Two Berlin High Students Help Launch Sock Company

A group of students from Berlin, East Hartford, Hartford, New Britain, Newington, Simsbury and West Hartford have launched Kozy Toes, an innovative company that sells colorful, silly-faced socks.  

Autumn Edelson and Brian Thomas of Berlin High School were part of the group that came up with the idea. 

To start the company, the students developed a product idea and established departments such as HR, public relations, production, marketing and finance. They sold stock to fund the start-up, wrote a business plan, and manufactured the product.  

Kozy Toes socks are available for purchase on their Facebook page.   The students developed Kozy Toes through their participation in JA Entrepreneurial Academy, a partnership between The Hartford and Junior Achievement.  

JA Entrepreneurial Academy brings together urban and suburban high school students for a 15-week program to gain skills in entrepreneurism, leadership, teamwork, ethics and career development.  

This real-world program has students put theory to practice by starting their own venture, from concept to business plan, financing, execution, sales and ultimately, growth or demise. Through teamwork, students learn to understand the responsibilities of running a business.  

The students meet weekly at The Hartford and are mentored by Hartford employees.