10 Socks Business Success Stories [2024]
Socks are a low-cost, high-profit business. One of the more affordable businesses you can start.
The market itself has a size of 47 billion USD in 2020 with an annual growth rate of 6%..
If you want to be successful in this industry, it is important that your socks are comfy to wear and stylish to look at. People would want to wear socks that will make them look great without sacrificing comfort.
Here are some real life success stories of starting a socks business:
1. Sock Club ($12M/year)
Dane Jensen and his business partner Noah started Sock Club as a side project after noticing the success of subscription-based models like Birchbox. They built a website where customers could sign up to receive a unique pair of socks every month. The idea took off, and they eventually shifted their focus to custom socks, which now make up 90% of their $12M+ annual revenue.
How much they make: $12M/year
Current team size: 38
Learn how Dane Jensen and his business partner grew their sock business from a monthly subscription to a $12M+ revenue business that mainly sells custom socks, by developing a manufacturing supply chain in the United States, using various marketing channels, and gradually expanding the business.
2. FEAT Socks ($1.2M/year)
Taylor Offer, co-founder of FEAT Socks, came up with the idea for his custom sock company after teaming up with fellow entrepreneur Parker Burr during their senior year of college. They started by buying plain white socks in bulk and adding custom designs in their dorm room, eventually selling 20,000 pairs of socks on campus. The business gained traction after forming partnerships with sports agent David Falk and Olympic gymnast Aly Raisman, propelling FEAT Socks to international success.
How much they make: $1.2M/year
Current team size: 3
FEAT Socks, a custom sock company based out of Los Angeles, went from selling 20,000 pairs of customized socks on a college campus to selling $200,000 a month after Olympic gold-medalists posted pictures on Instagram, proving that focusing on having a kick-ass brand and utilizing social media is key to success.
So... can you actually make money with a socks business?
Of course. There are millions to be made in this industry.
But how?
- Research real, profitable businesses and see exactly how much money they make.
- Study exactly what works, and what doesn’t.
- Take action, because now you have the roadmap.
Join Starter Story and build your next big thing:
3. No Cold Feet LLC ($240K/year)
In college, Matt noticed a trend of grooms having their groomsmen wear brightly colored socks. He struggled to find a single store to buy the socks he needed in bulk, and they were often expensive. Inspired by this, Matt and his wife Mari launched No Cold Feet, an online gifting company that sells fun and colorful groomsmen socks with custom labels.
How much they make: $240K/year
How much did it cost to start: $16K
Current team size: 0
No Cold Feet is a gifting company founded by Mari and Matt McNamara that focuses on fun and colorful sock designs for groomsmen gifts and has cumulatively sold over 10k orders in the last three years, passing $200k in revenue last year.
4. From The Ground Up Socks ($30K/year)
Rami Nasr, founder of From The Ground Up (FTGU), came up with the idea for his high-performance hiking sock brand while on a backpacking trip after realizing the lack of stylish and sustainable options in the market. Since launching 2.5 years ago, FTGU has achieved over $170k in sales, donated $5,000 to a trails association, and secured partnerships with over 25 retail locations. Nasr's success can be attributed to his commitment to quality, feedback from customers, and strategic partnerships.
How much they make: $30K/year
How much did it cost to start: $5K
Current team size: 1
From The Ground Up founder Rami Nasr grew his side hustle into a 6-figure business in 2.5 years, generating over $170k in sales and donating $5,000 to the trails association in their state, by creating better, stylish, and sustainable hiking socks, through impactful in-person sales and collaborating with “real, gritty, dirtbaggy” influencers.
So... can you actually make money with a socks business?
Of course. There are millions to be made in this industry.
But how?
- Research real, profitable businesses and see exactly how much money they make.
- Study exactly what works, and what doesn’t.
- Take action, because now you have the roadmap.
Join Starter Story and build your next big thing:
5. Hippy Feet ($1.06M/year)
While studying at the University of Wisconsin, River Falls, the founder of Hippy Feet, Michael Mader, suffered a traumatic brain injury that left him unable to work and provide for himself. Inspired by the support he received from his friends and family during his recovery, he decided to start a business that could act as a support group for individuals experiencing homelessness. This led to the creation of Hippy Feet, a sock and apparel company that provides transitional employment to homeless youth.
How much they make: $1.06M/year
How much did it cost to start: $30K
Current team size: 2
Hippy Feet, a Minneapolis-based sock and apparel company, has created jobs for over 160 individuals experiencing homelessness with a 6-month job readiness program and has grown 2020 revenue by 156% over 2019, using sustainable materials and practices while providing sales of custom, branded socks and apparel.
So... can you actually make money with a socks business?
Of course. There are millions to be made in this industry.
But how?
- Research real, profitable businesses and see exactly how much money they make.
- Study exactly what works, and what doesn’t.
- Take action, because now you have the roadmap.
Join Starter Story and build your next big thing:
6. Bombas ($8.3M/year)
How much they make: $8.3M/year
Current team size: 231
Bombas, a sock brand founded by Randy Goldberg and David Heath, has donated 35 million pairs of socks and exceeded $100 million in revenue through a business model of donating one pair of socks to a homeless person for each pair purchased, since its launch via a crowdfunding campaign that brought in $142,000 in sales in just 30 days.
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- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
