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CCSS: 7.RP.A.3, MP1, MP3, MP6

TEKS: 7.4D

Are You Kidding? Socks

THE KIDPRENEUR FILES

Meet some amazing kids who started their own businesses!

Two kids wearing shirts and bowties with their arms around one another, grinning and holding socks

Courtesy of Are You Kidding? Socks (All Images)

NAME: Sebastian Martinez
AGE: 13

NAME: Brandon Martinez
AGE: 15

BUSINESS: Are You Kidding?, a sock company based in southern Florida

Starting A Business

Two kids in shirts that read "Special Olympics Florida" standing next to a person holding socks

The brothers work an event with the Special Olympics.

Sebastian Martinez has always had a passion for socks—the more colorful and over-the-top, the better! When he was 5 years old, his mom suggested that he start making some styles of his own. Sebastian immediately grabbed his crayons and set to work creating fun, unique sock designs. A year later, Sebastian and his older brother Brandon launched Are You Kidding?, a company that sells their sock designs.

Since then, the company has sold more than 500,000 pairs of socks in dozens of eye-catching styles. But for the brothers, running the company isn’t just about making money. Through nationwide charity events and sock hop fund-raisers, Are You Kidding? has raised more than $350,000 for pediatric cancer treatments, diabetes research, and other causes.

Are You Kidding? Socks
Learn about this business created by two brothers

On The Job

As the CEO, it’s Sebastian’s job to make sure the company always has enough socks in its warehouse to meet demand. Brandon is the director of sales, which means he’s in charge of selling socks at fund-raising events.

The brothers share many other responsibilities, including creating new sock designs. “We get inspired by things people like,” says Brandon. “For example, we made an astronaut design because everyone loves space!” It takes about two months to manufacture a new sock design. Once it’s ready, the boys work together to create social media posts promoting the new style.

Two kids drawing with colored pencils at a desk

The brothers draw new  sock designs on paper.

What We've Learned

Running a business during a pandemic taught the boys to expect the unexpected. “You have to come up with a backup plan in case things go wrong,” says Brandon. “We used to do a lot of school fund-raisers, but those stopped with Covid. Now we do most of our sales online.”

Despite the past year’s challenges, the brothers feel lucky to be working as a team. “There are so many benefits to working with family,” says Sebastian. “You know each other so well, and you can help and learn from each other.”

MATH BEHIND THE BUSINESS

KEY MATH IDEA: Using Percents to Split Profits

An important part of Are You Kidding? is working with charities and donating a percentage of their profits. The net profit from an item is the difference between the gross profit, or amount earned from selling the item, and the amount spent to produce it, known as the cost.

Percent of a Number
Watch a math video about finding the percent of a number.

Here's how they do it. Record your work and answers on our answer sheet.

A charity wants to partner with Are You Kidding? to make 430 pairs of socks for a sock hop fund-raiser. Each pair costs $11.85 to produce. The charity has agreed to cover 20% of the cost to produce the socks. What is the total cost to produce the socks? How much will Are You Kidding? have to pay to manufacture the socks?

If they sell all 430 pairs of socks at the event for $14.75 per pair, how much gross profit will they make at the event? How much net profit will they make after subtracting all costs to produce the socks?

The charity will receive 65% of the net profit from sock sales during the event. After splitting the net profit, how much money will the charity end up getting? How much will Are You Kidding? receive?

videos (2)
Video
Are You Kidding? Socks

Financial Literacy

Learn about this business created by two brothers

Video
Percent of a Number

Ratios & Proportions

Watch a math video about finding the percent of a number.

Skills Sheets (4)
Lesson Plan (1)
Lesson Plan
Lesson: Are Your Kidding? Socks

View a lesson plan about using percents to split profits with a classroom activity.

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