TOMS Shoes : Social Failibility And Social Responsibility?

Admittedly, more and more brands and retailers are taking action to respond to the ethical and sustainable issues. From the consumer side, there is an apparent growth of ethical purchase. Kate Spade, as an American luxury fashion brand, undergoes ethical enhancements of its manufacturing process in Africa. However, instead of transforming this approach into a charitable purpose, Kate Spade chooses to retain its high-quality standard and beautiful products to attract customers . This report will first focus on the elements Kate Spade practically supports in Africa, then review the performances of their program, using a comparable retailer’s moral action as a comparison. We will eventually conclude by examining the positive and negative impacts of such a policy for Kate Spade.

Difficult to define, ethical responsibility is the ability to recognize, interpret and act upon multiple principles and values according to the standards within a given field and/or context (Investopedia LLC., 2015). Social responsibility is the concept that businesses develop a positive relationship to the society and environment, which they operate; and not focus, solely on maximizing profits (Stan Mack, 2015).

Every business has a social responsibility toward society. That means to maximize positive affects and minimize negative affects on the society. Social responsibilities includes economic-to produce goods and services, that society needs at the price, that satisfy both-business and consumers, legal

The primary target market of TOMS is males and females between the age of 19-24 that want to combine the creativity of being a trend-setter with the satisfaction of being socially responsible. This age range is a part of what is known as Generation Y, or the Millennials. Generation Y has brought a trend of social awareness and activity. From 2002 to 2005 the number of people volunteering went up 25%. This generation is all about giving back to the people, so Toms allows this group to give back by purchasing their shoes. TOMS has also done its homework on this group as well. Utilizing social media, TOMS reaches out to over 488,000 twitter followers, 280,000 Facebook fans, and several thousands of YouTube users. TOMS understands that generation Y prefers hands on involvement. In order to make that happen, TOMS fans are allowed to take part in a yearly One Day Without Shoes movement to understand what it is like to be shoe-less. In addition to the giving back and the social movements, TOMS shoes let young adults be expressive in their style. The plain shoe design makes way for creative minds to manipulate the shoe as anyone may please. TOMS is mainly focused in the U.S., but the shoes are available in over 30 countries globally

Corporate Social Responsibility are actions taken by a corporation that have positive and lasting impact for all stakeholders associated with the organization, seeking to strike a balance between profits and helping to establish lasting investment in the community (Carrol, 2015). In the 1980’s, then President Reagan challenged the business community to take on more responsibility to address social problems (Carrol, 2015). Socially responsible actions can benefit local communities as well as the greater societal good.

TOMS sets the best example of corporate responsibility and cause marketing. With every customers’ purchase, TOMS extends his help to people in need in more than 70 countries around the globe. One of the ways TOMS makes a positive social impact is by providing brand new shoes to children in need. They have donated more than 60 million pairs of new shoes according to its website. Another reason TOMS is making such a great positive social impact is by supporting treatments for some of the most common vision issues, such as prescription glasses, sight-saving surgery, and medical treatment, through customers’ purchases of any of TOMS’s eyewear products. Patients with lower resources are able to receive a full eye exam and diagnostic. Those patients

The One Day Without Shoes event comprises the message that changing lives is possible with simple acts of kindness. Their message reaches out to the millions of participants, who they rely to simply make a post and spread the good news of giving, so TOMS can reward their positivity by fulfilling their mission to improve the quality of life for all people. The motto One for One® continues to be the foundation of their mindset for the company and all they create for their business. More specifically for the campaign, #WithoutShoes has grown to be their statement piece and ticket for a donation. Their efforts to provide a pair of shoes is a lasting contribution to the individual who receives them. They will be better protected and gain opportunities

Around the year 2008, Shoes for a Better Tomorrow was abbreviated to TOMS after they achieved to established more than 1000 stores globally, as well as donations of about 11,000,000 pair of shoes to needy children around the world. Blake decided to start the production of eyeglasses in 2011 where the one for one model was still applicable. Blake's one for one model for the glasses worked in a way that for every purchased pair of sunglasses, Blake donated one pair for those challenged with their eyesight most of whom had undergone eye surgery. Blake Mycoskie can be considered as a social entrepreneur considering that his investments are also concerned with social affair donations and improvements that are aimed at improving the lives of the

“Social responsibility” is a phrase with many interpretations and meanings. Many believe social responsibility is like being a “brother’s keeper. ”A brother’s keeper is a male or female willing to put their own beliefs and feelings aside to be responsible for the greater good. A literary example of this interpretation of social responsibility, can be found the 2003 bestseller,The Five People You Will Meet in Heaven. The author,Mitch Albom, incorporates the idea of social responsibility in many of his characters.

According to “Social Responsibility” it states that “ Social responsibility is multidimensional in that being responsible goes beyond just being respectful to others; it means experiencing, as well as appreciating our interdependence and connectedness with others and our environment” (Berman). Berman states that social responsibility goes beyond just being respectful to others; it also includes their connectedness with other aspects such as with people and the environment. Therefore,people who want to be socially responsible should be doing more than just being respectful they should also be connected with other members of society and their environment.

Toms works with the one for one model: every time they sell a pair of shoes, they give a pair to someone in need. They want to create a positive change and share their Giving story. Toms prices vary between $59 to $120.

Thus, by its Goodie Two Shoes Giveaway every year, the organization joins hands with Zappos and other companies to distribute and donate thousands of footwear to children who are needy. Zappos believe that it is giving back to the community and is concerned with doing well for the society and for the betterment of people. In this manner, the charitable giving and volunteer engagement programs fosters the social responsibility of the company (Zappos Sustainable Design,

TOMS shoes was founded by Blake Mycoskie in 2006 based on the simple line: One for One. With every pair of shoes purchased, TOMS will give a new pair of shoes to a child in need. The TOMS mission statement translates to utilizing the individual consumer’s buying power in order to benefit the greater good of the world. The TOMS mission statement transforms consumers into benefactors and allows TOMS to grow a sustainable business that’s a for-profit donation.

Since 2006, when the TOMS Shoes was founded, their ‘one for one’ business model has been widely embraced or criticized by different companies and the consumers. While, Blake Mycoskie, the founder of TOMS Company, was on trip to Argentina in 2006, he witnessed the extreme poverty and poor health conditions. After countersigning children walking barefoot, it dramatically heightened Blake’s awareness. Consequently, after witnessing those events, Mycoskie came up with a simple and innovating plan to create a for-profit business with a philanthropic component. Consequently, Blake created TOMS company with a unique principal and business model referred to ‘One for One’. TOMS ‘One for One’ is a unique business model, where for every pair of shoes purchased TOMS donates a pair of shoes to children in need in developing or underdeveloped countries. The company’s name ‘TOMS’ generated from the word ‘TOMORROW’, which was the original concept of the company, ‘shoes for tomorrow’.

Cole + Parker is a sock company with a cause: to eliminate poverty in the world. To do this, Cole + Parker partnered with Kiva to create a program called 1 For Many. Through 1 For Many, Cole + Parker donates a portion of the proceeds of every pair of socks sold to charity through Kiva, both domestically and internationally. Kiva is a nonprofit organization that distributes zero interest loans to impoverished entrepreneurs. Cole + Parker has also partnered with Socktober, an annual event that encourages young adults and children to make a positive difference in the world through charity.