Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Shoe-lanthrophy


See those gorgeous little puppies above? Those "practically perfect in every way", pair of wonderful shoes just made me a "shoe-lanthropist". How awe-inspiring is that? I don't think I have ever felt as good about spending some money. Because with every purchase of Toms shoes, the company will donate a new pair of shoes to a child in need with their groundbreaking One for One program. The company was founded on that basic principle.

So let me get this straight, because I bought a pair of fabulous shoes for myself, a child in another country will benefit by receiving a much needed pair of shoes? Because of me? Really?
It took me a moment to let this sink in. I needed to know more.
A quick trip to Toms.com gave me all the answers I needed.




From Toms.com:

"In 2006 an American traveler, Blake Mycoskie, befriended children in Argentina and found they had no shoes to protect their feet. Wanting to help, he created TOMS Shoes, a company that would match every pair of shoes purchased with a pair of new shoes given to a child in need. One for One. Blake returned to Argentina with a group of family, friends and staff
later that year with 10,000 pairs of shoes made possible by Toms caring customers".

Further reading reveals that because these children did not have shoes, the spread of disease which is transmitted through the soil, was rampant and that some of these children could not attend school because they did not have shoes.

"Since our beginning in May 2006, TOMS has given over *600,000 pairs of shoes to children in need through the purchases of caring customers.
*As of April 2010"

Wow, what a mission! Not only are the shoes adorable, chic, and comfortable, but they make you feel completely guilt-free for spending the money, and how can you beat that? I'm telling you, check out the shoes. Seriously, you will love them. And how could you not feel great about buying more than one style? My whole family has them,(except the guys, but Father's Day is right around the corner).

If Toms is making the world a better place, does that make me a better person for buying them?
Maybe yes, maybe no.

To get the definitive answer, you'd probably have to ask the child who was on the receiving end of my One for One swap.

13 comments:

RW said...

A very cool idea. Just... still... don't tell my wife. The entire country of Belize would be shod by Thursday...

Prunella Jones said...

More companies should do stuff like this. I'd like to support it. Do they make stripper heels?

Slyde said...

thats pretty cool...

SkylersDad said...

That is a great idea!

Heff said...

I heard about Tom's shoes. It's a good cause.....UNLESS YOU'RE A MAN !

Tom is TAKING ADVANTAGE of a TERRIBLE WEAKNESS women have.

HE'S EVIL, I TELL YOU !!!

"I don't think I have ever felt as good about spending some money"

Welcome to DONNA'S WORLD, and it DOESN'T have to be "Tom's Shoes" with her. She has a walk-in closet JUST FOR SHOES !!! You women are ADDICTED !!!

Remove the middleman and just donate cash, ladies.....Yeah, you CAN'T DO IT, CAN YOU ?? LOL !!!

Soda and Candy said...

I saw something about this the other day. What an amazing dude and a great example to set for corporate America!

Barlinnie said...

I've just bought myself a new leather wallet and matching belt. At least now I can sleep knowing that 5 Vietnamese childer will eat beans for their dinner the night!

Yeah yeah... I'm gonnae go straight to hell for this one!

The Dental Maven said...

Do they have anything in a stiletto heel? The Maven has a terrible allergy to flats.

BeckEye said...

For some reason I can't play the video, but is that the Blake dude in the still? Holy hot damn. I would buy anything he's selling. LOOK AT THAT HAIR!

Scope said...

Irony - When TOMS Shoes donates a pair of shoes to the exact same third world child that made the shoes.

Scott Oglesby said...

M wife did a Squidoo lens about Tom’s Shoes. It really is a great company and a great charity. You just keep getting better and better Candy!

the walking man said...

Had to look a few things up Candace because I had seen his advertising before and your post motivated me.

"On the manufacturing side, TOMS ensures that all their factories operate using fair labor practices where they maintain proper conditions for workers and pay fair wages. Currently, TOMS has factories in both Argentina and China with plans to expand to Brazil and Ethiopia. In all cases, they go to great lengths to ensure fair labor conditions are met by regularly visiting factories and also employing third parties to audit the factories."

Yahoo Information



There is no way to guarantee fair labor practices unless he or someone who really cares lives in Argentina or China where the factory is. Ask Microsoft who also employed third party watchers in China.

Though the idea is good and productive, think not that Blake is a hero of anything but capitalism. Production costs for two pair of shoes is less than $20 including all overhead, material and labor. The other $20 plus is profit.

Now if he would make it so he gave away two pair of shoes for every one purchased and not raise prices accordingly I would not see him as simply another enterprising young man building a fortune.

Want a pair of shoes buy them but always keep in mind that there is also profit (not an evil thing) involved and how much profit is built into the price.

I still will try to buy products made by my countrymen because we are hurting down here in our slums too.

Joanie said...

Very cool! I've seen their commercials. I'll definitely checkout the website!