The Texan
Sure, we might know what TOMS are, but who here knows about Blake Mycoskie?
In 2006 Blake Mycoskie traveled to Argentina and realized an urgent need: children were forced to grow up without shoes. For Blake, Entrepreneurship came naturally. While in college, he started a successful campus laundry service which he later sold. And so, having the passion that he did for problem solving, he came up with a solution: to create a for-profit business that was sustainable and not reliant on donations. This is how the TOMS business was born.
One for One
The TOMS business plan is simple, really. For every pair of shoes you purchase, a pair is given to someone in need. Not only then do people buy the shoes because they look good, but also to help someone. Over the first five years, the business was successful enough, but Blake realized another need–so he developed the idea for TOMS Eyewear. Just as with shoes, for every pair of TOMS Eyewear purchased, eyewear is given to someone in need.
The Revolution
Blake saw the need, and he developed a solution. Now TOMS even has a day on which they raise awareness–they call it One Day Without Shoes. The movement has become a revolution.
This is a classical example of entrepreneurship. I really like it because it showcases not only commercial entrepreneurship, but social as well. I think this is a business that a lot of people can get behind.
I’ve always enjoyed the concept of Toms Shoes. I love pairing commercial and social entrepreneurship with each other. I think Toms is probably the most classic example of this. I enjoy hearing more about how the business has grown and details of it. I was also unaware of the whole eyewear side. That’s really cool.
I knew the founder of TOMS shoes, but i never knew his story, which was awesome to hear about. I like the mix between social and commercial entrepreneurship. I learned in marketing this year that pairing the two is also a great way to market the product, because people are more willing to buy something if there is a return for a good cause.
I knew of TOMS pretty early on, and they had a great concept but shoes to me always kind of seemed almost irrelevant in the face of such greater needs such as food, shelter and basic medical care. I really began to get behind TOMS when they came up with their eye wear products. When I buy a pair of sunglasses they give glasses to help someone see? That’s amazing! As someone who has terrible vision, I could not imagine not having my contacts and glasses. It would be impossible for me to walk without tripping much less do well in my classes. It showed me much more impact, and that they’re really looking to make a relevant impact and not just be the new fad.
I never knew the story behind the creator of TOM’s, from the beginning of his college career, Blake knew that he would have some type of business. to me that is inspiring because its showing me that it is never too early to get your idea’s out there, and even if your first idea isnt the one that takes off or the one you stick with, it can lead to many other successful ideas.
I never knew that the founder of TOMs was so young! I think it is so cool he developed his company through going to Argentina and wanted to establish a non-profit that was sustainable through no donations. TOMs is so popular now and its great to see how this popular company began.
Toms is very interesting and unique because it is an example of both social and commercial entrepreneurship. To see a company both benefit those in need and still be able to make profit is astounding. A very successful company that is still relevant as many people of all ages are purchasing Toms shoes. Another amazing thing to recognize is the fact that both men and women can wear Toms shoes.
Toms is very interesting and unique because it is an example of both social and commercial entrepreneurship. To see a company both benefit those in need and still be able to make profit is astounding. A very successful company that is still relevant as many people of all ages are purchasing Toms shoes. Another amazing thing to recognize is the fact that both men and women can wear Toms shoes.