Wahooo Market by John Founders Judge Student Business Pitches at Huntington High

John Cronin and Mark X. Cronin, founders of Wahooo Market by John on Main Street in Huntington Village, volunteered as guest judges for student business pitches at Huntington High School in late October.

For John, it was a return to familiar halls. He started John's Crazy Socks, the business that grew into Wahooo Market by John, while he was still a student at Huntington High. “I love Huntington High School,” said John.

A New Course Connects Students with Local Business

Huntington High School is offering AP Business for the first time this year. Tamara Richards, the school's Work-Based Learning Coordinator, invited local business owners to judge the course's pitch projects, held October 26–29 in the HHS Library. Her aim was to give students real-world feedback and build ties with the Huntington business community.

Students in Bryan Outsen's class each delivered a three-minute pitch, followed by a minute of questions from the judges. Every pitch had to identify a real problem and explain how the student's business would solve it.

Judges scored each presentation on delivery, the problem and solution, market and competition, and mission and ethics. They also answered two final questions: would you invest, and would you buy the product?

From Food Waste to Sweaty Sneakers

Student ideas included a business to reduce food waste, a tent for backcountry hikers, a device that dries wet and sweaty sneakers, a self-cleaning water bottle, and a training program and facility for high school athletes.

The Cronins said the students were well informed and their presentations were clearly structured, each opening with the problem it set out to solve.

"I was still a student at Huntington High School when I started John's Crazy Socks," said John Cronin. "I understand how these students are both excited and scared. I want to give back and help them."

"It is important that we engage in the community," said Mark X. Cronin. "The more we can do for others, the better off we are. We love working with students through our work group program, our internships, and speaking engagements."

A Main Street Business Rooted in Huntington

For Wahooo Market by John, pitch day is one part of a steady commitment to Huntington. Students from local schools work at the Main Street store through work group programs, interns learn how a retail and online business runs, and John and Mark regularly speak to students in classrooms and on campuses. The pair are involved in many community activities. Mark serves on the.board of the Huntington Chamber of Commerce and John is active in the Chamber’s Young Professionals Committee.

The store at 328A Main Street in Huntington Village is a place for neighbors to shop, visit, and meet the people behind the business. Its mission is to spread happiness and show what people with differing abilities can do. Visitors love how just walking into the store makes them feel happy.

The Cronins thanked Ms. Richards and Mr. Outsen for the invitation and congratulated every student who pitched.

About Wahooo Market by John

John loves socks, colorful, fun, creative socks, that’s why he started John’s Crazy Socks. John’s been leading this business for nearly ten years. He’s ready to grow beyond socks; that’s why he started Wahooo Market by John. You can find his socks there, but so much more: Apparel, home goods, jewelry, snacks and even dog treats. There are fabulous gifts, and everything is made by people with differing abilities or companies that employ them.

The store is located at 328A Main Street, Huntington, NY 11743, and online at wahooomarket.com.