Brennan Agranoff: The Teenage CEO Revolutionizing Custom Socks

Most 17-year-olds are concerned about getting into college, getting a date to prom, or finagling the car keys from their parents for the weekend. Brennan Agranoff is not your typical 17-year-old. He is a rare breed of teenager who balances school with a full-time job he has held since he was just 13 years old. As the founder and CEO of HoopSwagg, a custom socks startup, Brennan is setting a remarkable precedent for young entrepreneurs everywhere.

This isn't a side project for Brennan. Over the past four years, he has transformed his concept of creating athletic socks with custom designs into a profitable online business boasting annual sales exceeding $1 million. His journey began in 2013 during a high school basketball game when he noticed that most kids were wearing plain, solid-colored socks made by Nike. This observation sparked an idea: what if socks could be fun and stylish instead of boring?

Today, HoopSwagg offers more than 200 original designs, ranging from quirky to funky, featuring everything from melting ice cream cones to the iconic Portland airport carpeting. With plans to allow customers to design their own prints in the future, Brennan’s vision for his company continues to expand. The momentum of his business is evident, as HoopSwagg ships between 70 to 100 orders of $14.99 socks every day, and has recently acquired competitor TheSockGame.com, adding over 300 designs to its portfolio.

Biography of Brennan Agranoff

Table of Contents

• Brennan Agranoff: The Teenage CEO Revolutionizing Custom Socks
• Biography of Brennan Agranoff
• The Birth of HoopSwagg
• Growth and Expansion
• Future Aspirations

The Birth of HoopSwagg

Brennan Agranoff's journey to entrepreneurship began with a simple observation at a high school basketball game. After realizing that the same boring socks were being worn by everyone, he decided to create something unique. He spent six months researching the machinery and technology necessary to print custom designs on fabric. With the support of his parents, who initially didn’t fully understand his vision, he obtained a $3,000 loan to kickstart his business.

HoopSwagg launched from his family's garage, where they set up heat presser machines and design printing equipment. Brennan's parents played an active role in his early endeavors, helping him source white athletic socks from local retailers. This collaborative effort laid the foundation for his entrepreneurial journey.

Growth and Expansion

At first, business was slow, but momentum began to build thanks to social media. Brennan leveraged connections with social influencers to promote his unique sock designs, leading to a viral sensation with the socks mimicking the Portland airport's carpeting. This breakthrough catapulted sales, and soon, HoopSwagg outgrew its garage space.

Recognizing the growth potential, Brennan's parents invested in a new 1,500 square foot building to accommodate production, shipping, and warehousing. His mother joined him full-time, and he hired 17 part-time employees. Despite his colorblindness, Brennan taught himself coding to manage the company’s website and became the sole graphic designer for the brand.

Future Aspirations

Brennan Agranoff's vision for HoopSwagg doesn't stop here. He aims to expand his product line with plans to include ties, shoelaces, and arm sleeves. He dreams of seeing his socks on retail store shelves, significantly broadening their reach and accessibility.

As graduation approaches, Brennan plans to focus on HoopSwagg full-time, dedicating his efforts to growing his business even further. With a remarkable track record of entrepreneurial success at such a young age, Brennan is not just a teenage CEO but a role model for budding entrepreneurs everywhere.