By Summer,

My new shoes are called TOMS. When I first heard of TOMS it was in a commercial about giving back … well really it was for AT&T, but the commercial always stuck with me.

I had wondered about the term “Chief Shoe Giver” and buying a pair of shoes to give a pair of shoes. Interesting, but the commercial left me confused and I never did further research. Then I got The Costco Connection September 2010 (Volume 25, Number 9) and low and behold on the front cover is Blake Mycoskie with an eye catcher “Sole Man: TOMS Shoes tries on a different business model”. Intrigued the magazine sat on my bedside table waiting to be read. The article wasn’t long, but the magazine became barrier under other interesting articles; not devalued, just out of sight out of mind.

But spring is approaching the Pacific Northwest and I need some new spring shoes, something light around my feet, something durable but not like my rainproof winter shoes. My regular sunny-weather shoes were dead after last summer after a great 2-3 year stretch of wear. It is time to move on. I remembered the TOMS article, it was calling me!

That evening before bed I read about TOMS Shoes and Blake Mycoskie and my mind was made up. I had to get a pair. I literally went to Nordstrom the day after to try them on for fit. Since Nordstrom works with TOMS to honor the One of One I purchased my first pair there as Nordstrom’s sales staff works on commission. I got some Ash Canvas Women’s Classics. Now that I know my size I plan to get some Pink Women’s Glitters, Pomegranate Cord Women’s Classics, and some Red Vegan Women’s Wrap Boots from the TOMS website. If you’re artsy at all many people seem to get the white canvas and treat it was a blank canvas making the shoe designs of their choice (check out their Facebook photos) and invite some friends to join you; make it a Style Your Sole party. Let me tell you, no matter what you get you’ll love them; these are some of the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever owned so it’s no surprise that they also offer a TOMS wedding line; brides, grooms and wedding party alike, I’d HIGHLY recommend them for your special day!

From the Costco Connection here is what Chief Shoe Giver, Blake Mycoskie had to say about TOMS, “I started TOMS as a spontaneous response to help kids. It wasn’t like I had a shoe company and then decided to help kids. If that had been the case, our pricing would probably be very different. I said, ‘How much money do I need to charge so that I can give a pair of shoes away and have an office, hire people and grow this movement.’ And that’s where I came up with the price. It’s really that simple. Yes, they are more expensive because I want to give shoes away, but that was the whole model. If people can’t buy into that idea, then they shouldn’t buy our shoes in the first place.”

However, you don’t have to be able to afford TOMS Shoes to help with TOMS’s movement. On April 5, 2011, go footloose for One Day Without Shoes; make it a play date with friends, have it be a teaching moment in school (one local school is doing this and the children are wearing socks for hygiene purposes), have it be a social statement as you go to work or about your day. You can also share what you know about TOMS via email, Facebook, Twitter, blog, etc. You can watch the TOMS documentary, and don’t be stingy share your screening and the popcorn. If you’re a college student, join or start your own TOMS Campus Club.

You can find TOMS on their website (super easy ordering), check out the TOMS blog, Like TOMS on Facebook, or track TOMS on Twitter @TOMSshoes.

About Summer:

Summer is the President of our Local MOMS Club chapter, she is the mother of two adorable active boys, and is always thinking of ways to help others. She is a friend, a wife, and always busy as all mommies are. She is very active on Facebook, addicted to Geocaching and very interested in organic and green living.