I was just reading Don Miller’s blog while deleting about 3 gigs of school photos from my mac (funny, it isn’t any lighter…). Miller’s latest post is about a brilliant company called ‘Tom’s Shoes’ that is walking in justice…amazing stuff.
I think everyone should buy them (if only they shipped outside the USA…) – they are the new converse….the new vans…with a conscience.
here’s their manifesto:
Inspired by a traditional Argentine shoe and challenged by the continent’s poverty and health issues, I created TOMS with a singular mission: To make life more comfortable, TOMS accomplishes this through its unique shoe and my commitment to match every pair purchased with a donated pair to a child in need…no complicated formulas, it’s simple…you buy a pair of TOMS and I give a pair to a child on your behalf.
(Blake Mycoskie – designer / chief shoe giver) {that is the coolest job description I’ve heard!}
According to Miller, Mycoskie’s humble beginning in the shoe world was one of direct response to what the conditions he saw in his amazing race travels:
While traveling in Argentina Tom met a number of children who didn’t have shoes, so with very little money, he bought about 200 pair of shoes, brought them in a duffle bag to Los Angeles, and sold them for enough profit to buy an extra pair for every pair he sold. He then delivered the extra pair to a child in need of shoes, placing them on the childs foot with his own hands. (Miller accessed May 6, 07)
This is a brilliant form of jubilee marketing….marketing that thinks from the heart and with concern for others.
We need more of this kind of marketing.
As soon as I hit the states again, I’m snaggin’ me some TOMS….
