TOMS Shoes

I was driven to purchase a pair of TOMS shoes after I heard the founder Blake Mycoskie speak at a conference. I was moved by the cause behind the shoe-for every pair you purchase, another pair is donated to a child in need (in another country and even in the hurricane-affected areas of the United States). TOMS shoes are a traditional Argentinian shoe, I believe it is known as an alpogada shoe. The basic pair retails for $42 and up.

At the conference, the audience was allowed to ask Mycoskie questions. I was extremely surprised to learn that 2 pairs of shoes were made with the purchase price of one pair, yet the quality of the children's shoe was not compromised to make a larger profit. The only difference between the shoes you were receiving and the children's shoe was a leather/faux leather insole. Mycoskie explained that the majority of children in need had never worn shoes before and an insole would cause more discomfort than with its exclusion. The upper material was of the same quality-the children's shoe was normally made from low-selling prints and common solids.

I was not sure what to expect when I received my pair of TOMS shoes (see image). Please see the list of pros and cons below.

Pros:
Comfortable
Slip-on
Multiple patterns to choose from
Customizable (you can paint, write, or even Bedazzle these shoes!)
Vegan friendly shoes with faux leather insoles
Reasonably priced (when you consider you are actually getting 2 pairs for the price of one)
Helping others in need
Also sell FEED bags (proceeds from the bag go to provide one school year's worth of meals to a child in need)
You can get involved in a "Shoe Drop" and help TOMS shoes distribute the matching pairs to children in need

Cons:
Lack of aesthetics (traditional Argentinian style)
Only available in specific stores (I ordered my pair online and received them quickly)
I couldn't find any additional information on the materials used in the construction of the shoe-I would like to see recycled materials used for the sole and organic materials used for the upper.

Overall, I think this is a great product with a great cause driving it. I was just so surprised at how comfortable the shoes were! For more information, visit www.tomsshoes.com.

-Cupcake

An Introduction

Okay, so what exactly qualifies me to be giving the thumbs-up or the thumbs-down for a product or service? Well, I'm just like you. I purchase products and services, I do my research before important/large expenditures, and I am willing to share my opinions with you. I will try to use a bias approach, analyzing the pros and cons of an item, and since my goal is to inform you rather than persuade you, I'm going to share my opinions on the personal purchases I make. This means that this blog is going to address everything, from the toilet paper I purchase to the major purchasing decisions I make.

I hope you enjoy my blog, I will try to make it as entertaining and informative as possible! If there is a product you are specifically interested in hearing an opinion about, feel free to let me know.

-Cupcake