{"id":1801,"date":"2015-12-06T14:14:23","date_gmt":"2015-12-06T19:14:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digital.hbs.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/toms-evolving-as-a-winner\/"},"modified":"2015-12-06T14:14:23","modified_gmt":"2015-12-06T19:14:23","slug":"toms-evolving-as-a-winner","status":"publish","type":"hck-submission","link":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/toms-evolving-as-a-winner\/","title":{"rendered":"TOMS: Evolving as a winner"},"content":{"rendered":"

TOMS: Evolving as a winner<\/p>\n

\"TOMS<\/a><\/p>\n

Company overview<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

TOMS was founded in 2006 by Blake Mycoskie after he traveled to Argentina and realized how many kids were barefoot, and not out of preference (1).\u00a0 Primarily a shoe retailer, TOMS is known for its \u201cone for one model\u201d \u2013 for every item purchased, something is given to someone in need.\u00a0 In recent years, TOMS has expanded into other segments that fit with its one for model, such as eyewear and bags. (2)<\/p>\n

Business model<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

TOMS value creation is twofold \u2013 it creates value to consumers who want to purchase comfortable, stylish shoes, and to those on the receiving end of its donations through one of its 100+ shoe giving partners (3).\u00a0 Both of these are critical to how TOMS captures values from its customers.\u00a0 Could TOMS exist solely as a typical shoe retailer, without the social impact component?\u00a0 Potentially yes, but it would not be nearly as successful.\u00a0 Its shoes are not differentiated enough to capture enough value on their own.\u00a0 The pitch to customers that purchasing a TOMS pair of shoes helps someone in need is the big differentiating factor.<\/p>\n

TOMS\u2019s business model has evolved over time.\u00a0 Early on, the company was criticized for its band aid approach of providing a temporary solution (shoes) to address an underlying problem of poverty that is causing a need for shoes, a common criticism\u00a0for one for one business models (4, 5). \u00a0To address this criticism, TOMS changed to not only be\u00a0about donating a physical product when it sells one of its products, but also be\u00a0about helping to address the root causes in the areas it supports.<\/p>\n

Operating model and alignment with business model<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

TOMS\u2019s operating model has evolved accordingly with its business model.\u00a0 In its early stages, TOMS produced many of its shoes that it donated in China and India, but donated them to other countries (6).\u00a0 This aligned well with its original business model of donating shoes to those in need.\u00a0 As the business model shifted to address the underlying issue of poverty in these countries, the operating model shifted as well.\u00a0 TOMS has recently committed to manufacturing some of its shoes given out in local countries to help make an impact on the local economy by providing jobs (6).\u00a0 For its eyewear products, TOM is making a similar type of impact by providing eye exams and necessary treatments to help at the problems rather than just providing eyewear to those in need (3).<\/p>\n

Conclusion: TOMS is a winner<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The clear alignment of TOMS\u2019 business and operating models has allowed it to respond to criticism about its one for one model in way that has satisfied critics to date (7).\u00a0 While this alignment is important for all companies, it becomes even more important for companies that include social impact as part of its business model.\u00a0 Companies claiming to value social impact need to back up their goals with actions that clearly support their goals, and TOMS does just that.<\/p>\n

Sources<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. http:\/\/www.entrepreneur.com\/article\/220350\u00a0<\/a><\/li>\n
  2. http:\/\/www.toms.com\/<\/a><\/li>\n
  3. http:\/\/www.toms.com\/what-we-give<\/a><\/li>\n
  4. http:\/\/boss.blogs.nytimes.com\/2013\/03\/19\/questioning-the-toms-shoes-model-for-social-enterprise\/<\/a><\/li>\n
  5. http:\/\/knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu\/article\/one-one-business-model-social-impact-avoiding-unintended-consequences\/\u00a0<\/a><\/li>\n
  6. http:\/\/www.toms.com\/stories\/giving\/reaching-milestones-in-local-manufacturing<\/a><\/li>\n
  7. http:\/\/www.tinyspark.org\/blog\/critics\/<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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