Here’s how it began…as told by me, Joe Patterson A daily routine of fighting through, sitting in, and meandering around LA traffic while jumping from sales call to sales call was taking its toll on me. To combat the ill effects of this job-related stress (and awful traffic), my wife (Christina) and I signed up for a series of yoga classes at a local community center. During our second class, we noticed two students wearing white gym socks. The instructor asked the ladies to remove the socks, worried they could slip and fall. They refused. The women were concerned with the cleanliness of public yoga mats. I like to wear flip flops, but I don’t like cold feet. I found toe socks when I was kid and have worn them ever since. I like wearing them with my flip flops on cold days. After class that fateful day, when I was putting my toe socks back on, I had an “AH-HA!” moment. I felt bad for those women who wanted to wear socks, but understood the instructor’s responsibility for safety. I remember thinking it should be acceptable for people to wear socks during barefoot activities without having to be concerned about slipping and falling. There it was…I found a niche. Christina was on board, so we started researching. If we were going to do this, we had to do it right - finding the best design, best quality, best materials, and best manufacturing companies with which to work. It came together and soon after, ToeSox with the patented non-slip grip sole was launched in 2004. We started the business slowly on the side as I kept my sales job. As we spoke with more and more Pilates and yoga studios, we realized we really had created a very necessary product for that market. Everything about the socks was made with intention. The five-toe ergonomic design acts as exercise for your feet, allowing toes to spread. The organic cotton we use is soft and breathable, while being kind to the planet. And the non-slip grip sole is the best out there to prevent slipping on nearly every surface. After a couple years of growing the business, we sold our house in LA and headed south for San Diego (where Christina and I had first met). In 2009, we moved our home-based business into an office/warehouse space a few miles from our home in Carlsbad. I didn’t want to live in traffic any longer. Another benchmark of success was in February 2010 when I was awarded Entrepreneur of the Year by the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce. It was humbling to be nominated among a great set of entrepreneurs. On a personal note, because we are passionate about our business, it allows us to better balance the joys of work and family, which means we get to spend more time with our son. And I still go to yoga, but now I go because I enjoy the practice (and it’s good for my surfing). As business owners, we have the opportunity to define our core values. Because of this, the ToeSox family works together in a fun, creative environment; is involved in social and community causes; does good business with good businesses; and, offers superior quality and performance of our ToeSox. I travel to the manufacturing sites several times a year to ensure they are providing safe, healthy and ethical work conditions, and, I personally review the organic cotton certificate from the organic cotton farmers. From our employees, to our customers and clients, to our business partners, we consider them family. Welcome to the family. | Ugh. Traffic. Work. Stress. Yoga. Release. Hygiene. Socks. Slip. Ah-Ha! A Foot Revolution |
