Let's do goods

Social socks

Unique socks designed by artists with lived experience, with a special story. For every pair sold, they make a donation pair in a social factory, in a sustainable and social way.

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Social socks

One signature impact startup is Let's Do Goods. This social sock company not only sells sustainable and beautifully designed socks, but also donates a pair to the Salvation Army for every pair of socks sold. The socks are also designed by artists with a story (homelessness, psychiatry, addiction). Founder Niels Hermus talks about his company.

Access to wide network

While Let's do Goods has been around for about four years, the company is still struggling when it comes to new customers and brand awareness. Participation in Startups for Society was therefore a good way to ensure this, Niels explains. "Our participation came from a nomination for the Junior BOV trophy, an award for young entrepreneurs. We didn't win this one, but we were on the podium that day."

"At that event, we were linked with Startups for Society. A number of good brainstorming sessions followed from this, looking at what we needed. Through Startups for Society, we gained immediate access to a broad network and knowledge. This proved very valuable, as within no time our network had expanded to include a large group of impact entrepreneurs from the region."

Impact areas

"Through Startups for Society, we gained immediate access to a wide network and knowledge. Coaching from them is very valuable. Within no time, our network had expanded to include a large group of impact entrepreneurs from the region."

Niels Hermus

, Founder Let's do Goods

The idea behind Let's do Goods

Four years ago, Niels Hermus was about to throw away -after a failed project- 600 pairs of unsellable socks. He decided to take them to the Salvation Army. There he heard about the huge shortage of socks in the shelters, an insight that shook him up. "Socks are almost never donated because they are worn out or incomplete. Whereas when you live on the streets, you are in dire need of good socks," Niels says.

Niels thought it would be really cool if he could design a sock collection with artists from the street. Working with the Living Museum in Tilburg - an initiative where people can escape from the worries of the day through creative activities - Niels began to develop designs with these artists. "We saw that there is an above-average percentage of creativity in this target group. I thought it would be great to work with them to design socks that give something back to society," he explains.

Growing and professionalising

Thus, over the past few years, Let's do Goods grew into a company with impact both nationally and internationally. "We started with donations in the Netherlands, but now we are active in Belgium and even New York. Soon we will launch socks in Berlin," says Hermus proudly. Yet with this growth also came new challenges, such as the need to improve production and business processes.

"For the future, Let's do Goods wants to donate even more socks; Warm feet for everyone!" But further professionalisation and growth are also on the agenda, Niels proudly tells us. "The story is there, but if you really want to make an impact, you have to grow by taking a professional approach," says Hermus. In the past year, the company moved to its own premises, complete with warehouse and room for expansion. "We are now in a commercial building with a rolling door and a warehouse. It feels like a real business."