TOMS Shoes » HQ http://www.tomsshoesblog.com With every pair you purchase, TOMS will give a pair of new shoes to a child in need. One for One. Thu, 01 Apr 2010 02:44:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 en hourly 1 getting our hands dirty http://www.tomsshoesblog.com/http:/www.tomsshoesblog.com/getting-our-hands-dirty http://www.tomsshoesblog.com/http:/www.tomsshoesblog.com/getting-our-hands-dirty#comments Thu, 25 Feb 2010 20:53:34 +0000 swalpert http://www.tomsshoesblog.com/?p=4884 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> As the 5th week of our internship rolls around (FIFTH WEEK?! No way…), the office is buzzing and the work is flowing steadily.  We were promised on Day 1 that we would be doing work that mattered at TOMS, not just typical intern grunt work i.e. coffee runs and long hours at the copy machine.  And as the internship has continued to unfold, this promise has definitely proved to be true.  With several huge TOMS initiatives in the forefront, we have officially made the leap from “new interns” to marketers, graphic designers, event planners, online marketers, retail representatives, and more. What a rush!

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Today is a huge day at HQ. We are having 32 sales reps from Canada come into the office, so interns and employees alike are scrambling to get everything in perfect order before our guests arrive! Not to mention the boss-man Blake is back in the office after several weeks on a speaking tour, so everyone is on their toes! Alt Sales intern Dianna has been busy making gift baskets and center pieces while Retail and Giving interns Grace and Amanda are hustling retail displays out the door before the mail man arrives. Creative intern Carly and Travis the office manager are sprucing up some of the walls as well.  All of the interns have been working together to plan what we will do for TOMS 4th Birthday coming up on May 5th.  We have so many exciting ideas in the works and we also have some cool stuff planned for our TOMS family across the world! We present to our marketing directors on Tuesday, so stay tuned… and wish us luck!

Beware to all rushing around HQ today ! Wet paint… and busy interns!

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]]> http://www.tomsshoesblog.com/http:/www.tomsshoesblog.com/getting-our-hands-dirty/feed 1 who are we? http://www.tomsshoesblog.com/http:/www.tomsshoesblog.com/who-are-we http://www.tomsshoesblog.com/http:/www.tomsshoesblog.com/who-are-we#comments Sun, 21 Feb 2010 18:55:31 +0000 swalpert http://www.tomsshoesblog.com/?p=4825 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> I’ve gotten several questions since I started these intern updates regarding just what it takes to be a TOMS HQ intern.  Each time I usually respond that you must be hard working, passionate, driven, smart, and eager to learn.  But then as I thought about my fellow interns, it occurred to me that you must also be unique, silly, fun, and just plain awesome.  I have not properly introduced my fellow interns to you guys and I think EVERYONE should see just how amazing these people are.  So I present… the TOMS Spring 2010 Intern Class!

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From left to right: Amanda, Heather, Julia, Jessie, Dianna, Sarah, Mike, Grace, Alex, Carly, David and our intern coordinator Caroline in front

Sarah – Social Media
Hometown: Augusta, GA
Fun Fact: I don’t have a belly button
Favorite Food: My Grandma’s CHEESE GRITS!!
Best Part About Working at TOMS: Being around incredible people who work hard and make a difference every day
Most Embarrassing “Intern Moment”: Bowling a 44 on my first “Fun Friday” at TOMS… I had the lowest score out of the whole company. Awesome.

Grace – Retail Marketing
Hometown: Old Lyme, CT
Fun Fact: I am from Old Lyme, Connecticut — Home of Lyme disease!  I think I’m immune…
Favorite Food: Beans and Rice
Best Part About Working at TOMS: The awesome music that is always playing in the office
Most Embarrassing “Intern Moment” So Far: Having to ask how to use the phone at my desk

Dianna – Alternative Sales
Hometown: Thousand Oaks, CA
Fun Fact: I was the drummer of a punk band when I was in Jr. High called “Persecuted.”  Then my freshman year, I was the cymbal captain in the marching band.
Favorite Food: Panda Express: orange chicken, chow mein.
Best Part About Working at TOMS: I love being at HQ constantly surrounded by creative people who passionately believe in the One for One Movement.
Most Embarrassing “Intern Moment” So Far: I feel like we are new little puppies who want everyone to like us, so sometimes we like to “show up” to places where other employees might be without actually getting an invite. I can’t believe I just admitted this…

Mike – Web Design
Hometown: Dallas, TX
Fun Fact: I hit 40 mph on my bmx bike
Favorite Food: Kogi BBQ and Texas BBQ
Best Part About Working at TOMS: The people rock
Most Embarrassing “Intern Moment” So Far: Getting in trouble and then paged on the loud speaker for storing my bike in Blake’s closet

Julia – International Online Marketing
Hometown: Rostock, Germany
Fun Fact: I’ve developed an American accent when I speak German, so whenever I go home to Germany, people ask me where I’m from. Seriously?!
Favorite Food: I put cheese and ranch dressing on almost everything that is edible
Best part about working at TOMS: Being able to learn about marketing strategies from my manager
Most Embarassing “Intern Moment” So Far: Nothing yet… but I’m sure it’s coming.

Jessie – Human Resources
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Fun Fact: I am completely addicted to the TV show “Dirty Jobs”… when there’s a marathon on it’s my own personal heaven
Favorite Food: Crispy french fries
Best Part About Working at TOMS: Belonging to the family
Most Embarrassing “Intern Moment” So Far: My pants split when I bent over to pick something up

Alex – Online Analyst
Hometown: Arlington, TX
Fun Fact: I went to chemistry camp after my junior year of high school. SO cool…
Favorite Food: Cheese, all types, and bacon-wrapped figs
Best Part About Working at TOMS: The energetic atmosphere at HQ
Most Embarrassing “Intern Moment” So Far: To be determined…

David – Friends of TOMS
Hometown: Yorba Linda, CA
Fun Fact: I am pretty much an expert Cribbage player.
Favorite Food: My Grandma’s Mashed Potatoes and Gravy
Best Part About Working at TOMS: The company culture is amazing and the work I’m doing is very fulfilling.
Most Embarrassing “Intern Moment” So Far: I guess it was when I read “personal message” out loud as “personal massage” in our meeting the other day. Oops!

Carly – Creative
Hometown: Fountain Hills, AZ
Fun Fact: In 7th grade basketball the only shot I made was for the opposing team. But to this day, my Dad will tell you how awesome/quick I was on the court with 100% Dad Pride.
Favorite Food: Fro-yo. Duh!
Best Part About Working at TOMS: If I say learning… does that make me a nerd?
Most Embarrassing “Intern Moment” So Far: My first day!! Blake decided to take the desk next to mine to see the ins and outs of creative first hand. Pretty much had a nervous stutter all day.

Amanda – Giving
Hometown: Malibu, CA
Fun Fact: I am fluent in ANCIENT Greek
Favorite Food: French Fries
Best Part About Working at TOMS: Spending my time finding more ways to get shoes on feet that need them.
Most Embarrassing “Intern Moment” So Far: Not realizing TOMS’ phone # shows up on caller ID…I’ll leave it at that.

Heather – Creative
Hometown: Kansas City, KS
Fun Fact: I was voted most likely to be a millionaire in middle school. I wish…!
Favorite Food: Korean Food all the way!
Best part about working at TOMS: All the different projects I get to be a part of and, of course, the cool people!!
Most Embarrassing “Intern Moment” So Far: There’s this speed bump right outside Toms HQ and I trip over it EVERY single time… usually in front of people.
So… who are we?? We are TOMS interns.
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]]> http://www.tomsshoesblog.com/http:/www.tomsshoesblog.com/who-are-we/feed 3 the starting line http://www.tomsshoesblog.com/http:/www.tomsshoesblog.com/the-starting-line http://www.tomsshoesblog.com/http:/www.tomsshoesblog.com/the-starting-line#comments Wed, 27 Jan 2010 20:09:23 +0000 swalpert http://www.tomsshoesblog.com/?p=4649 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> Eleven strangers from around the country were chosen to work in one warehouse for five months.  Welcome to the life of a TOMS Spring 2010 intern.  My name is Sarah and I am one of the newest members to the TOMS family! I drove across the country all the way from Augusta, GA to begin this incredible adventure in L.A.  Why would I travel 3,000 miles to California for an internship? Easy. TOMS is more than a job, more than a company, or more than a pair of shoes.  TOMS is a movement- a movement that everyone can be a part of and one that actually has the capability to change the world.

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On my journey from Georgia I made a stop at the Grand Canyon.  Wearing my TOMS in the snow, no doubt!

After only a few days on the job, I can tell that working at TOMS is going to be intense.  But then again, so is anything that’s actually worthwhile.  We walked into the large warehouse that houses TOMS HQ in Santa Monica last Thursday for the first time, nervous, excited, and not sure what to expect.  We had come from far and wide; Connecticut, Georgia, Arizona, Texas, California, Kansas, and oh yeah… Germany.  I think it is safe to say the TOMS mission is inspiring people all over the globe!  Our first day on the job was spent getting “oriented.” Our awesome intern coordinator, Caroline, showed us the ropes and introduced us to several of the employees.  We chilled in a conference room for most of the day as each manager came back to introduce themselves and explain their position at TOMS.    It was surreal.  I think it is safe to say that all of us were on cloud nine… were we REALLY here? Was that ACTUALLY Blake Mycoskie that just walked by?

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Some of the interns gathering for the first time at TOMS HQ!

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Hard at work already in the Online department “office.” One wall is made completely out of old TOMS shoe boxes!

We got to sleep in a little on Friday and were told to report to the office at 10:30 to be introduced to the ENTIRE staff.  I’m not gonna lie… I was pretty nervous.  I knew we were going to have to stand in front of everyone and introduce ourselves and would have about ten seconds to convince everyone that we were funny and cool.  However, as soon as Caroline led us into the room with all the other TOMS employees, any previous jitters immediately disappeared.  Everyone was hanging around in a circle and gave us a round of applause when we walked in.  And standing in front wearing bright green sweatpants and clapping loudest of all was the man himself, Blake– the brains behind the whole operation.  He was so cool and welcomed us all to the family.  Because TOMS is just that, a family, and we were now a part of it.

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Our new boss!

And then, of course, we still had to stand in front of the 60+ staff and introduce ourselves, but everyone was super nice and at least pretended to laugh at our jokes.  After our meeting, we got right to work, and I’ve got to say it was quite a rush.  Working in an environment like the one at TOMS makes you actually WANT to work, because you know you’re doing it for a reason bigger than yourself, bigger than a paycheck.

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Our intern coordinator, Caroline, introduces new intern Grace to the TOMS staff

Well, that is all for now, my friends.  I hope you all will enjoy keeping up with the adventures we are about to embark on at TOMS.  Stay tuned…

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]]> http://www.tomsshoesblog.com/http:/www.tomsshoesblog.com/the-starting-line/feed 2 out of the office http://www.tomsshoesblog.com/http:/www.tomsshoesblog.com/out-of-the-office http://www.tomsshoesblog.com/http:/www.tomsshoesblog.com/out-of-the-office#comments Mon, 18 Jan 2010 21:54:56 +0000 admin http://www.tomsshoesblog.com/?p=4601 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> In a recent letter Blake wrote to each of us at HQ, he began:

My TOMS Family,

Please read the first three words of this letter again. Yes, i truly feel as if TOMS is a family, and from day one, i have done everything possible to treat each person with the same love and respect that i would my immediate family members. I have also watched as each of you has shown incredible compassion, patience, and support to one another with the same pride i expect a proud parent experiences seeing their kids get along. This environment we have fostered together is called “culture” in most business management books…”

An office full of young, like-minded, intelligent, funny, passionate, and creative individuals, all working toward a greater goal of making a positive impact on the world is formula for something really special.  We can’t deny that the TOMS culture is one of the best reasons we each work here. And just like strong families spend quality time together, the TOMS family does too- an annual company retreat to the snowy mountains outside of L.A. provides time for us to relax together, laugh together, learn way too much about each other, and create lasting memories.

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As I was riding a lift mid-day Friday with a co-worker, we started chatting about how appropriate a ski trip is for TOMS. When you see a colleague charging down a mountain- fearless, fast, aggressive- you know that same dedication is translated in to their work. When you hear of someone who insisted they weren’t getting on any sort of ski or board… and then later tells you about how much fun they had cross-country skiing, you know that same willingness to go out on a limb translates to how they embrace new challenges back at HQ. These people are go-getters, not only at TOMS, but in so many aspects of their life… and each of us are inspiring each other to push just a little further.

We return to the office today, with the rain pouring hard, the in-boxes full, our bodies exhausted, with a few more inside jokes, a ton of great new photos, boxes of left over hot chocolate in the kitchen, an even greater sense of family.

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Now if only we can convince Blake to make this a SEMI-annual company retreat….

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]]> http://www.tomsshoesblog.com/http:/www.tomsshoesblog.com/out-of-the-office/feed 0 top ten top tens, day 9: this is who we are http://www.tomsshoesblog.com/http:/www.tomsshoesblog.com/top-ten-top-tens-day-9-this-is-who-we-are http://www.tomsshoesblog.com/http:/www.tomsshoesblog.com/top-ten-top-tens-day-9-this-is-who-we-are#comments Wed, 06 Jan 2010 23:21:20 +0000 admin http://www.tomsshoesblog.com/?p=4557 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> Unfortunately, we don’t all work remotely from Shoe Drop locations (potential 2011 idea, Blake?), but our HQ scenario isn’t too bad. Posted up in a funky complex in sunny Santa Monica, CA, you’ll find a long alley way that leads to a big warehouse door. A TOMS flag atop the entry-way is the first indication that you’ve reached TOMS HQ. From there you step into our lobby area, complete with Shoe Drop photos extending from the cement floors to the high ceilings, and two cozy chairs. Meetings are taking place in the “barn” (our main conference room), people are skating out the door to lunch, and you can hear our customer service team helping customers with exchanges over the phone. A few more steps and you’re in the middle of the magic that is TOMS HQ. This is a special place to all of us, one that has grown and changed a lot over the past year. And because we’re so proud of this space today, we thought we’d give you the inside scoop with the Top 10 Things you didn’t know about TOMS HQ…

10. HQ is a big sound stage ware-house turned office. 7,500 square feet of awesomeness kept warm by little space heaters in the winter, and cooled only by desk fans in the summer.

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9. We’re resourceful: one wall is made entirely out of boxes of old TOMS.

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8. Most of our retailer’s window displays are made right in our make-shift wood-shop: the alley way outside our front door.

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7. Two sets of brothers work here: Justin and Jordan Farr and Blake and Tyler Mycoskie.

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The J.Farr bros and the Mycoskie bros

6. Our office manager, Travis, and his dad built all of our “cubicles”. Its really a family affair here at TOMS!

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5. We require FUN on the last Friday of every month. A TOMS tradition since the beginning, Fun Fridays are a time for us to get together and make gingerbread houses, carve pumpkins, have potlucks and sing karaoke.

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4. Our kitchen is stocked with dishes and silverware to reduce our waste, we take recycling seriously, and many of us bike to work.

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3. With so much production equipment and crew in the office for the AT&T commercial shoot in February, a bunch of us employees were happy to relocate our work days to a sunnier location…

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2. The audio system was installed this past year and you can always catch something unique on the loud speakers: Today, for example, is reggae… but we’ve also had the RENT soundtrack, Motown, Fleet Foxes, Andrew Bird, Mariah Carey, Brazilian Samba… It’s also great for impromptu karaoke.

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Spin those tunes, DJ!

1. Our CEO’s desk isn’t in a corner office: its actually in the most high traffic area. Front and center, right next to customer service.

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We’re just about at the finale of our ten Top 10 lists, but the next one NEEDS YOU. After reflecting on such an amazing 2009, we’re excited about what 2010 has in store… So what will you do in the next twelve months to change the world? We’re highlighting our 10 favorite ideas here on the blog this week, so COMMENT ON THIS POST! Tell us your ideas, your plans, why, how, when… inspire us!

Visit the TOMS website too!

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]]> http://www.tomsshoesblog.com/http:/www.tomsshoesblog.com/top-ten-top-tens-day-9-this-is-who-we-are/feed 17 TOMS in south korea http://www.tomsshoesblog.com/http:/www.tomsshoesblog.com/toms-in-south-korea http://www.tomsshoesblog.com/http:/www.tomsshoesblog.com/toms-in-south-korea#comments Tue, 22 Dec 2009 18:19:16 +0000 admin http://www.tomsshoesblog.com/?p=4425 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> TOMS employee Garett will be missed at the annual TOMS Family Holiday party tonight, but it looks like he’s getting a good taste of cold weather in South Korea!

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Happy Holidays from HQ, G. Travel safe!

Where do you take your TOMS? Upload your photos on the TOMS website! http://www.TOMSshoes.com/Flag

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]]> http://www.tomsshoesblog.com/http:/www.tomsshoesblog.com/toms-in-south-korea/feed 0 still time to shop! employee holiday drawings http://www.tomsshoesblog.com/http:/www.tomsshoesblog.com/still-time-to-shop-employee-holiday-drawings http://www.tomsshoesblog.com/http:/www.tomsshoesblog.com/still-time-to-shop-employee-holiday-drawings#comments Thu, 17 Dec 2009 19:25:11 +0000 admin http://www.tomsshoesblog.com/?p=4340 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> gview33

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Want to see more HQ art? Check it out here.

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]]> http://www.tomsshoesblog.com/http:/www.tomsshoesblog.com/still-time-to-shop-employee-holiday-drawings/feed 0 TOMS holiday headquarters creativity continued http://www.tomsshoesblog.com/http:/www.tomsshoesblog.com/toms-holiday-headquarters-creativity-continued http://www.tomsshoesblog.com/http:/www.tomsshoesblog.com/toms-holiday-headquarters-creativity-continued#comments Fri, 11 Dec 2009 20:32:14 +0000 admin http://www.tomsshoesblog.com/?p=4097 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> gview 26_cropped

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Want to see more drawings from HQ? Check them out here.

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]]> http://www.tomsshoesblog.com/http:/www.tomsshoesblog.com/toms-holiday-headquarters-creativity-continued/feed 0 more holiday drawings from hq http://www.tomsshoesblog.com/http:/www.tomsshoesblog.com/more-holiday-drawings-from-hq http://www.tomsshoesblog.com/http:/www.tomsshoesblog.com/more-holiday-drawings-from-hq#comments Tue, 08 Dec 2009 20:04:10 +0000 admin http://www.tomsshoesblog.com/?p=3914 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> The artistic talents of some of the TOMS staff at HQ debuted last week featuring what gifts they were giving this Holiday season and why. And back by popular demand, here are some more comical and clever creations from HQ…

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]]> http://www.tomsshoesblog.com/http:/www.tomsshoesblog.com/more-holiday-drawings-from-hq/feed 0 creative stimulus package: toms employees take it back to the basics http://www.tomsshoesblog.com/http:/www.tomsshoesblog.com/creative-stimulus-package-toms-employees-take-it-back-to-the-basics http://www.tomsshoesblog.com/http:/www.tomsshoesblog.com/creative-stimulus-package-toms-employees-take-it-back-to-the-basics#comments Thu, 03 Dec 2009 22:54:22 +0000 admin http://www.tomsshoesblog.com/?p=3782 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> We have a pretty creative space to work in. Its a warehouse/sound stage turned official business HQ: Creative. We have walls made out of boxes of shoes: Creative. And we each have special “shoe names” (Sole Surfer, Sole Mate, Shoegooder): Creative… right? We’ve even been known to have entire all-staff meetings to brainstorm.

In order to remind our staff that they need to exercise their creativity and start thinking about the special people in their lives that they’ll be giving to this Holiday, we asked them to color.

Take out a sharpie, a highlighter, or a freshly sharpened pencil and draw us a picture of who’s on your list, or what you’ll be getting them.

What they came up with made us smile, made us laugh, and reminded us why some work in the Creative department… and some don’t. :)

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