I agree with and support the ‘one for one’ business model because the only way to gain competitive edge over competitors or having a point of difference is the way of success in today’s world. Many will argue that giving donations or free products will be a source of loss for the company providing so. I agree with them but this will only be in the short run. In the long run the potential customers will realise the good that the company is doing good and start buying more and more of the product. This would further make a point on the Business Ethics that the company follows.

Toms ‘one for one’ business model may prove to be a huge disaster in the future but giving a try for social benefit is much better than not trying at all. Professionals say that there can be many ways of providing support to the needy and only further research will be able to provide with evidence enough to state which method is the best one. In my opinion the ’one for one’ strategy will be a great success and soon be adopted by other companies as well.

Companies like Cotapaxi and Roma Boots have also adopted the one for one strategy. Giving donations and helping poor and needy can only help those people who can be trusted with such help. Giving these so called donations, etc may create unnecessary dependency on the company for consistent work which could be done by themselves.

At the end the question lies in the perspective of the reader: Whether giving donations is a boon or a bane for the givers and the receivers?

References:
– http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/one-one-business-model-social-impact-avoiding-unintended-consequences/
– http://www.fastcoexist.com/1679628/the-broken-buy-one-give-one-model-three-ways-to-save-toms-shoes