Stokes Natural Firestarters

With some seed money from his parents, Adam launched an assembly line in the basement. With the help of relatives and friends, marketing and packaging followed. The first shipment went to a local farmer’s market in January 2013. STOKES were such a hit that shortly after, Russell’s Garden Center purchased all of his inventory. Today, with a more mature manufacturing process in place, STOKES are now carried by over 700 stores in 13 states and across Canada. You can find STOKES in a variety of retail locations including large chains such as Whole Foods and Market Basket, over 1,300 ACE Hardware Stores, local stores and farm stands, and online at The Grommet, Vermont Country Store, and on Amazon.(Please go to our store locator to see who is near you.) In 2014 Adam partnered with Charles River Center to produce STOKES. Charles River Center assists adults with disabilities to obtain gainful employment in their communities. This partnership has proven to be a wonderful experience for all. In 2016 Adam was a finalist at MassChallenge in Boston and learned a lot from his experience there. 2018 saw the expansion of STOKES into the Canadian market made possible with a partnership with RONA to bring Stokes to over 400 ACE Hardware stores. Stokes was also picked up by the online retailer Sierra Trading Post. Today, Adam lives in Wayland with his parents, sister, and beloved Golden Retriever Boone. On most days, you can find Adam working hard at school and STOKES while enjoying skiing, lacrosse and hanging out with friends in his free time. Adam’s goal is to keep producing a great STOKE that works every time and grow the business organically while continuing to partner with Charles River as he grows.