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Made in Michigan!
Call us at 1.877.491.5655
Cangles®.....Fashionably Green!
The Cangles Story. In August 2009, the 4 of us were discussing our dismay over the deteriorated economy of Michigan, not to exclude our personal situations! It is especially heartbreaking for us to drive through the neighborhoods where our family lived for three generations. What were once thriving neighborhoods are today home to poverty and dozens of boarded-up businesses.
It was during this conversation that the idea of using the plentiful supply of cans to make bangles was born. This resonated so strongly among the four of us that right then and there we created a plan to pursue our dream of turning recycled cans into something useful but fashionable. By doing this, we could make a personal contribution to reducing waste in our oceans and landfills and hopefully grow to the extent that we could employ people in need from our community. You will see by our bios that none of us had a background in manufacturing jewelry! Despite that fact, we were determined to make it work. The name Cangles, as a combination of cans+bangles, was chosen.
Fast Forward a Year. Yes, by trial and error we developed the process by which we create our Cangles jewelry, all hand-tooled. From bangles we progressed to 1-inch cuffs, then 1/2-inch cuff style bracelets, next came earrings, and, most recently, hair clips. We've also had the pleasure of designing four bracelets exclusively licensed by Save the Earth Foundation, available at www.CanglesStore.com. Proceeds from those sales directly aid the Foundation in their environmental research and education efforts.
Everyone is aware of the fact that Michigan has been especially hard hit economically. Therefore, when available, we buy materials used in the production and shipment of Cangles from local businesses. Above all, we always purchase within the United States. Our goal is still to grow to the extent that we can employ local people who have lost their jobs. And with an unemployment rate of 18 percent, there's definitely a need for jobs!
In addition to Save the Earth Foundation, Cangles LLC donates all aluminum tabs to the Ronald McDonald House in
Detroit, Michigan, in memory of Nicole Emily Briggs, who lived her life from August 16, 1986 to March 12, 1990. To date we have donated 6800 tabs.
Our family, through Cangles LLC, additionally donates $1 from the sale of every bracelet made from a Vernors can to the Angel Food Ministries. $1 from each of our military tribute bracelets is donated to the Wounded Warrior Project, tor a total to date of $200. Finally, we offer for sale two special Cangles "Cure" bracelets. Cangles, LLC made a donation of $25 to Susan G. Komen for the Cure ® on 9-6-2010, $1 for each sale.
We've dedicated Cangles to our mother, Shirley Jean,
who instilled in us her love and respect of nature.
And now just a little bit about each of us, in our own words.
Hi. I'm Sue. I was born here in Michigan, and in spite of attending college, traveling and working in different states, I met my future husband back here in Vassar. We have been married for 37 years and have two daughters. As a family we enjoy camping and working in our own yard. My husband keeps the grass mowed to perfection, and we both attend to the landscaping. We also worked as volunteer EMTs while working in our chosen professions. I grew up knowing not only my grandparents but my great grandparents. Childhood was a time of being with family, taking part in many different sports such as skating, golfing, bowling, tennis, swimming in Lake Huron and Lake Michigan, and dare I say bossing my younger siblings around. Maybe that’s why they decided I would make a good president of Cangles, LLC., or maybe it was because I told them that would be my position in the company!! Either way, I look forward to helping keep used cans out of our landfills and creating jewelry for you to enjoy. 
Hello, I’m Sherry, and I was born and raised in Michigan and grew up enjoying the beauty of the Great Lakes and all the natural wonders that Michigan has to offer. Upon the death of my husband while living in Pennsylvania, I moved back to Michigan and at that time began to fully understand the economic hardships that it faced, while also noting the many landfills and fading beauty of our natural resources. Being from a closeknit family and having been raised by fun-loving, caring parents and relatives, we discussed what we could do to help the economic and environmental problems we’re facing, and that’s when we came up with Cangles. In Cangles, you will find different aspects of our personalities - humor, whimsy, and style.
Without Scott's technical expertise, Cangles would not be possible. He's also involved in all aspects of manufacturing and processing of the jewelry; handles shipping documentation; business analyses.
Hi, I’m Scott. I raised three daughters and a son right here in Michigan, and now am having fun watching three grandkids grow up. Weather permitting, I enjoy golfing, and always find time to listen to music. My collection of oldLPs is legendary around here! Due to the extremely tough economic conditions in Michigan, I was looking for an alternative to my present career from which I am currently laid off. One day while talking with my sisters, we decided to try starting a business of our own. We came up with making jewelry out of aluminum cans. There is plenty of material readily available, and we would be doing our part in helping to clean up the Earth. The other great thing about our venture is the possibility of supplying jobs in the state with the highest unemployment rate in the nation.
Hi, I’m Shannon - Yes, another “S” - and the very unofficial spokesperson for Cangles on this Web site. I served two years in the U.S. Army as a medical specialist, and with the GI Bill in hand came back and attended college in Michigan. In 1978 I received my degree in court reporting and soon thereafter joined my husband at a military base in Texas. For the better part of 30 years I worked as a court reporter, most recently at ReportersInk, the premier agency in West Texas/Southern New Mexico. I guess that’s why I’m the one writing here about Cangles: They figured I could put the commas and periods in the right place! Even though I’ve spent many years away from my home state of Michigan, my heart has remained here. The tragedy of its deteriorating economy and the effect that’s having on everybody’s lives is truly heart-breaking. In some small yet meaningful way, I want our company to play a role in reversing this trend.
Sue does creative design plus all facets of jewelry manufacturing and processing; head of photography; and does a fabulous job as editor of our blog.
Sherry is our chief designer; graphic artist; works in the manufacture and processing of our eco jewelry; maintains Cangles Military Facebook page.
I'm responsible for advertising; marketing; customer services; correspondence; Web site and Web store development, management & maintenance; general administration; Facebook page maintenance
