TOMS has not only been notably recognized as a trendy shoe company, but also in the business world as a corporate socially responsible company. As most people are aware TOMS has a One for One® program which Regi describes in her TOMS article, “Building a Business for Making a Better World.” Upon further research I found out that TOMS not only has a program which gives back to poor communities, but that their shoes are made of sustainable and vegan materials such as natural hemp, organic cotton, and recycled polyester. TOMS has perfectly demonstrated and satisfied all the points of creating shared value. First, they have proven to the rest of the market that being sustainable from creating the shoe box down to the sole can be highly profitable. Second, TOMS thinks heavily about how their future decision can positively impact the less fortunate; this includes generating more ways they can assist communities, prevent slavery and human trafficking, and ensure corporate responsibility standards are upheld. Last of all, TOMS has shown that their unique One for One® program and use of sustainable materials has created an edge for them in the footwear industry. As a former TOMS-enthusiast myself, I admired the company more than the shoes itself. Part of the reason why I fell in love with the company was not only because the slip-ons were comfy yet fashionably acceptable, but because I knew that I was somehow helping another child in the world by indirectly providing them with a new pair of shoes as well. With every purchase, customers are happy knowing that they can look good while doing good.

sources:

http://www.toms.com/corporate-responsibility#corporateResponsibility

https://blogs.ubc.ca/gomm/2014/10/30/building-a-business-for-making-a-better-world/

https://www.google.ca/search?q=toms+corporate+social+responsibility&client=firefox-a&hs=iRb&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=fflb&biw=669&bih=674&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=6o9YVLffGOT1igKJxoCYAg&sqi=2&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=EVGIGI72kBOGrM%253A%3BzKJRjb5-Xqx8_M%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fboringdevelopment.files.wordpress.com%252F2014%252F01%252Ftoms-giving-1-e1389056651682.jpg%253Fw%253D634%2526h%253D421%2526crop%253D1%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fboringdevelopment.com%252Ftag%252Fcsr-gone-bad%252F%3B634%3B421

By now, every person on the street is aware of the growing epidemic of Ebola. People have been on high alert ever since the first few cases of Ebola have sprouted in the United States and it has caused distress in travel stocks. With every new case found in the United States the decrease becomes more and more significant for the travel industry. Companies such as United Continental Holdings Inc., Delta Airlines, and Carnival are among the group which have encountered the most substantial drops in their stocks. I feel that these people who are selling their stocks out of irrational fear. The main concern here is that Ebola will cause a decrease in demand for travel companies which could eventually result in a serious capital loss. People may be overreacting due to a similar outbreak in 2002 when SARS erupted and restricted air travel; however Ebola and SARS are two very different sicknesses. Ebola is contracted through bodily fluids and is not airborne meaning it is harder to contract and safe to travel. Investors may be trying to cut their losses by selling their stocks; however the travel industry will inevitably bounce back in the near future because sicknesses are only temporary and regular volumes of travelling will certainly resume. With the Christmas travel season coming up so soon I think the investors are overreacting by selling their shares so soon without seeing the impact it will have on the upcoming holiday season.

Sources:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/10/15/us-usa-airlines-stocks-idUSKCN0I429U20141015

http://www.forbes.com/sites/maggiemcgrath/2014/10/01/stocks-sink-on-ebola-fears-and-mixed-economic-data/

First Nations view stewardship as a responsibility to respect and protect resources in return for using them. First Nations people have a very deep spiritual connection with nature and do not believe in exploiting their values for money. During my time in a BC First Nations Course in grade 12 I learned that First Nations highly value the relationship that they have with nature. Not only is it used to sustain their needs such as food and transportation, but it is a part of who they are as a culture. This is disappointing information for companies such as Enbridge who intend on building their high risk pipeline through traditional territory. I feel like companies such as Enbridge do not understand to a full extent as to how important nature is to them. Quoting Lillian in the article, “Our elders have always said you cannot eat money.” These companies need alter their business models so that it is not so much focused on the money that they can offer to these First Nations groups, but the environmental benefits that this pipeline could potentially offer. If Enbridge cannot come up reasons as to how pipelines, such as the Northern Gateway pipeline, can directly benefit the First Nations then they need to offer an incentive to them. Enbridge should offer their assistance to First Nations groups to help them resolve problems such as helping them create a sustainable way of providing clean drinking water to their communities.

Sources:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/first-nations-water-problems-shameful-1.2759675

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/There+will+pipeline/10122968/story.html

https://www.google.ca/search?q=northern+gateway+pipeline&client=firefox-a&hs=rx1&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=fflb&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=yh0yVLnRII-pogTdyYHwAg&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAg&biw=1366&bih=696#rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=fflb&tbm=isch&q=bc+first+nations+and+northern+gateway&facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=3tbxZJ9v50JWnM%253A%3B0bX8CjVYlvKPFM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwarriorpublications.files.wordpress.com%252F2013%252F08%252Fyinka-dene-no-pipelines-banner-april-2011.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwarriorpublications.wordpress.com%252F2014%252F04%252F11%252Fb-c-first-nation-along-pipeline-route-officially-rejects-northern-gateway-plan%252F%3B720%3B540

For some time now I have been on the look-out for a new phone to replace the unreliable one that I still, unfortunately, own. As new smartphones are being rapidly released I am shocked by the new innovative features and specs that set each phone apart from one another. However, I am even more blown-away by the price tags that come along them. This all ties into a conversation I had with a friend a few weeks back. He had recently come across a new smartphone company called ONEPLUS whose smartphones range from $299 to $349. He started explaining how ONEPLUS launched their phone on an invite-only system. As I did my research on the company it reminded of Tesla’s direct sales approach. ONEPLUS, much like Tesla, does not have advertisements or contracts with phone service providers. At first glance it seems suicidal that this company is trying to make a name for themselves in the smartphone market, which is already over packed with existing companies, through a direct sales approach. However, this company has really let their product do the talking. On almost every smartphone/gadget blog that I have visited every single one of them have been raving about the phone and comparing it to phones such as the Samsung Galaxy S5 (whose price is double the ONEPLUS ONE). I think ONEPLUS has done an exceptional job in exciting both the smartphone junkies and the average smartphone users and I am excited to see the company has to offer next.

Sources:

http://oneplus.net/one

https://www.qualcomm.com/news/snapdragon/2014/05/16/qa-pete-lau-oneplus-launch-one

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OnePlus#cite_note-7

https://www.google.ca/search?q=oneplus+one&client=firefox-a&hs=RWg&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=fflb&biw=1366&bih=696&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=IxIyVM6uCYjpigKbp4CYCg&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAw#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=MgxnDGVo2crooM%253A%3BQUaXLk3OBHGe1M%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fmedia.engadget.com%252Fimg%252Fproducts%252F508%252Fawce%252Fawce-800.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.engadget.com%252Fproducts%252Foneplus%252Fone%252F%3B800%3B600