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MINI CASE 25
TOMS Shoes
I. CASE ABSTRACT
Founded in 2006 by Blake Mycoskie, TOMS Shoes was an American footwear
company based in Santa Monica, California. Although TOMS Shoes was a for–
profit business, its mission was more like that of a not–for–profit
organization. The firm’s reason for existence was to donate to children in
need one new pair of shoes for every pair of shoes sold. Blake Mycoskie
referred to it as the company’s “one for one” business model.
While vacationing in Argentina during 2006, Mycoskie befriended
children who had no shoes to protect them during long walks to obtain food,
water, and attend school. Going barefoot was a common practice in rural
farming regions of developing countries, where many subsistence farmers could
II. CASE ISSUES AND SUBJECTS
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
CORE COMPETENCIES
EFFICIENCY
GLOBAL STRATEGY
IMITATION
CONSCIOUS CAPITALISM