randy goldberg bombas net worth randy goldberg bombas net worth

David and Randy chose this name because bees work together to make their home a better place. Getting a million dollar investment from Mark Cuban on Shark Tank validated [the brand] to anybody who had any questions about what we were doing, said Justin Fenchel, cofounder of Beatbox boxed cocktails, another Shark Tank winner. Somewhere along the way, I also realized the importance of balancing work with hobbies, excercise and personal development. "For every pair of socks that you buy, we donate a pair to somebody who's at risk, in need or experiencing homelessness." Sales reached $4.6 million last year, and are expected to hit $7.4 million this year. Their counter was 17.5% on the $200K, and thus they got a deal. Heath started earning money at a young age. While the due diligence took another year, all three moved forward as investors. Therefore, premium socks company Bombas has an estimated net worth of $200 million. Almost everybody that I work with theyre all a fan of the show, all over the world all these different decision makers at car companies and product companies. Slatnick was named to Forbes Under 30 in December and claims FreePower is now worth more than $150 million. Now the products are also sold in such retailers as Costco, The Container Store and Bed Bath and Beyond. . You may opt-out by. 2023 Geeksaroundglobe Powered by | All Rights Reserved. One year later, the company sold out of its inventory and has $1.2 million in sales. if (d.getElementById(id)) return; As part of a campaign to support LGBT youth, Bombas has pledged to donate an item of clothing for every pair of socks purchased. Daymond John - US$350 million Cuban personally helped sell boxes at South by Southwest and traveled to a launch event at his alma mater Indiana University. Two years later, the pair launched the direct-to-consumer retailer Bombas in New York City, with a simple mission: make high-quality socks, sell them online, and for every pair of socks sold, donate a pair to a homeless shelter. js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; For Bombas, the strength of a sibling founding team (plus two other co-founders, Randy Goldberg and Aaron Wolk) transformed the idea into a $170 million business (2019 revenue) with tremendous social impact. As soon as they realized that the number one item homeless shelters requested was socks, they invested in the company. In early 2022, Bombas was exploring options to IPO but it appears these plans are on hold. Direct-to-consumer is a majority of the companys business. Heath and Goldberg offered a higher return rate to try and garner his interest, coming in with an advised pitch at 10%. The model of Bombas is "pretty simple," Goldberg said. The socks are sold directly to the customers. They work with Giving Partners to create custom donation packages including the sizes, styles, and quantities needed. In 2013, they formed Bombas, which is Latin for the word bee.. By. We also poured through earlier Forbes reporting of another 319 businesses, scoured press reports and websites, and spoke to Shark Tank judges in search of the most successful. Allison and Stephen Ellsworth With all the Sharks passing on the business pitch, it was down to Daymond John to make the decision to invest or not. The company currently has 80 employees and plans to double both headcount and revenue by the end of 2019. Goldberg and Heath remain the primary owners of. They went into the Tank seeking $200,000 in exchange for 5 . Over $200 million worth of socks has been sold with balanced marketing. Friends from University of Texas at Austins business school, Justin Fenchel, Aimy Steadman and Brad Schultz, founded BeatBox Beverages in 2011, pitching it as the Worlds Tastiest Party Punch (flavors include Peach Punch and Blue Razzberry) and selling it in packaging that initially looked like a boom box. Bombas launched in 2013, after founders Randy Goldberg and David Heath [1] learned that socks are the most requested clothing item in homeless shelters. Robert Herjavec, Lori Greiner, and Mark Cuban also declined to invest. Bombas, which has raised $150 million from investors, says it racked up $300 million in sales in 2021 and donated 75 million items of clothing so far. The pitch for Bombas socks started off a little rocky, as the Sharks were unable to comprehend why a sock company would be asking for $200,000 with a 5% return. Founders of Bombas Socks Bombas Socks was founded by David Heath and Randy Goldberg. Zeroing in on a single category for our first few years helped us stay focused on the long game. It did start selling T-shirts in 2019 and underwear in 2021, sticking to their 1-to-1 donation. Bombas co-founders David Heath and Randy Goldberg were working together at a lifestyle website when they saw a post on Facebook about homeless shelters struggling to find socks, according to. With a specialized honeycomb support structure for your arch, an absence of toe seams, and built-in blister protection, its wearers will experience premium comfort and functionality. The Comfy brand, known for its snuggly wearable blankets, became a near instant hit after appearing on the show, winning over Barbara Corcoran and millions of customers. David and Randy wanted to create a business that would give back to communities of the homeless throughout the US. Europe, Menlo Park, China), Where the person is located (e.g. Market Realist is a registered trademark. 1968 S. Coast Hwy #675 "There's a reason Facebook is so successful in the market, and it's because they're really, really good at helping advertisers find their customers, he says. It featured many sock innovations, such as Y stitching, blister tabs, reinforced footbeds, seamless toes, and a honeycomb support system. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Email: [emailprotected] How much is Bombas socks worth today? Customers can buy Bombas directly from the company (apparently still the majority of their sales) or from a few retailers including Amazon, Dicks Sporting Goods and Nordstrom. Heath started earning money at a young age. They cut it close with their pitch, nearly walking out with next to no investment capital. At least a couple of the most successful companies ever to appear on Shark Tank walked away with no deal. Who Are the Richest Soccer Players and What is Their Net Worth? 44 related questions found. The offer was offered just to Daymond, who informed them he was on the verge of leaving the Sharks and replied with the $200,000 for a 20% stake in the company. John advised them to maintain their online selling platform and not enter into the retail market to reduce costs. By the time the founders went on Shark Tank, Bombas - derived from the Latin word for bumblebee and symbolizing its goal to bee better already had $400,000 in revenue. The philanthropic-minded co-founders of Bombas, Randy Goldberg & David Heath, will also be participating as "Principals for a Day" at P.S. Since David and Heath secured the deal for their company Bombas, it has grown steadily over the years, ending up generating a high total value. John told the network that Bombas was (at that time) one of his top three Shark Tank investments. Davids parents were businesspeople who influenced him to study entrepreneurship at Babson College. Shark Kevin OLeary reportedly offered him a $700,000 loan in return for a 10% royalty and 5% equity stake, which Siminoff rejected. Coffee Meets Bagel Net Worth 2023 Is the, The Baby Toon Net Worth 2023 What Happened, RokBlok Net Worth 2023 What Happened After, Numilk Net Worth 2023 What Happened After. If you like comfortable, long-lasting socks and giving back to your community, Bombas Socks may be just the company for you to follow. After a few years of R&D research, coordinating product production, and raising 140,000 on Indiegogo, the company launched its first line in 2013.The founders appeared in the television show Shark Tank and secured an investment Daymond John. He has collaborated with Randy and David to strengthen their brand and improve distribution. The reason for that early success? In 2021, Bombas made $237 million in revenue according to zoominfo.com. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. A contestant on season 6 of Shark Tank aired in 2014, Bombas is a brand of athletic leisure socks that redefines comfort while paying it forward. Bombas founders almost backed out, wanting to consult their financial advisors before making a commitment, but Daymond forced them to make a decision on the spot. The company has grown from strength to strength since the show, generating an estimated net worth of over $10 million in 2022. In 1981, he revolutionized the investment industry with his Bloomberg . About a year after creating their sock brand, Heath and Goldberg appeared on Shark Tank to raise more capital. With a counteroffer of 17.5% for the required $200,000, Daymond accepted the offer, and they were in business. Randy Goldberg and David Heath (Bombas) . Its 2022 impact report stated that over 75 million new clothing items had been donated thus far. Bombas Shark Tank. Wonderful has since appeared in promotions for the brand, including an ad where he scrubs a toilet. Bombas isn't the first or only company to incorporate giving into its business model. Bomabs Socks are athletic leisure socks that have been designed along the same lines as $20 socks but only sell for $9 a pair. Shark Tank Pitch Recap : A $4 Million valuation in a total commodity sock is ludicrous. He also founded a marketing firm called Pop Up Flea. His offer of $200,000 for 17.5% of the company was accepted. Another bonus is that theyre sold directly to customers, not sold through a middleman. While the social media platform has come under firefor not taking a firmer stance against users whospread false and hateful information, Bombas has stuck with it, even as companies likeChobani, &Pizza, and Verizon have pledged to stop advertising on Facebook until it changes its policies. PENCIL's annual Principal for a Day (PFAD) initiative is coming to NYC public schools throughout the five boroughs on Tuesday, April 16! In late 2018, when Allison was 9 months pregnant, they pitched it on Season 10 of Shark Tank; Rohan Oza guest shark and Coca-Cola veteran who was involved in marketing the Glaceau and Bai brands invested but pushed the founders to rebrand. Bombas, a premium sock company that gives away a pair for every one it sells, has recently hit two major milestones: It exceeded $100 million in revenue in 2018 and has sold 20 million and given away 20 million pairs of socks. For Bombas, the Key to Early Success Was Saying No. How does it work? The three most requested items at homeless shelters are socks, underwear, and t-shirts. Were not necessarily thinking about, how were maximizing value for ourselves and our shareholders. They raised over $150 million in funding over four rounds with the last round in December 2021. Started in 2017, Techiegamers is now home to over 500,000 visitors every month and has been featured on websites such as the LA Times, Yahoo, MSN and many more. QuickBooks Connect Speaker San Jose, California, United States, North America Nov 15, 2017 Recent News and Activity Number of News Articles 4 When the four co-founders of Bombas created their startup, they wanted to do more than solely sell socks. For every one pair of socks purchased. Since 2013, Bombas has donated more than 9 million pairs of socks and worked with 1,200 partners to spread awareness of their cause. Much later they found out that underwear and t-shirts are the #2 and #3 requested items (which explains why they've added underwear and t-shirts to their product line). We're going to sell it to somebody, and then we're going to move on and start the next project because we don't know anything about managing a company that's bigger than $20 million, and the idea of having more than 30 employees seems crazy, said David Heath, the 36-year-old co-founder and CEO of Bombas during an interview for Yahoo Finance's Breakouts series. (EverlyWell declined to comment. Of these dozens, seven stood out based on how much the businesses are worth, what their revenues are or how much theyve grown since Shark Tank. From their beginnings on Shark Tank to their current status as a thriving business, they have proven that with the right idea and execution, anything is possible. "Randy is the guy on the team that everyone wants to pull into our brainstorming sessions because he possess the uncanny ability to develop fully enriched and executable ideas in a matter of. The friends, inspired. I hit rock bottom first though, long before before I found the strategies that Actually Work to create lasting success. Here, cofounder Randy Goldberg talks about how to make an impact all year long. As of 2023, Bombas is worth $100 million. This is a BETA experience. Here's an idea of the Bombas Socks net worth today. Before founding Bombas, both men worked in media startups. This focus on social issues helped Bombas connect with their customers and solidified their place as a mission-based eCommerce brand. It started out selling socks and expanded into T-shirts in 2019. Apart from athletic socks, the company expanded its product portfolio for adults, children, and women to include t-shirts and underwear. As part of the mission of the brand, the company pledges that for every pair of socks purchased, one pair will be donated. David Heath and Randy Goldberg are partners and cofounders of Bombas. What Shark Tank episode was bombas? Sales doubled in 2017 when they started selling single-serve eco-friendly boxes and working with beer distributors to get into convenience stores. The Sharks appreciated the philanthropic aspect of their business model, and they were impressed with how sophisticated the product was. That would have resulted in a $4 million overall valuation, which made Kevin O'Leary back away from investing. Bombas is an apparel e-commerce company who successfully revolutionized the modern sock, designing an offering that delivers premium performance, comfort, and style - across categories spanning. The duo found inspiration in a Facebook post that revealed socks as the item homeless shelters needed most. They have donated over 47,549,664 pairs of socks! Then they teamed up with shelters, non-profit organizations and community programs. Heath and Goldberg teamed up with Andrew Heath and Aaron Wolkandspent years developing a sock with aseamless toe and a support system that didn't slide down the ankle. In high school, he worked as a DJ for parties. Husband-and-wife team Allison and Stephen Ellsworth began peddling Mother Beverage, their healthy soda alternative, at their local farmers market where it was a hit. Entrepreneurship and companies with social missions were. Daymond John was the Shark who invested in the brand that reinvented numerous aspects of athletic socks. Office location: Now called FreePower, it has 150 patents for its technology. Etsy CEO: We are the voice of the new, digital Main St. interview for Yahoo Finance's Breakouts series, Ukrainian pilot pair in Arizona to fly military simulators - US official, Another Norfolk Southern train derails in Ohio; company says no toxins aboard, UPDATE 1-China sets economic growth target of around 5% as parliament opens, China to develop more energy and mineral reserves and boost production, China Sets Modest Growth Target as Economic Risks Persist. Beatbox did $18 million in sales in 2021 and expects to end 2022 with nearly $40 million in sales. Later on, he also tried his hand at salesmanship and sold knives door to door. Of course, even those that are initially a big success can run into trouble. The socks are made of ethically sourced Peruvian Pima cotton which maximizes comfort due to its moisture-wicking ability. Their mission is to donate a pair of socks to homeless shelters and people in need for every pair sold. Facebook'ssophisticated platform with itstargetinganddata capabilities has been critical for building thedirect-to-consumer company, according toHeath. www.bombas.com. Goldberg and Heath told their founding story and talked about their company's brand-building strategyin a recent stream event withLindsay Blakely, Inc.com managing editor. They have secured additional funding and partnerships, leading to an estimated net worth of 100 Million USD USD.Shark Tank is a popular TV show where aspiring entrepreneurs pitch their business ideas to a panel of successful investors, known as sharks.. About His Business & Career: The former mayor of New York City, with a net worth estimated at $59 billion, has always been an entrepreneur first and foremost. Raymond Taylor Net Worth 2022 How Rich is the Rapper? Since then, the company has expanded its offerings in part by acquiring two other health diagnostic firms and Natalist, which makes pregnancy and ovulation tests as well as prenatal supplements. Additional reporting by Conor Murray and Jemima McEvoy. The company has grown from strength to strength since the show, generating an estimated net worth of over $10 million in 2022. These athletic leisure socks redefine the comfort of funky socks while paying it forward. Good News speaks to them. I very distinctly remember the very early days we were like, We're going to get this company to $20 million of revenue. The partners and cofounders of Bombas socks are David Heath and Randy Goldberg. Kodiak Cakes, which now sells everything from granola bars and oatmeal to all sorts of flapjack mixes at retailers such as Target and Amazon, is ending 2022 with an estimated $500 million in retail sales, according to cofounder Cameron Smith. (function(d, s, id) { 19 Things You Didnt Know Billionaires Were Ruining, Minecraft Net Worth 2023; Founder, History, Stats (Updated), Michel Le Net Worth 2023; Biography, Wiki, Career (Updated), Wall Street Trapper Net Worth, Biography, Wiki (Updated). It raised outside money from Sunrise Strategic Partners in 2016, and by 2020, sales had reportedly jumped to $200 million. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); You Wont Believe Where the Oovoo Javer Guy Is Now, Harry Knowles Net Worth | Wife (Patricia Cho Jones), Phoebe Combes Net Worth | Biography & Age. Correction, 01/23/23: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that Everly Healths at-home tests are FDA approved. shelters. Now, it is one of Shark Tanks most successful ever businesses. Bomabs Socks are athletic leisure socks that have been designed along the same lines as $20 socks but only sell for $9 a pair. Jack Slatnick and Eric Goodchild, Arizona State grads, founded Aira in 2017 to improve wireless charging. Five years later, he sold his then smart-home security tech outfit Ring to Amazon for a reported $1 billion. "I think reality will strike because you guys are still sock cockroaches. It solidified us as entrepreneurs, it solidified us as a viable business.. Husband-and-wife team Allison and Stephen Ellsworth started mixing fruit juice with cider vinegar in their kitchen to help with weight loss. This made them beneficial for a wide range of sports. 99 percent said that working with Bombas "allowed them to increase their impact in their community.". "We said, 'We're gonna be socks, and we're gonna be online,' " says Heath. The business began after co-founders Randy Goldberg and Dave Heath learned socks are the most requested clothing item at homeless shelters. Randy is a graduate of Georgetown University's business school. First, they needed to build the product. By 2018, Bombas had made over $100 million in revenue per year. Their business idea came when they heard a Salvation Army major say that the clothing item with the highest demand in homeless shelters is socks. As of 2023, Bombas is worth $100 million. Goldberg and Heath raised $25K in just 24 hours and $140K overall. Here are seven Shark Tank success stories. The most valuable Shark Tank-backed company ever, based on Forbes analysis, is Everly Health, a telehealth and diagnostic testing company that lets customers screen for everything from STDs to food sensitivities right in their homes. Randy Goldberg and David Heath became obsessed with creating the perfect sock . Their goal was to raise $15K in 30 days to fund their new business. Staying focused led to a lot of opportunities for Bombas--and a profitable bottom line in only two years. READ MORE: You Wont Believe Where the Oovoo Javer Guy Is Now. Copyright 2023 Market Realist. Today they make socks, underwear, and t-shirts, still operating on the buy one, donate one standard. You can expect to see this slogan stitched into every pair of Bombas socks. David Heath and Randy Goldberg started Bombas in 2013 as a way to help the homeless. Bombas. David Heath and Randy Goldberg started Bombas in 2013 as a way to help the homeless. Whether that means that we IPO as a way of getting more capital and growing the business that way la Under Armour and Lululemon or building and getting acquired by a Nike like Hurley did or some of the other brands like VF Corp, we'll do whatever we think is right for the brand to, you know, survive and flourish, he said. ". (949) 799-2165. When Heath and Goldberg made their Shark Tank pitch, they requested $200,000 in exchange for 5 percent equity in Bombas. Their clothing startup received crowdfunding from Indiegogo. Bombas Socks, an apparel brand that focuses on socks as well as underwear and t-shirts, has grown a lot since an appearance on Shark Tank in 2014. Bombas got featured on Shark Tank America on September 26, 2014. Correction, 01/25/23: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that a majority of Bluelands sales are through retailers. David and Randy continue to promote sustainability and ethical business practices through their products and make a continuous effort to give back to homeless communities throughout the US. Daymond John was the only remaining Shark when the other sharks declined the offer. Julia Cheek founded Everlywell, in Austin, Texas in 2014 to sell easy, affordable at-home lab tests directly to consumers. Home - Company - Bombas Socks Net Worth, History, Founder, Shark Tank Deal (Updated). Randy Goldberg is the Co-Founder at Bombas. After the show aired, thats when a bunch of people found out about us. A crowdfunding campaign on the website Indiegogo helped the company raise nearly $145,000 in 2013. Their unique and comfortable design features distinguish them from other generic sport sock brands. This $47 Million Startup Just Reached Its Goal--and Donated 7 Million Pairs of Socks. David increased his offer to $200,000 plus a 10% share in Bombas. In 2014, David Heath and Randy Goldberg presented their product: a pair of socks with the words "bee better" stitched into them. Cofounded in April 2019 by Sarah Paiji Yoo whose lofty goal is to eliminate single-use plastic packaging in homes, Blueland only started selling its eco-conscious line of cleaning products a month before appearing in front of the Shark Tank judges. Industry: Retail/Fashion Year Founded: 2013 Headquarters: New York, N.Y. . They've taken these values and transformed them into a $50 million business. One pair is donated. The co-founderslaunched the company in 2013 after raising about $145,000 through Indiegogo, and about a year later they pitched thecelebrity investors ofShark Tank. Even with the shipping provided and free pair included, the Sharks were not pleased with the margin of 54%. The entrepreneurs wanted to donate a pair to homeless individuals for every pair they sold, with the hopes that in10 yearsthey would give away one million socks. They donate a piece of clothing with every purchase to a homeless shelter or charity that helps the homeless. Entrepreneurship and companies with social missions. Follow her on Twitter @melodyhahm. In addition, the business seemed to have stalled after only nine months, which was not appreciated either. A month-long Indiegogo campaign designed to raise $15,000 for development yielded more than $140,000. They got funding through Indiegogo in 2013 totaling $145,000, followed by about $1 million in seed funding from friends and family a year later. Under his company, Tennis Partners, hes consulted for brands such as Vitaminwater, Sony, and Nike. The pair were seeking $200,000 in exchange for a 5% stake in the business. Every pair of Bombas socks is made of ethically sourced Pima Cotton from Peru. They believed they could help with this issue. When the company sold a pair of [] Founders Randy Goldberg and David Heath built their buzzy sock start-up on a socially conscious business model that matches each pair sold with a donation to the homeless. Bombas Net Worth 2023 - What Happened After Shark Tank? To date, theyve given away over 50 million pieces of clothing to help the homeless. The duo initially asked for $15,000, but they got more than $140,000. fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); Two years later they pitched on Shark Tank a free form wireless technology that could charge multiple devices anywhere on its surface; they walked away with a three-shark deal with Herjavec, Greiner and OLeary. Gta 5 Net Worth 2022; Development, Controversial Issues and Awards, Lexie Spiranac Net Worth 2022; Biography, Wiki, Career (Updated). They hit that target early--by about seven and half years--and continueto surpasssubsequent goals they set for themselvesfive years after the company's launch in 2013. [2] "Don't just do it for marketing purposes, go out and volunteer and experience whatever problem that you're trying to solve first hand," Heath says. "It was a fact that kind of stood out to me as being. We think of bee better as inspiration to create a better product, to do more in the community, to . Their total investments have brought the company's net worth to $21.2 . Hearing this, he had the idea to make affordable socks that would last, while also offering unparalleled comfort and functionality. At this time, Randy and David didn't have much leeway. Two is better than one, and three is better than two, Slatnick said. Daymond was the Shark who had worked in the fashion sector. Bombass founders, Randy Goldberg and David Heath, have a net worth of 5 Million USD as of 2023. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. We had a lot of doubters and a lot of haters, and people were like this is the dumbest idea Ive ever heard, this will never work, Fenchel said. So, they developed a business model, marketing socks and donating a pair to the homeless for every unit sold. Randy Goldberg and David Heath hope to fond a fit with a Shark for Bombas, their sock company with a social conscience, in episode 601. The socks are sold directly to the customers. They continue to promote sustainable and ethical business practices while giving back to the homeless communities across the USA. The NY-based company is moving its headquarters to a 33,300 square foot space, and its expanding its product portfolio recently launching t-shirts as its second vertical. Goldberg and Heath wished to consult their financial analysts, but John insisted on making a decision right away. Heath offered John an adjusted offer of a 10% return. Daymond John, who has a long history in the clothing business, was the most interested. We liked that and felt that it really fit what we were trying to do, which is why our logo is a bee, and our mantra is bee better. Regarding exact plans for exit, Heath said hes not thinking about that just yet. What Are Bombas Socks? Instead of having to pay $20 per pair, Bombas socks only cost $9 a pair. Today Dude Products, which claims to have been the number 2 stocking stuffer this holiday season, is expecting sales of $100 million for 2022. Bombas donates a pair of socks for every pair purchased, but its commitment to nonprofits goes much further. Currently, the company is worth around $100 million. In Season 6 Episode 1, Randy Goldberg and David Heath appeared on Shark Tank seeking $200,000 for 5% of their quality socks, Bombas. They turned down Sharks offers that asked for 30% or more in equity, but still emerged as winners. Bombas by David Heath and Randy Goldberg is one of the most successful products pitched on ABCs Shark Tank. While Robert Herjavec rejected the idea, saying a $9-per-pair sock company wouldnt survive (they now cost more than $12 a pair), Daymond John signed up. Their personal slogan is Bee Better, paying homage to their philosophy of paying it forward. Key accomplishments: Conclusion: From their beginnings on Shark Tank to their current status as a thriving business, they have proven that with the right idea and execution, anything is possible. Since appearing on Shark Tank, Bombas has experienced tremendous growth and success. In October 2015, they pitched the wipes on Shark Tank and won a $300,000 investment from Mark Cuban in exchange for 25% of the company. Its narrow focusallowed Bombas's marketing, creative, and design teams to buildenergy and momentum behind the brand, and affordedthe foundersmany PR opportunities, including an appearance on ABC's hit showShark Tank and a campaign for clothing retailer The Gap. This is the site where I share everything I have learned and to help you to become the best version of yourself! In the first two months after the episode aired, Bombas had done $1.2 million in sales and had sold their entire inventory. Heath says he didn't immediately think there was a business opportunity. We would like to show you a description here but the site won't allow us. In 2018, revenue passed $100 million and the company had 80 employees, according to Inc. Theyve also donated millions of pairs of socks to the homeless living at homeless shelters across the country. But at the last minute, they were able to secure a deal of $200,000 for a 17.5% stake in the business from Daymond John. Heath had heard that socks were the most requested items in homeless shelters and he was heartbroken that something he didnt even think about wearing was in such demand.