Case Study: Analyzing TOMS' Corporate Social Responsibility Practices

This case study examines TOMS' effective approach to corporate social responsibility (CSR). TOMS integrates social practices as a core part of its strategic goals, focusing on sustainable practices and utilizing recycled materials. The company's 'one-for-one' model, where a product purchase triggers a donation, has resulted in significant social impact, including providing shoes, restoring eyesight, and providing clean water to those in need. TOMS also supports social entrepreneurship through its fund, investing in companies working toward social change. The analysis highlights how TOMS has created value, built a strong brand, and contributed to societal development while achieving its corporate goals, making it a model for ethical and sustainable business practices. The case study references various sources to support the analysis of TOMS' CSR initiatives.

Corporate Social Responsibility
Case Study of TOMS
Student details
JANUARY 1, 2020

CSR 1
Abstract
TOMS have effectively contributed towards the societal development along with the
development of the organisation, also it has set an example within the industry of being a
socially responsible enterprise. The strategies adopted by the organisation has resulted in
attracting the customers and developing the brand as a socially responsible and ethical brand
within the industry. TOMS has achieved a milestone of providing the poorer sections of the
society with the basic needs and requirements and helping them to get employment so that
their lives can be improved.

CSR 2
TOMS Shoes: A Dedication to Social Responsibility
Introduction
Corporate Social Responsibility is an important aspect which is required to be
followed by the organisations so that they can create value within the industry along with
achieving social goals within the industry. TOMS effectively focus on meeting the social
goals and responsibilities within the industry. The analysis is focused on the TOMS social
practices and identifying how effectively the organisation is leading within the industry.
CSR at TOMS
TOMS shoes is an organisation that is effectively focused on meeting the social
responsibility of the organisation and has effectively integrated social practices as an integral
part of the strategic goals and objectives. The organisation was established in 2006 and from
the beginning, the management at TOMS was focused on sustainable and corporate social
responsibility practices within the industry. TOMS focuses on utilising recycled raw
materials and the customer waste to produce the products and the packaging products
respectively so that the organisation’s sustainability goals can be achieved (Mensah, 2016).
The founder of the organisation Mycoskie established the organisation for earning
profits but along with meeting the needs and requirements of the poor and needy people
within the society. The organisation focused on developing a product line that meets the
needs and requirements of the current trends within the industry along with focusing on
sustainable goals. The policies within the organisation were developed so that the lower
section of the society can be provided with the basic requirements including safety,
transportation and health care facilities in respect of each pair of shoes that is being sold by
the organisation. TOMS introduced different product lines with a focus on different aspects
(Mulqueen, 2019).
The shoe product line is focused on providing the poor with basic need fulfilment in
respect of every pair sold by the organisation, the sunglasses line introduced focused on
contributing towards the help of blind people as well as the coffee line was launched with a
focus on raising money for building water wells and to provide the weaker section of the
society with clean drinking water. The practices have resulted in achieving a goal of
providing 10 million pairs of shoes to poor, over 2,00,000 people has been restored with their

CSR 3
sight and TOMS focus on over 5 countries to ensure that the population is being provided
access to clean drinking water (TOMS, 2020).
The strategies adopted by TOMS also includes the organisation practice to bring an
end to the gun violence in the United States, and the organisation is giving $5 million to those
organisations who are working towards the eliminating such social issues from the society.
TOMS has effectively established a model of oner for one approach within the corporate
industry which explains how effectively an organisation can contribute towards the social
responsibility and can achieve the sustainable goals along with achieving the corporate goals
and objectives (Kingston & Guellil, 2016).
As along with the organisation’s focus towards the strategic and sustainable goals the
organisation development within the society also generates enough job opportunity for the
unemployed so that the unemployment rates can be maintained. Also, the management
ensures that equal opportunities are being provided to both male and female candidates
within the industry. TOMS has effectively established a Social entrepreneurship Fund which
helps up-coming start-ups and small business to establish themselves within the industry and
to compete effectively. TOMS fund is also focused on investment within the companies that
work towards social change within the industry and ensures that the organisation’s revenue is
generated from ethical and sustainable sources (Furlong, 2015).
TOMS strategic goals are not only limited to meet the social needs and
responsibilities and to achieve the sustainable business goals but also emerge as a well-
known and a respectable brand within the industry (Chang, Lo, & Lee, 2016). TOMS first
campaign one-for-one and utilising social media platforms resulted in attracting the
customers who believe in ethical and social responsibilities of the organisation, also the
organisation expanded its business operations along with expanding its social mission in the
nations. TOMS have effectively created value within the industry along with emerging as a
social entrepreneur (Roncha & Radclyffe-Thomas, 2016).
Conclusion
TOMS has established effective strategies and policies through which it can create
social values for the poorer and weaker section of the society, as the organisation adopts a
policy of contributing towards societal development for each product sold. Also, TOMS has
established a fund that focuses on providing opportunities to the emerging start-ups and the

CSR 4
business organisations that focuses on the social responsibilities and contributing towards
societal development.

CSR 5
References
Chang, A., Lo, W., & Lee, S.-Y. (2016). Heightened Corporate Social Responsibility: Insight
from the Evolving Value Creation of Buy-One Give-One Model. Journal of Small Business
and Entrepreneurship Development, 11-20.
Furlong, H. (2015, November 18). TOMS Launches Social Entrepreneurship Fund. Retrieved
from Sustainable Brands: https://sustainablebrands.com/read/product-service-design-
innovation/toms-launches-social-entrepreneurship-fund
Kingston, L. N., & Guellil, J. (2016). TOMS and the Citizen-Consumer: Assessing the
Impacts of Socially-Minded Consumption. Journal of Human Right Practice, 284-297.
Mensah, D. (2016, March 15). Title: CSR Driven Brand Marketing: The Case of Toms
Group. Retrieved from Roskilde University:
https://rucforsk.ruc.dk/ws/portalfiles/portal/57790552/Thesis_2016.pdf
Mulqueen, T. (2019, January 24). What Retailers Can Learn About Social Responsibility
From Toms And Patagonia. Retrieved from Forbes:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/tinamulqueen/2019/01/24/what-retailers-can-learn-about-
social-responsibility-from-toms-and-patagonia/#3e508d443666
Roncha, A., & Radclyffe-Thomas, N. (2016). How TOMS’ “one day without shoes”
campaign brings stakeholders together and co-creates value for the brand using Instagram as
a platform. Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management: An International Journal, 300-
321.
TOMS. (2020). Corporate Social Responsibility. Retrieved from TOMS:
http://tomsteamtwo.weebly.com/corporate-social-responsibility.html