BOBS vs. TOMS. A new shoe battle has been thrown down.
Should TOMS fight against Sketchers because of their knock-off version of TOMS? Or should they let it go because BOBS gives away a pair of shoes as well?
BOBS are little, canvas slip-on shoes that have either solid colors or striped patterns on them. They are usually about two dollars cheaper than a pair of TOMS. For each pair of BOBS purchased from their customers, Sketchers donates another pair of shoes to a child in need.
They have a short, one syllable name. Sound familiar?
It should, because Blake Mycoskie, founder of TOMS shoes, had the idea first.
Mycoskie, on his travels to Argentina, saw hundreds of barefoot children. This inspired him to take a chance on his business and he eventually ended up with philanthropic success.
Both companies are doing great things through their businesses by helping less fortunate children, but why Sketchers could not have made their style of shoe a little different? They could have designed them with their own unique fashion statement instead of copying TOMS. Either way, they would be helping the children.
It is one thing to share the same mission, but at least Sketchers could have created an original shoe.
TOMS shoes focuses on the cause of their business rather than the money. Unlike Sketchers, they didn’t try to use their mission for marketing purposes.
Sketchers set themselves up for cyber bashing and cries of copy-cattying. Consumers will be able to sniff out the false heart that Sketchers is attempting to use by giving away shoes, and TOMS will reign champion in the shoe philanthropy world.