A Closer Look at TOMS, from Public Radio International. publicradiointernational: A closer look at TOMS Shoes raises questions: Does it hurt the communities it tries to help? How closely does it work with religious organizations? (Photo: Blake Mycoskie, the founder of TOMS Shoes. From toms.com.) The company promotes a “buy-one-give-one” business model and says it has provided millions of needy children with footwear. Reporter Amy Costello investigated TOMS Shoes for a podcast called Tiny Spark – Igniting Debate About the Business of Doing Good. Costello talked to Laura Freschi at New York University’s Development Research Institute, who had this to say about how the company could be hurting some communities: “I’m concerned that TOMS creates the impression that there are no shoes to be purchased inside of these communities, when in fact there are vibrant local economies. In many of these places where they’re giving shoes, it’s important to acknowledge that in some cases the buy-one-give-one model practiced this way could be harmful to those local producers and sellers.”
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A Closer Look at TOMS, from Public Radio International.

publicradiointernational:

A closer look at TOMS Shoes raises questions: Does it hurt the communities it tries to help? How closely does it work with religious organizations? (Photo: Blake Mycoskie, the founder of TOMS Shoes. From toms.com.)

The company promotes a “buy-one-give-one” business model and says it has provided millions of needy children with footwear.

Reporter Amy Costello investigated TOMS Shoes for a podcast called Tiny Spark – Igniting Debate About the Business of Doing Good. Costello talked to Laura Freschi at New York University’s Development Research Institute, who had this to say about how the company could be hurting some communities:

“I’m concerned that TOMS creates the impression that there are no shoes to be purchased inside of these communities, when in fact there are vibrant local economies. In many of these places where they’re giving shoes, it’s important to acknowledge that in some cases the buy-one-give-one model practiced this way could be harmful to those local producers and sellers.”

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  1. gisanonymous reblogged this from nickturse
  2. lumieresnuitciel reblogged this from angiebiotics
  3. angiebiotics reblogged this from nickturse
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  5. thisworldisjustawesome reblogged this from nickturse
  6. nickturse reblogged this from pulitzercenter
  7. anokarina reblogged this from pulitzercenter and added:
    It’s safe to say I’m never buying a pair of TOMS.
  8. lacesloose reblogged this from bluepeets and added:
    Isn’t that a little like saying a soup kitchen hurts the business of the diner across the street?
  9. krokodile reblogged this from lalondes and added:
    rather like the clothing donations that put local textile merchants out of business.
  10. emmydiocracy reblogged this from bluepeets
  11. lalondes reblogged this from bluepeets
  12. bluepeets reblogged this from publicradiointernational
  13. donstar2910 reblogged this from publicradiointernational
  14. pulitzercenter reblogged this from publicradiointernational and added:
    TOMS, from Public Radio International.
  15. roavl reblogged this from publicradiointernational and added:
    It seems really difficult...“do no harm” principle in NGO/charity work. This is why I’d...
  16. untitled-mag reblogged this from publicradiointernational
  17. tesdinic reblogged this from justsomeblogushouldunfollow and added:
    Just, yeah, this. Kinda the reason I’ve never really liked TOMS?
  18. windandgold reblogged this from publicradiointernational and added:
    I have never been able...get myself to support
  19. upthecatpunx reblogged this from publicradiointernational
  20. justsomeblogushouldunfollow reblogged this from publicradiointernational
  21. casper-theholyghost reblogged this from publicradiointernational
  22. dotdotdotdoh reblogged this from publicradiointernational and added:
    i think this presents an important distinction between giving and actual, life-sustaining aid.
  23. rezinnaise reblogged this from publicradiointernational
  24. publicradiointernational posted this

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