Keaton Hendricks, a 23-year old business student, took a class assignment of coming up with a Shark Tank inspired pitch and created a business that not only makes money, but helps those in need. Sky Footwear is a for-profit company that sells socks in a buy-one-donate-one process, with every donated pair of socks going directly to local homeless shelters.
Hendricks paired the growing trend in sock fashion—you see everyone from professional athletes to powerful business men sporting different colored socks these days—with the constant need for socks among homeless shelters—a need he learned first-hand while volunteering at a low-barrier homeless shelter in Indiana. Hendricks says of the matter:
With socks being the number one item requested of most homeless shelters, it seemed like an easy alignment of social and financial motivations.
How it works
Customers search the user-friendly website for either individual or packs of socks. They come in all different styles and colors, and the customer has the opportunity to mix and match as needed. Sky Footwear is committed to donating one pair of socks to various homeless shelters for each pair purchased by a customer.
Socks and packages are priced from $10 to $125; customers have the ability to subscribe to a monthly sock box.
Impact to date
The concept for Sky Footwear was created in 2015, and since then the company has donated to 12 shelters.
Current initiative
In the month of August 2017, Sky Footwear is committed to donating to Hartford Rescue Mission. Hendricks estimates the final donation to be over 400 pairs of socks, and he urges you to sign into the site and buy a pair today to help join this cause.
Sky Footwear’s vision
“It is our vision that those who wish to make a difference can use Sky Footwear to both make that difference and look pretty stylish in the process as well. You never know what a small act of kindness can communicate. You never know what could spark a change in someone’s life. Who knows, a pair of socks might be just what they need.”
Additional info
Click here to visit Sky Footwear.
Click here to visit Hartford Rescue Mission.
Note: The quote and vision statement written above come from Sky Footwear’s website.