Compete. Contribute. Connect.


CnXn is a socially responsible sports apparel retailer based in Cleveland, Ohio. What sets us apart is our attitude. Proceeds from every sale we make help fund underprivileged schools and their athletic programs: Your Purchase. Their Reward. In addition to providing a top of the line product, we provide a top of the line experience - something you can be proud of. Do yourself and your community a favor by getting your sports apparel from CnXn.

Innovation. Collaboration. Connection.
That's CnXn.

About the Co-Founders

Brian Verne: A 2009 graduate of Oberlin College where he was a four year starter and two year team Captain of the baseball team.

A 2005 graduate of Shaker Heights High School in Shaker Heights Ohio where he participated on the Varsity baseball and soccer teams.

Michael Eppich: A 2009 graduate of Rollins College where he was a four year member of the Rollins College baseball team.

A 2005 graduate of Shaker Heights High School in Shaker Heights Ohio where he participated on the Varsity baseball, soccer, and football teams.

Our Story

With the job market at a historic low, we both decided to create an opportunity for ourselves. Our background in competitive college athletics has always helped us overcome adversity. This being said, during one late night run to Wendy's we dreamed up the idea of designing and distributing sports apparel. We wondered: "How can we reach people from all socioeconomic backgrounds?" From couch potatoes to one time and former greats we needed something that "connected" them all.

We had the privilege of growing up in Shaker Heights, Ohio and attending one of the finest public school systems in the area. We went on to obtain degrees from competitive liberal arts colleges while competing in intercollegiate athletics as members of our respective baseball programs.

We recognize our good fortunes and want to use our sports apparel company to help others experience the success that we have both had on and off the field.

A Brief Guide to CnXn

CnXn, short for Connection, is a community oriented sports apparel brand based in Cleveland, Ohio. Proceeds from every sale we make help fund underprivileged schools and their athletic departments; Your Purchase. Their Reward.

CnXn uses sports apparel to give individuals from diverse backgrounds an arena to connect. In an era dominated by social networking, tweets, and text messaging, we create an offline social network through the fabric of strong communities and athletic apparel. The combination between consumer interaction and offline social networking helps tell the story about the lives and communities that the CnXn brand is improving.


CnXn takes the phrase, “stay local” to the next level as we introduce a concept that has never been done before in the sports apparel industry. Customers will have the chance to add their hometown area code to any piece of apparel. For example, in Cleveland, customers can add 216, creating the 216 Connection. The broader concept of CnXn, the area code aesthetic, will be replicated across the country.

The area code aesthetic is based on a recent trend in athletics and pop culture. Athletes have been known to write their area code on their eye black or wrist tape. Musicians constantly refer to their area code or hometown in song lyrics. Former USC star and Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush is pictured to the right representing the “619” area code on his eye black. Lebron James has a large “330” tattoo on his forearm. Hip Hop phenom Kid Cudi regularly refers to Cleveland in his rap lyrics. CnXn believes that representing your hometown should not just be confined to the star athlete or pop icon.


Every boy or girl dreams of playing for their home team.....


Now everyone can.


In The Future: CnXn Indoor Athletic Facility and Academic Enrichment Center


CnXn will also operate a separate non-profit organization. With grant money and the CnXn Endowment, our goal is to take an abandoned warehouse or lot in Cleveland and turn it into a safe space for Cleveland youth. The facility will double as an indoor athletic facility and academic enrichment center.

CnXn's main goal is improve education in Cleveland and other major urban areas.

Feedback

Please comment on our blog. We would love to hear your thoughts about CnXn.

You can also email us at at bverne@cnxnapparel.com or meppich@cnxnapparel.com


Thanks,

Brian and Mike

CnXn:Connection Apparel's Fan Box

Sunday, December 6, 2009

The Harlem Children's Zone

For years, educators have tried and failed to get poor kids from the inner city to do just as well in school as kids from America's more affluent suburbs. Black kids still routinely score well below white kids on national standardized tests.

But a man named Geoffrey Canada may have figured out a way to close that racial achievement gap. What he's doing has been called one of the most ambitious social experiments to alleviate poverty of our lifetime. His laboratory is a 97-block neighborhood in Harlem, which he has flooded with a wide array of social, medical and educational services available for free to the 10,000 children who live there. It is called the "Harlem Children's Zone."

Canada has his own Charter School serving 1200 kids in grades K-8. There is 1 adult for every 6 students, as well as an emphasis on discipline and strict dress code. Canada does not believe he has succeeded until all of his students attend college. He is trying to "level the playing field with kids in Harlem and kids in middle class communities."

The Harlem Children's Zone has experienced great success. CnXn looks to follow the Harlem Children's Zone model in many respects.


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