In 2006, an American tourist named Blake Mycoskie traveled to Argentina and discovered that many children there live without shoes. Not only does this expose them to earth-borne diseases, injuries, and infections; but it sometimes prevents them from being able to attend school.
In order to provide assistance, Mycoskie founded a charitable organization called TOMS shoes. The company matches every pair of shoes sold with a pair given to shoeless child. In the first year alone, at least 10,000 pairs of TOMS shoes were donated to children in need. In addition to providing shoes, the organization also educates third-world countries about the dangers of related diseases.
After a few short years, the non-profit Charity with TOMS Shoes had given away over one million pairs of shoes in the US and throughout the world. TOMS are now sold by boutiques and major department stores, as well as by the company’s online website and other internet vendors. Consumers who purchase online my qualify for extra discounts by using TOMS Shoes Coupons or by using TOMS Coupon Code 2011.
The original canvas line has now been expanded into styles for women, men, and children – including tie-dyed, hand-painted, wedge heels, and those made of recycled materials. The company has also extended its inventory to include tees, hoodies, jewelry, and gift cards; and the use of innovative marketing combined with charitable giving has proven to be a success with retailers, ranging from organic food stores to skateboard designers.
Unwilling to settle for the original Charity with TOMS Shoes, TOMS implements a variety of programs designed to make the world a better place. Among these are the following:
- One Day Without Shoes – an event that increased awareness in over 25 countries around the world
- Campus clubs and internships – programs designed to promote world change and educate youth
- Water Project – charity to provide clean water by using $5 donation from the sale of each pair of shoes
- Blog and photo albums – allow interaction of fans and promote creativity and charitable, sustainable living
With designs guaranteed to please everyone from the sedate to the adventurous, TOMS is an ideal solution to the gift-giving dilemna. For birthdays or graduation, for Mother’s Day or Father’s Day, or just “because”, this is one purchase that provides a stylish, practical product, promotes sustainability and altruism, and spreads the word about a good cause. Internet shoppers can pay even less than retail by using a promotional code or coupon. These can be found by searching for “TOMS shoes coupons” or TOMS coupon code 2011.
