Tom's Shoes - Research Paper Example

The same type of shoes was also being wore by the farmers in Argentina and were considered as the part of centuries old history of the shoes. These shoes are made in canvas or through cotton fibers with rubber soles. These shoes are traditionally made in different styles and are considered as common shoes in Argentina. (Cook) It is also important to note that the idea of actually giving one pair of shoes to the children for every pair of shoes sold was also taken from the Argentina. While Blake Mycoskie was on vacation in Argentina and was conceiving the idea of developing such shoes, he noticed that many children were not having shoes or other footwear therefore this idea of buy one and give one was conceived there.

The overall business model of the firm is based upon the concept of one for one wherein for every needy child a pair of shoes is given against the sale of each new pair of shoes. The countries where most of the free shoes are sent include countries like Argentine, Ethiopia, Haiti, Rwanda and South Africa. The overall focus is on corporate social responsibility wherein non-profit business is being integrated with for-profit organization. . Most of the marketing of the firm is done through the word of mouth and is shared by the existing customers with the potential customers.

What is critical to note that the firm wants to make benefactors out of the consumers by following a strategy of one for one? By focusing on this, firm has actually been able to focus on its consumers while at the same time focusing on other stakeholders also including non-consumers who get the shoes without actually paying for them. This model has been dubbed as an effort towards eradicating poverty and helping needy children. (Miller) Over the period of time, Toms Shoes has been able to offer 10 million pair of shoes to 10 million children in over 60 countries.

Such large number of free pairs given suggests that the firm is effectively focused upon helping children specially to improve their eyesight and having access to quality shoes. (TOMS) Toms has been partnering with some of the world’s leading organizations to help improve different aspects of life. Besides focusing on eradicating poverty and helping poor children, Toms has also been involved in using its profits for the purpose of medical equipment as well as the improvement of the education in some of the countries in Africa.

Apart from this, it has also been partner with Charity: Water which is engaged in the project of offering safe drinking water especially to the people in African countries. What is critical to note however, is the philosophy that rather than doing charity, it is more important to actually do business and help the people? This model therefore is oriented towards using for profit organizational structure to help achieve the required degree of social change