LI's John's Crazy Socks Named 'World's Most Inspirational Enterprise' By Magazine

FARMINGDALE, NY — John's Crazy Socks of Farmingdale was named the world's "most inspirational social enterprise" by LUXlife Magazine as part of the publication's annual Style and Apparel Awards, according to a news release.

"We are grateful for this award," said John Cronin, co-founder and chief happiness officer of John's Crazy Socks. "We are always excited when people see what we are doing to spread happiness."

Cronin is the first person with Down syndrome to win the award.

LUXlife Magazine is a British premium lifestyle publication that covers fashion, beauty, fine dining, travel and luxury real estate.

"We are thrilled to present this award to John’s Crazy Socks," said Stephanie Tooby, awards coordinator for LuxLife. "They represent the best of the best. Congratulations."

John’s Crazy Socks is committed to hiring people with differing abilities. The store created 34 jobs — 22 of which are held by someone with a differing ability. This is all part of the ongoing effort to showcase the talent and skills of people with differing abilities, according to the business.

"At John’s Crazy Socks, we spread happiness by showing what people with differing abilities can do – more than half our colleagues have a differing ability – by Giving Back – we have donated over $550,000 to our charity partners – and by taking care of our customers," said Mark X. Cronin, co-founder and John’s father. "It is our customers who spread happiness by wearing our socks and giving them as gifts to others. The socks make you feel happy."

Each of the Style & Apparel award winners went through an extensive investigation review by a panel of judges and researchers.

The award winners showed evidence of extensive expertise within a given field or discipline, dedication to customer service and client satisfaction with an ongoing commitment to excellence and innovation.

John's Crazy Socks has a "slightly different business model," Mark X. Cronin said.

"We are a social enterprise so we have a social mission and a business purpose and they feed off each other," he said. "Yes, we have great products – we have over 30,000 five-star reviews – but our social mission makes the difference. It allows us to stand out in the marketplace."

John’s Crazy Socks is now the world’s largest sock store with more than 4,000 different sock designs. Their giving back program includes donating five percent of earnings to the Special Olympics, donating five percent from the sale of their Sock of the Month club to the Special Olympics and creating Awareness Socks that raise awareness for causes and money for charity partners like the National Down Syndrome Society and the Autism Society of America.

To date, the company has donated more than $550,000 to its charity partners and has shipped more than 400,000 orders to 88 different countries.

John’s Crazy Socks was inspired by John Lee Cronin, a young man with Down syndrome, and his love of colorful and fun socks — what he calls his "crazy socks." He and his father, Mark X. Cronin, started the company as a social enterprise with the mission of spreading happiness.

For more information about John’s Crazy Socks, you may visit its webpage, Facebook page, Instagram account or YouTube channel.

LUXlife Magazine is a premium lifestyle publication founded in 2015 by the publishing company AI Global Media Ltd. The magazine is distributed to 94,000 people across the globe.