Since the beginning of TOMS in 2006, over 10 million pairs of shoes have been given to those in need. Since they expanded to glasses in 2011, 200,000 pairs of glasses have been also given. Yet the founder, Blake Mycoskie, has a big heart for the underprivileged and has started a new line called “The Marketplace” just this past November 5th, selling the products of fellow social entrepreneurs.

TOMS marketplace

As a social entrepreneur, Mycoskie desired to aid small social entrepreneur businesses (usually still in their startup stage) who had “mission-driven business models” by starting an e-commerce program on the TOMS Americanwebsite. The products are sold online, and follow the “buy one and one is given” stencil. The businesses are thoroughly examined by TOMS staff to ensure that their goals and objectives follow the same as TOMS. 

Mycoskie believes that their customers know what TOMS stands for, and therefore will see the smaller businesses within the Marketplace standing for the same morals. These small companies were on minimal funding. However, TOMS (a worldwide known social entrepreneur company) now buys their products at a wholesale price and sells the products online with the company’s brand shown and promoted online. Once again, another path to benefit society has been discovered by TOMS!

Sources:

http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/229770

http://money.cnn.com/2013/11/05/smallbusiness/toms-online-marketplace/