Suffolk County Legislator Manuel Esteban visited John’s Crazy Socks to learn more about our business and what he and the Suffolk County Legislature can do to support small businesses and to promote the employment of people with differing abilities.
During the visit, John Cronin, the co-founder and inspiration for John’s Crazy Socks, gave Legislator Esteban and his Chief of Staff, Maria Barbara, a tour of operations and they met with staff working at John’s Crazy Socks. The visitors wanted to hear from staff about their accomplishments and how important the job was to them. Mr. Esteban was most interested in how John’s Crazy socks employs people with differing abilities since that is a very important issue for him.
John Schneider, who works as a Sock Wrangler, told the visitors, “I love working at John’s Crazy Socks. I love working with my colleagues and helping them. I love that we spread happiness.”
Legislator Esteban said, “Thank you to John’s Crazy Socks for a wonderful tour. The mission of this company is to spread happiness and they certainly do! As a Legislator it is always very encouraging for me to see such good businesses and neighbors in our communities.”
As part of their mission to show what people with differing abilities can do, John’s Crazy socks hosts tours and work groups from high schools and social service agencies. Legislator Esteban met with one of the work groups and heard from them how they value the opportunity to see what a job is like and what it would be to work at a place like John’s Crazy Socks.
“It is important to give employment opportunities to all,” said Legislator Esteban.
The Legislator and his Chief of Staff met with John Cronin and his father and co-founder Mark X. Cronin to discuss ways the County Legislature can support the employment of people with differing abilities, to support entrepreneurship and small businesses. John’s Crazy Socks, as a member of the CEO Commission on Disability Employment, advocates for the elimination of the sub-minimum wage, which allows employers to pay a person with a disability less than minimum wage.
John Cronin said, “We want to show that people with differing abilities are ready, willing and able to work. We do good work.”
Mark X. Cronin said, “We want to show other businesses that hiring people with differing abilities makes for good business. We urge people not to be blinded by a person’s limitations, but be awed by their possibilities.”
John and Mark recently recorded their second TEDx Talk entitled, “Hiring People with People with Differing Abilities is Not Altruism, It Is Good Business.” That Talk is available on YouTube and the TED platform.
About John’s Crazy Socks
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.” Is now the world’s largest sock store. John and his father, Mark X. Cronin, started the company as a social enterprise with a mission to spread happiness. They spread happiness by offering the socks you can love that let you express yourself, by giving back, by creating jobs for people with differing abilities and spreading happiness.
For more information about John’s Crazy Socks, visit our webpage, Facebook page, Instagram account or YouTube channel. You can also contact us at 631-760-5625 or via email at service@johnscrazysocks.com.
