But it's very difficult to turn a side hustle into a real company when you cannot give it the focus it deserves. I am now the full-time CEO of Sockabu and I love it.įor me, side hustles are awesome for testing products and ideas. Ultimately, I decided this was the right time for me to retire as a journalist and to follow my dream of becoming an entrepreneur. Then, like so many people have experienced during COVID, I was faced with a phone call from my employer with a massive pay cut. journalist for "Good Morning America." It's hard to leave a secure, nearly 20-year long career for a side hustle without any guarantees. I had always wanted Sockabu to be my full-time job, but I already had a really great job as a T.V. How did you take this from a side hustle to a full-time job? They are made on a specialized machine and they're hand-finished to perfection. They studied the sample, understood what I was trying to do and helped create Sockabu: A totally seamless sock with a "flip" function. I don't think that I could have made this happen without them. Thinking outside the box, I worked with their team of amazing experts, engineers and professional knitters. They understood how to approach my vision through a completely fresh prism. I brought my prototypes to the Manufacturing Solutions Center in North Carolina. Only at that point did things start to change for me. I needed to become the expert of my own product. That's when I realized that I needed to stop thinking about them as traditional socks, but more like a garment or a piece of clothing. But I just had to have my socks the way I wanted them. I questioned whether I was being too much of a perfectionist. I had lots of different samples made over the years, but nothing was good enough. I couldn't figure out how to get my socks beyond the prototype stage. They would take one look at the sock and say, "What are you talking about, lady? We don't do things like this." They would explain that their socks were made on circular knitting machines and didn't have any special features. I brought my prototypes to lots of different sock manufacturers and after a while I became used to that feeling of rejection. I figured because I was able to create my socks myself on an at-home sewing machine, finding professionals to take over production would be pretty easy. I totally underestimated how difficult that would be. With my handmade prototypes, I was able to secure two design patents, which in and of itself was challenging enough! But trying to find a manufacturer ended up taking me about six years. How did you go from there to bringing your socks to market? That is when I thought, "Wow, this could be a safer sock for babies and toddlers. The natural traction from his toes was so much better than any baby gripper sock we had ever tried. He was no longer slipping around when he was trying to walk. When he became a little older and started learning to walk, I realized these socks were perfect for helping his toes grip the ground while he was still wearing a comfortable sock. At that point, I didn't think the "flip" socks would be a sellable product, but it certainly stopped my son from always wanting to rip off his socks. I decided to cut the tops off his socks so his toes could be free for him to play with and he loved it! But as a new mom, I was worried his toes might get cold, so I grabbed my sewing machine and sewed on what I like to call the "flip." This way, his toes could be uncovered for play time, and with a single flip, they could be covered during nap time, or if we went to the grocery store or on a walk if it was chilly outside. He seemed uncomfortable and frustrated whenever he wore traditional socks, as is the case with so many babies. My son was only a baby when I first came up with the concept of a "flip sock," so we're going back nearly nine years! He was always ripping off his socks. Also, Sockabu socks are totally seamless, which is great for children who are finicky about wearing socks. They are pediatrician-approved for less slips and falls as your baby learns to walk. It's the only sock that can cover your toes for warmth and comfort, or uncover them for breathability and natural traction. Tell us a little bit about your children's sock company, Sockabu.Ībbie Boudreau: Sockabu is more than just a sock. Jessica Abo: Thanks so much for being here. She sat down with me to talk about her sensory-friendly socks, which are now available at Target. You might recognize Abbie Boudreau from her many years of reporting on ABC's "Good Morning America." Well, now the three-time Emmy Award-winning journalist has gone from covering the news, to making the news.
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