FOXBusiness.com is reporting on the story of John Cronin, founder of John’s Crazy Socks which is described as an “online one-stop sock shop” that sells over 1,300 pair of colorful and fun socks for every occasion. Since opening their Web doors in December of 2016, business has been booming.
“Down syndrome never holds me back,” John told FOX Business. “I love inspiring people.”
It all started in 2016 when John was finishing high school and, like so many other young people his age, was wondering what to do with his life.
“He started talking to me about going in to business,” said Mark X. Cronin, John’s father and co-founder and president of John’s Crazy Socks.
He had some interesting ideas, such as operating a food truck, but there were logistical reasons why that idea wouldn’t fly.
“I had a problem, my dad and I, both of us can’t cook!” John laughs.
But John had a great love for colorful socks and this eventually became the inspiration for John’s Crazy Socks.
But this company doesn't just carry any old socks.
“We seek those socks that will make a difference, that will make you smile or laugh, that will tug at your heart, that will add some zest to your life. We are all about socks that will matter to you, that you will love and cherish,” the website states.
“We are on a mission to spread happiness, and we are spreading that message through socks,” Mark said.
Father and son work hard at their mission and put a personal touch on every order they ship, which includes John’s story, some candy, and often a hand-written note by John. In addition, each buyer gets two discount cards, “one for you and one to give to a friend.”
Of course, there were a few snags in the start-up, such as how many manufacturers were reluctant to do business with a company that had no track record.
“I think there was an assumption on many that this was a quaint, little business, you were doing part time and on the side. When they find out, in our first year, we are going to do $1.2 to $1.3 million dollars, that makes people sit up,” says Mark X. Cronin. “Which I would suggest is pretty good for a startup.”
They have recently expanded into a 6,400 square foot warehouse with offices in Melville, New York. John spends his days working alongside the employees, packing orders, making phone calls, and coming up with initiatives like the sock-of-the-month club.
But it’s not about the money. This father and son want to give back and donate five percent of their sales to charity such as the National Down Syndrome Society and Special Olympics where John has been a long-time athlete.
They also carry specialty socks for causes such as autism and hire employees with disabilities.
“We are demonstrating that by working with people with special needs they become an asset, they become a reason for our success, not a liability, not an obstacle,” Mark said.
“Ours is a business built on love.”
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