Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Croatia-France-USA-Argentina-Croatia


The way in which ideas spread is fascinating. Today, I received an email from two former students from Croatia now studying in France. They just had a case study about Toms Shoes and said it reminded them of me. Thanks Ivona and Domagoj;). The concept behind Toms Shoes is simply when you buy a pair for yourself, you automatically buy a second pair for someone in the world in need. The gift is included in the purchase price. Here is the rundown of this entrepreneurial story....An Amercian traveller (lifestyle)+visited Argentina in 2006 (trigger) and was shocked to find many children who needed but did not have footwear + then the he took his (desire) passion to remedy this situation and his (possibility) opportunity based on his access to resources and Blake Mycoskie formed his new venture, Toms Shoes. The big idea: One for One, will have over a million shoes sold and a million given to a needy child in just four years from 2006 to 2010. Don't you want to buy a pair? OR atleast read more about social business creation? Check out Toms Shoes sustainable business model here.

10 comments:

  1. This is a very interesting idea. I would like to buy those shoes. They look nice and you can make someone happy. I find it useful to read about something learned in class (lifestyle, trigger, possibility, desire).

    Anja Ferenc

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  3. Very lucrative. He found the way how to earn on doing humanity work...very nice XD

    Ivo Šiško

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  4. Sustainopreneurship is an amazing concept, much talked about in Pakistan. I think this is an extremely brilliant example of how it can be implemented. We have much to reflect and learn from this.

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  5. Great idea, I would like to incorporate similar social responsibility way of thinking and acting into my future venture or just do the charity work along with my primary course of career. In fact, the first money I'll earn will be given to those in need. This is kind of an oath I took several years ago. Toms shoes in adition to other similar ideas, show the best social responsibility marketing concept aswell. It is not enough just to deliver a quality product or service, but also to show the understanding of people's needs and wants by creating an idea or a way to satisfy them in a more sensible mode.

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  6. I’m so happy people in Croatia have a chance to know a bit more about Tom’s shoes. I heard about Tom’s shoes about half year ago, and I just had to buy them. I bought them in May and once I wear them I just didn’t wear anything else for next 4 month. Apart from cheap price, which vary from $ 49 up to $ 79 per pair, they are fashionable and super comfortable. On the other hand purchasing Tom’s shoes gives us more satisfaction just knowing that at the same time satisfying out need we have chanced to satisfy need of one chilled in Argentina.
    I consider these business moves adorable, as apart from making profit for them self’s as major businesses of these world do, some of them still realize there is a need for somebody else except for us.
    Though there are many type of business where majority of them start with idea how to make money and they use charity as some kind of trick to get the customers. Anyway , that was not Tom’s case , as before he even started these business he traveled the world and one of his last destination was Argentina, where he end up visiting village where people were simply poor and kid’s of the village didn’t had even the shoes. So thanks to Tom, and his brilliant idea today all world has chance to do something for once that can’t do for them self’s.

    Ana Tanic

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  7. What a fantastic approach to business. They're not only selling shoes, but random acts of kindness. Just goes to show that travelling the world can be a great experience in terms of learning about different cultures but there also exists the opportunity for business and improving human life. What I love in particular is how it seperates itself from the generic self-serving CSR we have come to expect from corporations.

    - Ali Saleem.

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  8. This is an interesting business concept. We girls have a double satisfaction when we buy in that way. Can it be better, you are happy because you bought new shoes and also more happier because you helped someone who doesn´t have shoes to ware.

    Maja Dobranić

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  9. Tom’s shoes are a noble business. I like helping other people that are in a difficult situation. The only problem with these kinds of businesses, from my point of view is, that you can never be completely sure did your money come to the right place.

    Josip Baršić

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  10. I've never heard about Tom "s shoes, but it seems like a great idea. If it can help children, why not:)

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Future Entrepreneurs

Teaching in higher education in Croatia for almost 20 years, I have mostly been in the private sector.  But I am happy when learners re...