In the late '90s, fired by a desire to trademark and eventually sell the clever name "Hint Mint," then 20-year-old Harley Cross quickly discovered that you can't trademark a name without actually making a product. Completely unfamiliar with the world of manufacturing, he knew if he were to take on this challenge, he would need the help of someone he could trust. Harley made his first great business decision when he called his childhood friend, Cooper Bates.
As partners, the two shared a similar artistic sesibility and tenacious drive. From start to finish, they would take on and produce this adventure themselves. Headquarters were set up in Cooper's one-bedroom apartment, where the two spent much time reading, sampling mints (and more mints) and designing and redesigning tin after tin... always striving for perfection.
They were seeking to create something beautiful, so alive with style that it would have a personality. The pair wanted to redefine the perception of mints from mere breath aids to elegant, funtional accessories. To do that, they needed to blend the finest elements of culture and confection. Each potential customer had to be moved when they were in the presence of Hint Mint.
When they were through, what they had was a subtly-curved '20s-style tin, adorned with art nouveau/deco design, containing 35 smooth, signature leaf-imprinted tablets. All were made without adding aspartame, gelatin, or any other animal by-product. Hint Mints are beautiful, powerful, and natural. In April 2000, Hint Mint sold their first order of 750 tins. By year's end, only ten months later, they had sold over one million.
In addition to being the founder of Hint Mint, Harley Cross is an actor, having performed in the Merchant-Ivory film "A Soldier's Daughter Never Cries" and "Interstate 84," produced by Kevin Spacey. Copper Bates, who today runs all aspects of Hint Mint, is also an actor, a screenplay writer, and a director.