From university dropout and multiple business failures, to building one of the most recognised sock brands within the corporate promotional marketing industry; Tom Lawrence has had an impressive startup journey.

Established in 2014, Swanky Socks is a retail and custom sock company with a focus on being profitable while still having a strategic focus on giving back through business. Swanky Socks has become an industry leader within custom socks, collaborating with thousands of brands including Samsung, SISCO, KFC, Uber, Microsoft and Pandora to name a few.

Swanky Socks' give-back strategy has positioned the company as a strategic corporate partner. Over the past 3 years, this has helped Swanky Socks donate over 80,000 pairs of socks to the homeless and in need. While also contributing over $200,000 in charitable donations through the sale of their products.

Key Takeaways:

Why purpose and passion will ensure a businesses longevity
Understanding when to adapt or pivot and why
Bottom-line profit over revenue.

Why Give Back?

Build a reputable and trusted brand
Strategic positioning

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How to Find Us/Housekeeping

Go directly up to Level 3 of the Sydney Startup Hub and walk down the yellow corridor. A friendly reminder the Lunch and Learns are BYO Lunch.

More About Swanky Socks

Swanky Socks was started in 2014 by founder Tom Lawrence. Starting from a small business mainly focused on retail sales. Over the years Tom has evolved and grown the business and while retail is still a large part of Swanky Socks, the company now engages in partnerships, where they create custom socks, with major organisation such as Microsoft, KFC, Virgin, and many more. In just 6 years, Tom has developed Swanky Socks from one man knocking on retailers doors to becoming one of Australia's leading custom sock companies. This success has allowed Swanky Socks to proudly engage in various charitable campaigns either with charities such as The Red Cross, The Kids Cancer Project and Beyond Blue to name a few.

One of their most successful campaigns was their collaboration with TAB to deliver the ‘TAB Stock Stable’ campaign. Various designs were created to represent various seven iconic racehorses, both past and present. $100,000 was raised over an 8 week period with 19,200 units sold. All net proceeds were donated to various equine welfare funds.

Additionally, in 2016 Swanky Socks launched their give-back program. Recognising that socks are one of the most sought after items in homeless shelters Swanky Socks recognised a major gap that needed to be filled. Since then for every pair of socks they sell through retail they donate another pair to someone in need. With over 79,000 pairs of socks donated and over $200,000 raised for charity so far, Swanky Socks are eagre for what is to come in the future.

About Fishburners

Fishburners is much more than a coworking space. We are a not for profit, passionate community of 300+ scalable tech startups that only exists thanks to our amazing sponsors - Google for Startups, UTS, Chartered Accountants, and Jobs for NSW. We are dedicated to inspiring and helping startups get started, grow and succeed. Our goal is to make the hardest thing you’ve ever done easier!

We do this through our different memberships which provide the facilities, resources, learning and development, mentoring, and connections that you need for your idea to come to life and flourish. We also open our doors and host some of the largest, regular events in the Australian startup ecosystem, including our weekly lunchtime learning workshops, and Shark Tank-style, Friday night pitches. Member or not, you're welcome to attend and/or get involved! Any questions about memberships or events, please feel free to email events@fishburners.org.