold-up forme," she says, "is having the time to reach all thepotential markets."

Contact Source

McLean Machines & Co. Inc., (866) 515-5010

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Business News

Starbucks Is Looking to Remove Seed Oils From Some of Its Food Products

The coffee giant is also launching a new egg bite made with avocado oil.

Business News

Barbara Corcoran Did 'Crazy Things' to Retain Employees, From Hot Air Balloon Rides to a Free Bentley: 'We Had No Turnover'

Corcoran sold her brokerage firm, The Corcoran Group, for close to $70 million in 2001.

Business News

Microsoft, OpenAI, and Anthropic Pour $23 Million into an AI Training Center for Teachers

The hub will train teachers to use AI for tasks like generating lesson plans.

Growing a Business

How to Turn Summer Travel into More Business and Less Taxes

When you pursue business opportunities in the places you love to visit, you can make your summer profitable and fun.

Business News

Wimbledon Player Begs Morgan Stanley to Give His 'Lucky Charm' Sister More Time Off Work

Ben Shelton, ranked No. 10 in the world, is playing in the quarter-final round on Wednesday.