Community Highlights: Meet Mary Looney of Double Pom

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Looney

Hi Mary, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
When my two sisters and I realized that our kids’ sports teams needed more playful, practical, and well-made accessories, we decided to introduce pom-pom socks to a new generation. Also, we believed that people who enjoyed wearing them the first time around—like we did when we were kids—would appreciate them today. We launched our business, Double Pom, in late 2023.

Our made-in-the-USA socks are designed to celebrate the joy that comes from connection and play. They’re ideal for those who want to express their individual style or team spirit. Our socks are unique because they have two poms per sock—instead of one—for extra color and flair. For those who like higher socks, we’ve designed a crew sock with scallops that represent poms. And, we’re dreaming up a whole assortment of sporty accessories to complement these two styles.

Because we believe that connection and play are vital to people and communities, we donate a portion of our profits and products to support recreational activities and sports programs for women and youth.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It’s easy to get overwhelmed! We started with the concept of an ankle sock with two poms and then began asking lots of questions: What do we call it? What sort of customer would buy it? Who would manufacture it? How should we price it? Where do we sell it? In this first year of business, we’ve met many people who have helped us answer these questions and we’re grateful to them.

One big question we’ve dealt with is: What colors should we have in our line? We launched with our core brand colors—royal blue, kelly green, and fuchsia—and then quickly rolled out gold, orange, red, purple, and black. This summer we’ll add navy, dark green, and maroon. With these options, we feel like we can cover almost every school, rec team, camp, club, and sorority out there. (But we’re open to special requests, too, if we can meet quantity requirements!) Our entire assortment is available online through our website, www.doublepom.com, and a selection is available locally through Bits & Bobs Nashville.

As Double Pom continues to grow, I anticipate that pacing and perspective will be our biggest challenges. We’ll be trying to determine what needs to get done immediately and what can wait, and we’ll be reminding ourselves that starting and nurturing a business is a long process that requires patience.

As you know, we’re big fans of Double Pom. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
We’re proud to be a women-owned—sisters-owned, specifically—brand that offers unique yet practical accessories that are made in the USA and designed to inspire play.

Did you know that pom-poms are not only decorative, but that they also keep socks from slipping into shoes? Our “confetti” pom-poms feature solid colors mixed with white so that they stand out again the trim of our ankle socks. They’re soft, durable, and machine washable. Customers love our crew socks, which have playful scalloped lines that are just a bit different from traditional stripes.

As we grow, we’re looking forward to adding more accessories to our line—legwarmers, anyone?—and offering options for customization.

We’re also proud to have formed partnerships with philanthropic organizations that support women and youth in sports and recreation, and we look forward to expanding our relationships with organizations that share our values. We like to say: “More Pom, More Play!”

So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
Working with my sisters is so much fun! They live in Minneapolis, so I only get to see them three or four times a year, but we text or talk daily. Working on a business together has given me an even greater respect for how hardworking and creative they are. We feel fortunate to get to work together. Our parents love it too, of course!

We all played sports growing up—Gretchen and I played soccer and tennis, and Laura was a serious dancer. Having those activities outside of school was important, and we want other girls and young women to have opportunities to experience the friendships and camaraderie of teams and groups outside of school. For this reason, we donate a portion of our profits and products to organizations that support recreational activities and sports programs for women and youth.

Pricing:

• Ankle Socks: $22/pair
• Crew Socks: $18/pair

Contact Info:

• Website: https://doublepom.com/
• Instagram: double_pom_sport
• Facebook: Double Pom

Image Credits
Hannah Herrig at Peel Design Co. https://www.peeldesignco.com/