Stories

Lennon’s foray into business started with something all too familiar—migraines. He has struggled with them since childhood, but one day his great-aunt Connie introduced him to a homemade remedy: filling a sock with grains, warming it in the microwave, and letting the heat ease the pain. It worked so well that Lennon saw an opportunity. “I loved it so much and thought this could help a lot of people,” he says.

Lennon, a seventh grader at Charlotte Prep, launched Sock Knots in 2023 by creating a line of heating pads made from knee-high socks filled with seeds and scented with essential oils. Unlike electric heating pads, Sock Knots don’t require cords or outlets—just a quick warm-up in the microwave or a few hours in the freezer.

Lennon started out selling Sock Knots door to door in his neighborhood—making $300 by the end of his first day! “I didn’t expect them to be as popular as they are,” Lennon admits. “It’s been a really exciting journey.”

Since then, his business has continued to grow, along with his love for entrepreneurship. He’s learned how to develop a product, pitch an idea, connect with customers, and manage sales, all while balancing schoolwork and hockey practice. Lennon even recently completed the Becoming an Entrepreneur course from MITx.

Now, Lennon wants to develop Charlotte Prep-branded Sock Knots to raise money for his beloved school. His advice for other students who might want to start their own business is simple: “If you have a good idea, then just go for it. Make a prototype, test it, share it with family, get feedback, improve it as much as you can, then launch it.”