World
Meet the LI entrepreneur with Down syndrome who runs the world’s largest online sock company
This will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy.
A Long Island man with Down syndrome has proved that nothing can stop his dreams — as he has built and runs the world’s largest online sock company and has been able to hire a staff filled with others who face similar challenges.
John Cronin, 28, co-founded the Farmingdale-based John’s Crazy Socks in 2016 with his family because of his love of wacky socks and has since become a hosiery mogul, selling upward of two million orders with 4,000 designs and donating nearly $800,000 to charities.
“I’ve got a very meaningful job here,” the 28-year-old, told The Post.
Since hitting it big in the stocking market, Cronin has had many honors, such as being invited to speak to Congress and the United Nations on behalf of those with differing abilities.
The local entrepreneur, who often travels for speaking engagements, even developed a friendship with the late President George HW Bush. The two would send each other socks.
Cronin, a Huntington resident and former Special Olympian, began his enterprise after struggling to find a job after high school, he said.
The young man approached his family and insisted they start a sock company because he would collect wacky ones while on vacation.
“I know how fun it is, and I wanted to share that. I couldn’t be the only one who wanted to buy them,” Cronin said. He now runs the business with his parents, Mark and Carol, and his older brother, Jamie.
Orders range from prints that raise awareness for causes such as Down syndrome and autism to socks that celebrate different holidays and snacks. They also sell crowd favorites with Harry Potter and SpongeBob themes.
Cronin wears many hats in his role and does whatever the company needs. He also created a special Down syndrome awareness sock, among other designs.
Early success came as he stole the show and hearts of customers. Initially, Cronin would often hand-deliver socks.
“John would walk up to a house and be invited in for ten minutes,” his mother Carol, 66, who handles bulk orders, told The Post. “One time, he even came back with a $10 tip.”
Now servicing 89 nations, each fulfillment still gets a personal touch by being packed with a special note and candy. Cronin is known professionally as the brand’s “chief happiness officer.”
The fun-loving co-founder — he recently wrote “Let’s Go Mets” to a Pennsylvania customer who ordered Phillies socks — boasted that Jeff Bezos isn’t doing that.
A chance to shine
As the business grew, so did Cronin’s mission. He made it a pillar objective to give employment opportunities to others with differing abilities. Cronin personally knows how hard it can be to land a job.
“I couldn’t do it without them,” Cronin said. “They work so hard, and they make it possible to show [what people like us can do].”
Cronin’s brother Jamie, 31, oversees the warehouse personnel. It is currently at 35 for the busy holiday season.
He quickly recognized that staff is held to the same standard and task intensity as anyone else.
Given the high order volume, Jamie also stressed the need for efficiency and worker independence.
“We are a for-profit business at the end of the day,” he told The Post.
Carol added that their hard-working employees’ error margin is well below 1%.
The numbers relay a mighty sentiment from Jamie’s “second in command, ” Gary Rottkamp, 57, who has autism. He strongly believes those with differing abilities deserve a fair shot at work.
“They should give people a chance to see if they can do the job correctly,” Rottkamp told The Post. “It’s best for business.”
Rottkamp has worked at John’s Crazy Socks for seven years. The reason is simple.
“It’s fulfilling to me,” he said. “The people here are wonderful.”