toms shoes: Business that gives shoes to poor children
Very often we read about the social commitment of business organizations but such activities are basically another way to promote their image among people. TOMS Shoes stands out from the rest for its business model truely helps others. Set up by an American traveller, Blake Mycoskie, TOMS shoes adopted a simple business model. For each pair bought, a pair of shoes would be given to a child in need.
Blake started TOMS shoes in 2006. It all started when Blake went to Argentina to learn to play Polo. Compared to the U.S, playing Polo is cheaper in Argentina where farmers, who ride horses for a long time, play polo as their hobby. There Blake befriended with Alejo Nitti. In Argentina Blake noticed children walking on the streets without any shoes and from there he got the business idea of TOMS shoes- One for One model. Alejo Nitti became Blake’s business partner. The shoes were designed based on the alpargata, a common farmers’ shoe worn by polo players. Instead of starting a charity business Blake started TOMS shoes. The business took off in Blake’s apartment with three interns. One of them runs the whole operation today. Aside from Argentina, TOMS shoes are sent to Haiti, Ethiopia, South Africa, and even in the U.S.