Blake Mycoskie/TOMS Shoes

',ti
: .. a
iii::.
'li
He traveledto Argentinato danceand
s o a ku p t h e c u l t u r ei;n s t e a df,o r m e r
gameshowcontestant
BlakeMycoskie
f o u n dp u r p o s e .
ittle did Blake Mycoskie know that a trip
to Argentina would irrevocably change his
life. As a2002 TheAmazingRace contestant,
Mycoskie had traveled the world. A few
years later, he decided to revisit some of
the placeshe had gone to for the show,and
during his return to Argentina, he volunteered in a small
village.Many of the children there were shoelessand thus
forced to walk barefoot, putting their feet at greatrisk for
infection from unsafe roads and contaminated soil. Mv-
coskiewas touched by their plight and, having just come
upon the alpargata(an espadrille-likeshoepopularlyworn
in the country), he experienceda lightbulb moment. Why
not start a companythat would update the alpargataand,
for eachpair sold, give another to a child in need?
The idea soon became a reality. In 2006, Mycoskie
launched TOMS Shoes (meaning "shoesfor tomorrow")
and ran his new enterprisewith the one-for-onemodel as
its primary businesstenet. In just its first year,TOMS sold
10,000pairs; and, true to his word, Mycoske went back to
Argentina with a cohort of family and friends to distribute
the same number of pairs in a seriesof villages.
"Buenos
Aires was one of the stops for The Amazing
Racel' Mycoskie recalls while taking a break frorn preparing for speakingengagementsas well as a researchtrip to
"There
Ethiopia.
were severalcountries I wanted to revisit
afterward and Argentina was one of them. I wanted to reWINTER2OO9LIFESTYLESMAGMINE
129
PROFILEBlake Mvcoskie
lax, learn how to tango and play polo, and do some com-
women's boots, T-shirts, hats, and infant sleepers.Items
munity service.Then, while working in the local commu-
are available online and at hundreds of boutiques and
nities, I learned that the kids had to walk miles without
other retail outlets acrossthe United States and abroad.
Amazingly, this output has come from a guy with no
"I
"It's
funnyi'Mycoskie remarks,
scholarship about shoes.
shoes to go to school and fetch water, which gave them
cuts and scrapes.I felt strongly about doing something to
help, and finding a way to provide shoesto these children
quickly became my missioni'
Of the one-for-one edict, he says,
"I
thought it was im-
portant to create a sustainable company that would be
had absolutely no experience or background whatsoever
in fashion or shoes. \Arhat I find is I'm just very curious
about the world, and I guessthat when needs aren t being
met, I like to create businessesthat meet theml'
able to provide for others consistently. I could have easily
Days are always busy for Mycoskie, who travels about
created a nonprofit and solicited the same donors year af-
three weeks out of every month to speak at conventions
teryear.But if theylost interest,whatwould happento my
and on college campuses,develop business opporfunities
charity? With a sustainable business model, TOMS is able
for TOMS, and find new places to donate the company's
to stick to its promise. We're using the purchasing power
flagship product. Shoes are distributed year-round, gen-
ofindividuals to benefit the greater goodi'
erally via Shoe Drop Tours, which mobilize TOMS em-
Launched in Venice, California, but now firmly en-
ployees and volunteers to hand-deliver goods to needy
sconcedin awarehousein SantaMonica,TOMS has given
children. The tours, coordinated through the business's
away more than 150,000pairs of shoesto date to children
nonprofit arm, Friends of TOMS, have taken place in
in need in Argentina, South Africa, Ethiopia, and the U.S.
Not only has the contribution reduced the incidence of
Argentina, South Africa, Ethiopia, New Orleans, Florida,
Kentuckp and Mississippi. And just as Mycoskie returned
foot-related ailments like podoconiosis, a debilitating
to Argentina at the outset, tours have revisited villages to
swelling of the feet and legs that results from walking
replace shoesgiven to kids on previous trips.
barefoot on silica-rich soil, it also has enabled recipients
To reach even more children, TOMS collaborates with
to meet uniform requirements to attend school and ulti-
other charitable entities, as well as non-governmental or-
mately receive an invaluable education.
ganizations around the world, disbursing shoes through
existing programs. In early 2009, TOMS joined with the
The company employs 45 staffersat its warehouse headthe one-for-one m€ssageextends far beyond that number.
Clinton Global Initiative and committed 100,000pairs of
"Some
shoeshave alreadybeen
shoesto children in Haiti.
Severalinternships are offered annually, allowing dozens
given. We're still working to fulflll this commitment in the
of recruits to be involved in the day-to-day activities at
TOMS. In addition, campus representatives throughout
most efficient mannerl' shares Mycoskie, who was her'bne
alded by former presidentBill Clinton as
of the most
the country help promote the objectives of TOMS and
interesting entrepreneurs [I ve] ever meti'
quarters,but the roster ofpeople interestedin spreading
plan sponsored events at collegesand universities.
Since its inception, the company has introduced
vegan-friendly styles made from a blend of recycled
products, as well as faux suede insoles and
rubber outsoles, and also expanded
its offerings to include
Ble*e Mycoskie PROFILE
And he's not the only one who thinks so-the company
and its founder are featured in an AT&T commercial, first
aired during this year'sMasters golf tournament; Mycoskie
"Heroes
Among Usi'
was named in a Peoplearticle entitled
and TOMS was mentioned in a TIME story on capitalism
written by a small-time entrepreneur by the name of Bill
Gates.
Mycoskie,who dubs the TOMSbusinessapproach'bonscious capitalisml' attributes his philanthropic spirit to
"My
parents influenced
his upbringing in Arlington, Texas.
me and my siblingsto be positive people and treat others
fair$ The morals and values they instilled in me have absolutelyaffectedthe decisionsI ve made and the direction
I've taken with TOMS;' affirms the self-describedserial entrepreneur.Sincecollegeand prior to establishingTOMS,
he started a national campus laundry and dry-cleaning
service,a television networh an outdoor advertising firm,
and an online driver's-education school.
Now 33, Mycoskie makes his home on a sailboat docked
"I
in the harbor at Marina del Rey near Los Angeles. like
OURCOMPANYIS BUTLT
ON APASS'ONTO GTVE.
the fact that, with allthe crazinessin my life-albeit good
craziness-the boat can also serveas my refuge.It's nice to
IS TO
be able to take day trips to Catalina or go out to sea away
from everlthing and get reenergized.One of my goals is to
sail across the Pacific Ocean all the way to Hawaiil'
Until then, he will continue to be known affectionately
'thief
shoegiver,"forever on the lookout for more
as TOMS'
"Our
company is built on
kids and communities in need.
"so
our primary aim is
a passion to givel' Mycoskie says,
"There
are no words to expresswhat TOMS has given to
"To
mel'he adds.
this day,there aretimes when I'm amazed
we've come this far. It was a simple idea three years ago,
and now it's a company that's ehanging the lives of children worldwide. Seeingit flourish has proven that the one-
to keep helping others. I want to expand our one-for-one
businessmodel to other products and services,but in the
for-one model works, and Id love to seemore businesses
meantime, I want to improve the fit and comfort of our
incorporate it into their own blueprints for successl' [M
shoes.I honestly believe we can become a thriving footwear companyworldwide and one daybe able to sayweve
given away I million shoes.
For more information,pleasevisit
www.tomsshoes.com.
J
,l
,,ri
;r',
MAGMINE
131