One for One

In today’s day and age I think it’s important that businesses and individuals alike are socially responsible and aware. Bono (as much I find him annoying at times) had a great idea when he (along w/ the sponsoring brands/labels) introduced (Product) Red to the world. It’s easy really, you buy something that you’d normally buy (iPod, clothes, shoes, phones etc…) and part of the proceeds goes towards distributing anti-retroviral medicine to those dying of AIDS in Africa. This business model works because it doesn’t require a lot from the consumer. Tim Ferris (i.e. my hero) author of the 4-Hour Work Week, is using his influence to encourage others to be an ‘Eco Bounty Hunter’ and so far some great ideas have been discussed. With the reoccurring theme being that whatever it is, it needs to be ‘easy for the consumer’. Fair enough I guess people don’t want to have to go out of there way to be socially responsible so it needs to be in conjunction with something they’d do anyway. On this note I’d like to introduce a company, that’s been around since May 2006, but that I’ve just become aware of them, TOMS Shoes. For every pair of shoes that’s purchased, TOMS will donate a pair to a child less fortunate. So far they’ve donated 10,000 pairs to children in Argentina and 50,000 to South Africa. The shoes are pretty stylish and are great for the summer PLUS it’s a guiltless purchase – shoes with purpose, finally! I’ve recently seen them on sale at TopShop (Oxford Circus) and am considering the black, possibly the white pair to wear around the town.

It’s easy really ‘do the right thing…..be a man’*

*quote taken from Russell Peters’ 2 Concerts….1 Ticket DVD