21yo and his father build six-figure business

JOHN CRONIN's message is simple, "socks, socks and socks," but the mission of this 21-year-old Down syndrome entrepreneur is far more powerful: breaking stereotypes about what people with disabilities can do.

"Down syndrome never holds me back," said John Cronin, founder of John's Crazy Socks, at FOX Business. "I love to inspire people."

In 2016, John was finishing high school and, like other young men, he had to make an important decision.

Not loving the choices he faced, John turned to his father Mark and said, "I want to go into business with you." John had already worked with his father and he thought the best way to find a job that he would like was to create one.

John so began to dream of business ideas, including a "fun shop" – they are still trying to find out – and a food truck.

Finally, John's love for colorful socks became a source of inspiration, and in December 2016, John's Crazy Socks, a one-stop online store, opened its doors. doors. From socks inspired by food to dog team socks, John's Crazy Sock now boasts more than 1,300 pairs of outrageous socks.

"I love socks because they're fun, they're colorful and they keep your feet warm," says John at Time.

Mark adds: "John had been wearing crazy socks all his life, that was his thing, we were going to get them, it looked like John liked socks so much, and so did others.

Before launching their online store and convincing some vendors to sell them a bit of inventory, they did a little marketing – they created a Facebook page and shot low-fi videos with John speaking of his socks.

Since the launch of the site, business has been booming.

"We are on a mission to spread happiness, and we spread this message through socks," Mark said.

Every order is shipped the same day and includes John's story, often a note handwritten by John, some lollipops and two discount cards – "one for you and one to give to a friend" .

Like any start-up, John's Crazy Socks has encountered its share of challenges. Initially, the manufacturers refused to do business with a start-up that had no antecedent.

"I think there was a guess on a lot that it was a quaint, small business, you were part-time and on the side. When they learn, in our first year, we will pay 1.3 million US dollars (1.7 million Australian dollars), which will allow people to sit down, said Mark. in place. "

The company recently shipped socks to former president George HW Bush, comedian Kevin James and Houston Texans football player JJ Watt.

More than profits, John and Mark are determined to give back. Five percent of their sales go to charity, like the National Down Syndrome Society, and they have specialized socks for causes like Autism Awareness. In addition, John and Mark's staff includes employees who have a disability.

"We demonstrate that by working with people with special needs, they become an badet, they become a reason for our success, not a liability, not an obstacle, we had to overcome that," he said. Mark.

"It feels good to know that I have a full day of work and that I can go home and am happy," said Elyssa, a sock collector.

"It really shows that you can do anything you want, no matter what," recalls Alex, the sock coachman.

The team has recently expanded and now has its headquarters in a warehouse and office in New York. John spends his days working with his colleagues, packing orders, making phone calls and offering unique initiatives such as the Monday Madness Mystery Bag and a sock club of the month. Mark and John also make it a priority to keep fans up-to-date on John's social networks.

Every day John and Mark post videos and photos on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook. John's posts on social media reach 80,000 fans on Facebook and have more than three million video views. Videos of John's speaking at galas, lobbying in Washington, walking as Grand Marshal of the National Down Syndrome Society's Buddy Walk, or even taking the train for a business meeting inspire millions of people around the world.

"John and I have this special partnership, we both know that we need one of the other, we are engaged in the mission we have and we want to work together, I am a lucky man to be able to work with my son. "said Mark.

"I tell the world that I can really do anything," says John.

– With Matthew Libbadi, Fox News