TOMS Eyewear is the Next Chapter in this Innovative Business Model
Tiana Reid — June 8, 2011 — Social Good
TOMS Shoes has done exceedingly well in terms of bringing social good -- at least on the consumption side of things -- to the forefront of consumer consciousness, and today, the innovative company has released their next chapter in the "One for One" business model: TOMS Eyewear.
TOMS Eyewear operates under the same principle as the popular TOMS Shoes model in that for every one pair of glasses sold, TOMS will help to give sight to someone in need. Through either medical treatment, prescription glasses, or sight-saving surgery, TOMS Eyewear will provide sight to someone who is suffering from vision impairment. Founder and CEO of TOMS, Blake Mycoskie, explained that the idea for TOMS Eyewear began in Nepal, which is similar to many developing countries, where most people's blindness (for instance, if it's caused by cataracts) can be easily prevented with simple technologies and preventative measures.
In true TOMS fashion, it was a dramatic reveal today, accompanied by a YouTube video and a mass Twitter conversation. TOMS Eyewear is attempting to address a solvable problem through restoring vision to low-income communities in less-industrialized countries.
TOMS Eyewear operates under the same principle as the popular TOMS Shoes model in that for every one pair of glasses sold, TOMS will help to give sight to someone in need. Through either medical treatment, prescription glasses, or sight-saving surgery, TOMS Eyewear will provide sight to someone who is suffering from vision impairment. Founder and CEO of TOMS, Blake Mycoskie, explained that the idea for TOMS Eyewear began in Nepal, which is similar to many developing countries, where most people's blindness (for instance, if it's caused by cataracts) can be easily prevented with simple technologies and preventative measures.
In true TOMS fashion, it was a dramatic reveal today, accompanied by a YouTube video and a mass Twitter conversation. TOMS Eyewear is attempting to address a solvable problem through restoring vision to low-income communities in less-industrialized countries.
Trend Themes
1. Social Good - Disruptive innovation opportunities can be found in creating business models that incorporate social good, like TOMS 'One for One' model.
2. One for One - The 'One for One' business model, popularized by TOMS Shoes, can be applied to different industries, such as eyewear, to bring positive impact and solve societal problems.
3. Restoring Vision - Opportunities for disruptive innovation exist in developing technologies and preventative measures that can help restore vision and address the problem of vision impairment in low-income communities.
Industry Implications
1. Fashion - In the fashion industry, companies can adopt the 'One for One' business model to create social impact and give back to communities in need.
2. Eyewear - The eyewear industry can explore disruptive innovations like TOMS Eyewear to not only provide quality products but also improve the vision of individuals in low-income communities.
3. Healthcare - The healthcare industry can embrace innovations that focus on restoring vision and providing essential medical treatment and prescription glasses to underserved populations in less-industrialized countries.
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