There have been rumors that question if TOMS shoe company’s “One for One” campaign is still an act of honest giving or a tool for the company to make more profit out of publicity.
Photo illustration by Steven Devine | Argonaut
TOMS shoes has been a trend across the United States and Canada. The shoes have a unique style, they are easy to slip on and they give customers the satisfaction of helping a child in need of a pair of shoes.
For every pair of shoes sold, TOMS donates a pair to a child in need, according to the company’s “One for One” movement. However, with such high merchandise prices and the company making a profit from apparel other than shoes, people are wondering if the campaign is more of a publicity stunt than a selfless act of giving.
Aside from the rumors of publicity for profit, there are also rumors that shoes are being given to children who already have shoes or only to a select group of children in correspondence with the TOMS Giving Partners, according to several accounts from BBC news reporter, Amy Costello.
All around the University of Idaho campus there are students walking in a pair of TOMS shoes or wearing the company’s apparel.
UI student Seneca Jensen, a big fan of TOMS shoes, said she had heard of these rumors concerning the “One for One” campaign, but does not want to believe them.
“I love them,” she said about the shoes. “I have five pairs.”
Though TOMS shoes are popular throughout the campus, there are students who think the rumors are a concern.
Hannah Myers said people should hold TOMS more accountable for giving people the second pair of shoes that they promise.
“The idea of TOMS giving ‘One for One’ is a good idea in theory, but I think the reason that they are so successful isn’t because they help others, but because consumers want to feel like their money is being spent on something more meaningful than just shoes,” Myers said.
The movement has extended to creating campus clubs in middle schools, high schools and university campuses.
The UI started a campus club in April of 2012. Greg Dobak, the founder of the club, was not available for a statement. The club has yet to launch, according to a comment posted by Dobak on the campus club page of TOMS Campus Programs website.
The company has a line of shoes called “Campus Classics,” which display university colors to show school pride. Though there are black and gold shoes available, there is not a pair dedicated to UI yet.
TOMS has given more than 2 million pairs of shoes to children around the world, according to their website.
Whether or not the money spent on purchasing a pair of TOMS shoes is contributing to “One for One” movement, the investment in a pair of shoes appears to be held by the company’s promise.
Despite the rumors, students around campus still enjoy the comfort of their pair of TOMS.
Emily Vaartstra can be reached at [email protected]