Meet Cayce Reese of SockMoose

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cayce Reese

Hi Cayce, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My story with SockMoose began with a lifelong connection to running. My dad was a professional runner, his siblings were runners, and both of my older siblings were runners. I grew up in Louisville CO, ran at Monarch High School, and went on to run at a small university in Oregon (Willamette University) but, unfortunately, injuries held me back. I left there after a couple years and moved back to Boulder to be coached by my dad, and graduated from CU with a degree in Integrative Physiology. In Boulder, I ended up moving in with a bunch of the guys on the CU cross country team, and while I never ran on the team, I trained with those guys, and many others that visited Boulder or lived in the area.

One day, one of my roommates from CU’s team, Hunter Appleton, and I were talking about how running socks are either cheap and horrible quality, or really expensive and still sometimes bad quality. He had joked in the past about starting a company, but after I graduated from CU he asked if I’d actually be interested in starting a running sock company with him. We knew that there had to be a way to provide runners with easier access to high quality, affordable running socks. Thus, SockMoose high performance running socks emerged. This is a brand where we blend quality, durability, and accessibility into socks we know runners will love. We want to be known as “your one stop shop for running socks” where we have streamlined the options, giving runners the best socks for performance. And we want to elevate your running performance whether it’s your first run ever, or you’re an olympic marathoner. We primarily sell direct to consumer, but we are in one retail running store in Louisiana, as well as we are also starting to expand SockMoose into a new territory. Hunter and I recently worked with a triathlon team to provide them with custom socks with their logo and our material. This is a service we would love to offer more because we believe everyone should be running in our socks, even if our logo isn’t on it.

Over the past two years we are happy to say that we have sold thousands of pairs across 42 states and Washington DC, and I couldn’t be more thrilled with our reach. From the beginning, I quickly took on the role of expanding our brand through organic sales and grassroot connections I have made in the running community. I handle the digital and marketing side, from social media, to our website, and ambassador programs, which have been key in spreading our brand, as well as coordinating and partaking in many photoshoots. I utilized connections by initially sending socks to friends who promoted SockMoose, helping grow our base following. I also developed partnerships with athletes, clubs, and teams, creating ambassador incentives and coordinating discount codes that align with our approach. I set up our email flows, pop-ups, and manage all digital marketing campaigns.

Diving into digital marketing has been a game changer for me. It has given me the flexibility to continue to run and train, as well as gain the skills that I need to help grow my own brand, SockMoose. Through this experience I have even consulted with other brands, helping provide them with strategies for growth and optimization. I have worked very closely with the founders of Enerza (enerzafuel.com) to improve their marketing strategies. While SockMoose is my primary focus, I just love helping athletic brands grow, and supporting my friends in the running community. I’m hoping to continue running and competing, while growing SockMoose, and providing all runners with easy access to high quality, affordable running socks.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It hasn’t always been a smooth road, especially since I didn’t go to business school and had to teach myself quite a lot while hunter and I learned the ins and outs of starting and operating a business. From the start, marketing and growing SockMoose on a small budget has been tough. I’ve had to research, read, and rely on trial and error to figure out what works. In many cases, I went with my gut, trusting what felt right, only to later find that my instincts had been spot on. But going in without formal training has been a huge challenge, and learning as I go has been difficult.

One of the hardest parts has been the slow sales periods, which can really make me question whether SockMoose will make it. Those times are challenging because when sales dip, I sometimes have to shift focus to other sources of income, which can make it difficult to stay consistent in building the brand. It’s easy to lose focus when things slow down, but my passion always pulls me back. I’ve managed to balance SockMoose and my training well, though it’s not always easy. Sometimes, when I get into a SockMoose work groove, it’s tough to step away and go for a run.

What keeps me going is my belief in SockMoose and what we’re capable of. Consulting with others in the industry has been incredibly helpful, and hearing that I’m on the right track keeps me motivated. Watching sales increase after implementing something new is always reassuring, and leaning on friends, family, and continuously learning digital marketing strategies has been essential for our growth. It’s been a learning journey, but every small success keeps pushing us forward.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about SockMoose?
SockMoose is a running sock company dedicated to creating high-quality, affordable socks for runners of all levels. My co-founder and I launched SockMoose to meet the needs of runners like us who were frustrated with expensive socks that didn’t hold up over time. We focus on durability and comfort, designing socks that meet the demands of training and racing, without breaking the bank.

What sets SockMoose apart is our commitment to authenticity and the running community. We’ve built our brand from the ground up with minimal resources, using mostly organic sales and grassroots marketing. I’m proud that we’ve sold thousands of pairs across 42 states and Washington, D.C., all while partnering with athletes, run clubs, races, and teams. We’ve developed ambassador programs that allow athletes to earn rewards while sharing SockMoose with their communities, and we recently launched custom socks to connect even more closely with teams and groups.

I’m most proud of how far we’ve come on our own, creating not only quality products but also meaningful connections with runners everywhere. I’ve managed all aspects of our digital presence—social media, our website, partnerships, email marketing, and more. It’s been a hands-on effort, and each success shows that runners recognize and trust our commitment to quality and value.

For readers looking to support a brand that truly understands the sport, SockMoose offers high-quality running socks that last. Every sock is designed by runners, for runners, with the goal of providing comfort, durability, and affordability. Whether you’re new to running or a seasoned marathoner, SockMoose has something for you, and we’re proud to be a brand that stands by our products and our community.

The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
While COVID-19 didn’t directly impact SockMoose, it did teach me valuable lessons about adaptability and resilience. Navigating uncertain times reinforced the importance of staying flexible, even when challenges arise. Watching so many businesses pivot and find creative ways to connect with their communities inspired me to take a closer look at how SockMoose could grow organically and foster a supportive, loyal community. It was a reminder that a strong brand isn’t just about the product but also about the people behind it and the relationships we build with our customers.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://thesockmoose.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesockmoose/

Image Credits
Sarah Boyer
Zach Litoff