The TOMS Marketplace Launches At TOMS.com

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 5, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- In a bold and unexpected move that underscores its role as a leader in social innovation, TOMS today launched the TOMS Marketplace, a new online retail destination hosted on TOMS.com that features a curated collection of 200 socially conscious products from 30 different companies.  Featured at www.TOMS.com/marketplace for customers in the U.S., each of the TOMS Marketplace partner brands has a meaningful story and shares TOMS' deep commitment to giving to those in need, spanning a wide range of causes and geographic areas of impact.

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"The TOMS Marketplace represents something that is bigger than us," said Blake Mycoskie, Founder and Chief Shoe Giver of TOMS.  "We believe social entrepreneurship is a movement that is here to stay, and the TOMS Marketplace is our way of bringing awareness to so many amazing companies, causes and products.  For the past few years, I have been humbled by the number of social entrepreneurs who have been inspired by the TOMS business model. In fact, it wasn't too long ago that I found myself in a similar position.  So I thought, 'What can we do to help support these companies?' The TOMS Marketplace is the result."

By bringing together such a diverse collection of social entrepreneurs at various stages of their business, the TOMS Marketplace presents a wide assortment of products across an array of lifestyle categories, from accessories, apparel and bags to home goods, jewelry, sports equipment, tech and more.  Prices range from $5 to $500 for products that have never been available at TOMS.com until today. 

For the most part, the TOMS Marketplace highlights early-stage companies and their causes, each of whom were thoroughly vetted by TOMS' Giving department to make sure their ability to deliver on their mission statements is of the highest standard.  Some more recognizable than others – yet all respected for their work – the companies and causes that make up the debut TOMS Marketplace collection include:

• 31 Bits
• Apolis
• Badala
• charity: water
• Cleobella
• Della
• Denik
• Falling Whistles
• Fortuned Culture
• From You With Love
• HALF UNITED
• Harper Belle Jewelry
• JADEtribe
• JOYN
• Krochet Kids intl.
• Lemlem
• LSTN
• Movember
• One World Futbol Project
• Out of Print
• Rose + Fitzgerald
• Same Sky
• Stone + Cloth
• Sword & Plough
• Tegu
• The Base Project
• The Giving Keys
• The Honest Company
• Yellow Leaf Hammocks

"The social entrepreneurship movement is made up of a lot of like-minded individuals, and in many ways it's a fraternity of people who want to do business differently," added Mycoskie. "I've been a part of this network for years and have recognized many organizations that have very interesting ideas and businesses that can scale.  Many of these have found a place in the TOMS Marketplace."

TOMS' innovation does not stop at the TOMS Marketplace.  The company recently announced that through its Giving Partners it has hand-placed over 10 million pairs of new shoes on children in need and has helped give sight to more than 175,000 people around the world.  The success of TOMS' One for One® business model has led to a continued evolution of its Giving efforts, with the company having made major investments in its shoe manufacturing, economic empowerment, commissioned field research, and product partnerships that have raised millions of dollars for non-profit organizations.  The TOMS Marketplace is the latest such investment from TOMS.

"We're so excited to utilize, share and leverage TOMS' platforms, our resources and our marketing to assist our TOMS Marketplace partners to help give to those in need," added Mycoskie.  "We believe our customers – and even those who aren't necessarily customers – trust the TOMS brand and what we stand for.  They are coming to our website because they want to buy or give a gift that gives back, and with the TOMS Marketplace, they will have a much greater selection of choices, all in one place."

About TOMS: 

In 2006, American traveler Blake Mycoskie befriended children in a village in Argentina and found they had no shoes to protect their feet. Wanting to help, he created TOMS, a company that would match every pair of shoes purchased with a pair of new shoes given to a child in need. One for One.®  Since then, TOMS has given over 10 million pairs of new shoes to children in need.

Five years later, TOMS realized this movement could serve other basic needs and launched TOMS Eyewear. With every pair purchased, TOMS will help give sight to a person in need. One for One.®  Since launching, TOMS has helped save or restore the sight of more than 175,000 people worldwide.  

SOURCE TOMS