Aleteia logoAleteia logoAleteia
Sunday 22 December |
Saint of the Day: Bl. Jutta of Diessenberg
Aleteia logo
Inspiring Stories
separateurCreated with Sketch.

Meet the entrepreneur with Down syndrome who created a million dollar company (VIDEO)

JOHN CRONIN,JOHNS CRAZY SOCKS,BUSINESS

John's Crazy Socks

Cerith Gardiner - published on 01/23/18

John Cronin and his father prove that one extra chromosome doesn't need to stand in the way of dreams.

Help Aleteia continue its mission by making a tax-deductible donation. In this way, Aleteia's future will be yours as well.

Donate with just 3 clicks

*Your donation is tax deductible!

What is the main ingredient in setting up a successful million-dollar business? Well, if you ask John Cronin, who has Down syndrome, and his father, Mark X. Cronin (we can’t help thinking that ‘X’ is in honor of his son), they might tell you that it’s doing something that you love while thinking of others.

In a recent video made by the BBC, the pair talk about John’s desire to start a business with his dad after he graduated from school. And just like many father and sons who go into business, they sat down to discuss what they wanted to do — cue a very adorable father-son moment. With the onus being on fun, they decided to follow John’s lifelong passion and create an online sock business, aptly named John’s Crazy Socks, offering an assortment of 1,500 styles.

Yet, John wanted to add another personal touch to his company. Every order comes with a thank-you message and some candy, and if you happen to live in Long Island, you might be surprised to have the footwear entrepreneur knocking on your door to deliver your parcel in person.

The company has a staff of 12, including eight people with disabilities, and it donates 5 percent of profits to the Special Olympics. John also keeps busy by creating some “awareness socks” that raise money for good causes. “We’re creating happiness through socks,” he says, with a big grin on his face.

And he’s not the only happy businessman. In one exceptionally sweet part of the video, John’s father tenderly shares how they both “need each other” and that he couldn’t run the company without his son by his side. A gleeful John, cuddling up to him, says: “Down syndrome never holds me back.” To which we say, keep socking it to us, young man!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcplGnfGiGE


DOWN SYNDROME,MISS MINNESOTA,MIKAYLA HOLMGREN
Read more:
Meet the woman with Down syndrome who just competed in Miss Minnesota USA

Tags:
Down SyndromeFamilyInspiration
Aleteia exists thanks to your donations

Help us to continue our mission of sharing Christian news and inspiring stories. Please make a donation today! Take advantage of the end of the year to get a tax deduction for 2024.

2025-Aleteia-Pilgrimage-300×250-1.png
Daily prayer
And today we celebrate...




Top 10
See More
Newsletter
Get Aleteia delivered to your inbox. Subscribe here.