John’s Crazy Socks from Farmingdale proves that no challenge can stop someone determined to achieve greatness.
28-year-old John Cronin from Huntington, Long Island, was born with Down syndrome. However, this did not stop him from co-founding John’s Crazy Socks, the world’s largest online sock company.
As if that weren’t wonderful enough, he has also hired staff members with disabilities and challenges.
After high school, when he struggled to find a job due to his condition, he insisted his family start a crazy socks business.
As an avid collector of fun and quirky socks, Cronin believed there were many others like him who shared a love for funky socks.
Launched in 2016 with the support of his older brother Jamie, as well as his parents, Mark and Carol, John’s Crazy Socks has grown into a multimillion-dollar social enterprise.
Headquartered in Farmingdale, the sock company is a for-profit business that has sold over 2 million orders and has also donated nearly $800,000 to various charities.
A former Special Olympian and a confident man, Cronin has likely taken on every role in the company, from designing socks to packaging, and even hand-delivering them to customers, winning their hearts in the process.
He loves creating designs based on various themes, such as seasonal holidays and snacks, among the nearly 4,000 total designs.
Popular designs created by Cronin include Harry Potter and SpongeBob patterns, as well as designs that raise awareness about Down syndrome and autism.
Customers are always delighted when they receive an order from John’s Crazy Socks, as each package includes a special note and a candy.
Aware of the challenges of finding a job due to his condition, Chief Happiness Officer Cronin made it his mission to expand opportunities as the company grew.
The company now ships socks to 89 countries worldwide and has expanded to a team of 35 staff members during the busy holiday season.
The young enterpreneur believes his success would not have been possible without his staff. His employees, most of them with differing abilities, work really hard to prove themselves, which makes him proud.
Founded with the mission of spreading happiness, the company boasts an error margin of less than 1%, according to his mother, Carol.
The company’s employees enjoy working with Cronin and his family, appreciating the equal treatment and the fair opportunities they receive.
Thanks to his amazing business acumen, Cronin has been invited to speak at the United Nations and before the Congress.
He is the first entrepreneur with Down syndrome to win the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, as well as the Henry Viscardi Achievement Award.
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