John's Crazy Socks Honored

HUNTINGTON, NY — John's Crazy Socks, a Melville-based online retailer, was given special recognition by Huntington Councilwoman Joan Cergol at the August 6 Town Board meeting, the Town announced.

The business was recently named a winner of a national accounting firm’s Entrepreneur of the Year Awards, where John Cronin became the first man with Down syndrome to win it.

John and his father, Mark X. Cronin, both Huntington residents, founded the company two years ago. After John graduated high school, he said he wanted to go into business with his father, and they settled on one that capitalized on John’s fondness for unusual socks. From humble beginnings, the firm has grown into one that produced $5.5 million in revenue in its second year, selling 2,300 varieties of socks and receiving more than 20,000 online reviews.

The company stands out as one that's dedicated to making a social impact. More than half of its workforce has differing abilities, including John. Through videos, social media, school tours, work group and speaking engagements, the Cronins demonstrate what those with differing abilities can do.

The company also pledges 5 percent of its earnings to the Special Olympics and donates money from their Awareness and Charity sock lines to other charity partners, including more than $300,000 for the National Down Syndrome Society, the Autism Society of America and the Williams Syndrome Association, among other groups. Mark and John Cronin have spread their message of maximizing potential and social consciousness through speaking engagements across the United States, Canada and Mexico.

In June, the accounting firm Ernst & Young presented John’s Crazy Socks with one of its 2019 New York Region Entrepreneur of the Year Awards, in the Mission Drive category. The awards recognize entrepreneurs and leaders of high-growth companies for innovation, financial performance and their impact on the world.

"Their workplace is absolutely amazing," said Cergol via press release, who visited it a few months ago. "John and Mark Cronin are truly inspirational as role models for successful business plans and corporate responsibility. We have known this for some time, and it is exciting to see that they are receiving national recognition for their work. I wish them even greater success in the future."

Those interested in purchasing a pair or two of crazy socks can do so on the John's Crazy Socks website.