Blake Mycoskie

Biography

•Born in Arlington, Texas•August 26, 1976•36 years old•Entrepreneur

Education•James Martin High School (Arlington, Texas)

•St. Stephens Episcopal School (Austin, TX)

•Undergraduate work at Southern Methodist University

College•Southern Methodist University

•EZ Laundry Service

•Age: 19

Business History

•Bill board advertising•EZ Laundry•Mycoskie Media•Drivers ED Direct•TOMS

The Amazing Race

•Second Season•Competed with His sister Paige Mycoskie

•Came within 4 minutes of winning the $1 Million Dollar Prize

Why???

Witnessed the poverty among villagers in Argentina

Children can't attend school barefoot because shoes are a required part of their uniform. If they don't have shoes, they don't go to school. If they don't receive an education, they don't have the opportunity to realize their potential.

A leading cause of disease in developing countries is soil-transmitted diseases, which can penetrate the skin through bare feet. Wearing shoes can help prevent these diseases, and the long-term physical and cognitive harm they cause.

Podoconiosis

Podoconiosis is a fungus that gets into the pores on the bottom of the feet and eventually destroys the lymphatic system.

Where is the solution?

Inspired by Alpargata shoes, which have been worn by Argentina farmers for 100 years

They are canvas or cotton fabric shoes are now manufactured in many styles including a Wrap Boot, Stitchouts, Cordones, and Botas. The sole is constructed of rubber. TOMS offers several vegan styles as well

What to do???

He went from one retail store to another with a unique business proposal

Los Angeles Times ran an article on his business idea. Ran out of stock! Weekend garnered $88,000 in orders!!!

Two years after officially establishing TOMS Shoes, the business had $9.6 million in revenue

How???

Success mantra- One for One! The cost of providing the shoes to children in

need is built into the shoes’ sales price. The customer is thereby turned into the benefactor, enabling TOMS to become a sustainable organization based on giving back to the world on a continuous basis. In the process, TOMS is also able to turn a profit, support itself, make the world a better place, and educate consumers how they are helping children in need by providing them with a pair of shoes

Day without shoe campaign

Shoes for better tomorrow Friends of TOMS, the company’s non-

profit subsidiary, is responsible for organizing volunteer activities and all shoe drops

Philanthropic Capitalism- company makes a profit but incorporates philanthropy into its business strategy

Combination of education and health provides children the opportunity for a better tomorrow

Toms

•founded in 2006•Based on the alpargata shoe

•1st YEAR 10,000 sold, 1MN IN 4 YEARS

Accomplishments& Recognitions• People’s Design Award

• featured in Numerous Magazines• The Los Angeles Times• The New York Times• PEOPLE Magazine• TIME Magazine• VOGUE• Elle• Oprah Magazine

• 2009 ACE award by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

Why not a charity orgnization? Nonprofits that depend largely on

donations struggle to remain in operation during economic downturns

By incorporating the nonprofit component into the business model, TOMS mitigates this risk

donating money to children would be a one-time deal

As long as people keep purchasing shoes, the nonprofit will remain sustainable

Change Maker!!!

Survey- Philanthropy is embedded within the business model are likely to attract the support of consumers who want to make a difference

Collaboration with big brands Sold in retail stores in the United

States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Germany, and France.

Knowing about Blake

Be the change you want to see in the world- M.K. Gandhi

Reader and traveller Started one for one eyewear Autobiography- Start something that matters,

2011

Learnings…

Observe Ask questions- Why? Where? What?

How? Sociable Adventurous Cooperative Calm Responsible Artistic Imaginative

References

www.toms.com www.google.com www.youtube.com Book- Start something that matters Various magazines from internet

Thank You!Jelly for a Jelly???