TOMS Shoes was founded by Blake Mycoskie after a life-changing trip to Argentina. While there, he learned about the Alpargata soft shoe, but ironically, also met children in villages that had no shoes.
So he created a shoe company whose goals aren’t based on shoes sold, but on shoes given away. For every pair of TOMS shoes sold, the company donates a pair of shoes to a child in need.
Here’s a video of shoe drop in 2006:
In the video, the narrator made a comment worth repeating:
Anybody who’s starting a company. . .
Everybody who has an idea. . .
Incorporate giving in what you do
Nobody would have heard of TOMS if they weren’t doing good. Giving away a pair of shoes for every pair sold is more than just a differentiator—it represents a fundamental shift in the way to think about business.
Inspiring, isn’t it?
Has a business inspired you lately?
Comment below to share.
