TOM is a for-profit company, based in Playa Del Rey, California. Founded in 2006 by Blake Mycoskie, the company designs and sells shoes, along with other apparel. Mycoskie runs a system where for every pair of shoes sold, another pair are given to someone in need. This is a major part of their mission, as according to Mycoskie in an article he published in the Harvard Business Review “The Founder of TOMS on Reimagining the Company’s Mission”, how they were “still delivering on our promises to give a pair of shoes to someone in need for every pair of shoes sold”(2). This is a very good method to both profit, and at the same time give back to the communityI believe that TOM’S is sustainable. They have a good base, and have been very successful.
According to Mycoskie, TOMS “had an annual growth rate of 300%”(13) by 2011. This is huge growth, and along with that, he also included how at a similar point, they had given away tier 10 millionth pair of shoes. With this, we can see that TOM’S is succeeding on both sides, both for themselves, and the other in need of help. Their mission, on the other hand, is clear, they want to provide shoes to people who could not afford them, and 10 million is an impressive feat. Overall, I believe that TOMS is doing a great job, and are defiantly sustainable.
The issue they are trying to eradicate is mainly helping people who have no access to shoes, but also they are taking an active stand against Gun Violence. Whenever you send someone a TOMS item, you have an option to send a postcard that asks to stand against gun violence, and in support of background checks. This may no be as prevalent compared to the shoes, but it is a valiant effort that should not go unnoticed. TOMS, according to Mycoskie has grown from a “start-up in my Venice, California apartment to a global company with more than $300 million in revenue”(2). This is a similar trend to a lot of big corporations, like Amazon or Ebay; they all started from the ground, and rose to the top. With this, we can see the enormous growth of TOMS, but there were bumps in the road.
Mycoskie explains how at first, TOMS “had become more focused on process than on purpose”(4). This issue went against the whole mission Mycoskie was focused on, as he wanted to both prosper, and help others, not one or the other. In comparison, he explains how the were more focused on the “what: and “how”, rather than focusing on their mission. With this, TOMS, at first was looking to follow a more corporate trent rather than an organization with a mission, but Mycoskie got them back on track.The CEO of TOMS is now Jim Alling. Mycoskie stepped down in 2016, due to his lack of interest in the business aspects, as he was more interested in helping others.
