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John Kanaras – The Greek-American Creating the World Cup Watches
Read the original article in the National Herald.
John Kanaras, founder and CEO of AXIA Time, spoke to The National Herald about the remarkable rise of his company, which in just a few years has secured partnerships with major sports organizations such as the College Football Playoff, the Heisman Trophy, and most recently FIFA.
AXIA, which began in 2018 as a personal venture by the Greek-American entrepreneur, experienced rapid growth and recently reached a major milestone by becoming the first official wristwatch partner of the FIFA World Cup.
Kanaras attributed this success both to the company’s innovative philosophy and to the values he inherited from his Greek heritage.
With family roots in the villages of Skoura and Varvitsa in Laconia, Kanaras said that Greek culture, family, the Church, and the principle of ‘philotimo’ have been foundational to both his personal life and professional journey.
“Greek culture, the Church, family, and the idea of philotimo have shaped who I am as a person and how I operate in the world. All of these are directly connected to the founding of AXIA and what the company stands for.”
As he explained, even the company’s name comes from the Greek word for ‘value’ – ‘axia’.
“We want to provide real value to our customers. We want to create something worthy of their investment. And we do that through philotimo – treating people with dignity, respect, and hospitality.”
An Idea Born from Personal Experience
The idea for AXIA emerged from Kanaras’ own experience. As a lacrosse player at the University of Pennsylvania, he participated in a historic run by his team to the Final Four. However, the commemorative watch the athletes received did not reflect the significance of that achievement.
“For nearly thirty years I searched for a high-quality, attractive watch that would properly honor that season. When I realized what I wanted didn’t exist in the market, I decided to create it myself.”
The company started as a hobby, producing limited projects for friends and acquaintances in the lacrosse community, but the response far exceeded expectations.
“In January 2024, we sold more watches than we had sold in the previous two years combined. That’s when I decided to leave my day job and devote myself fully to AXIA.”
Partnership with FIFA
Speaking about the FIFA partnership, Kanaras described it as a major validation of the company’s progress.
“The fact that an organization of FIFA’s size and prestige chose us is tremendous recognition. In six months we created 45 different designs and approximately 8,000 watches. It was an extremely demanding process, but it gives us the opportunity to present ourselves on a global stage.”
More Than Telling Time
According to Kanaras, AXIA watches are not primarily about telling time – they are about preserving meaningful memories.
“No one needs a watch anymore to know the time. What we’re trying to do is help people keep the important moments of their lives close to them. Every time they look at their watch, they remember a special experience, an achievement, or a milestone.”
Advice for Young Greek-Americans
Addressing young Greek-Americans who hope to start their own businesses, Kanaras emphasized perseverance and belief in one’s vision.
“If you truly believe in something, start. It takes a tremendous amount of work, endurance, and persistence. It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life, but also the most rewarding.”
Concluding the interview, he offered an optimistic message to anyone hesitant to pursue their dreams.
“I’m turning 60 next week, and I feel more creative than ever. It’s never too late to chase your dreams. If I hadn’t started this journey, I would always have wondered what might have happened.”
