TOMS Shoes » toms

a taste of TOMS

swalpert — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 19:36:04 +0000

Projects are moving full speed ahead at HQ this week and I now see that there is no such thing as a “slow day” at TOMS. After an exciting weekend of adventures and exploring L.A. (intern Grace and I got a little lost in Korea-town and ended up in what might be the sketchiest, most amazing Korean BBQ restaurant in existence), there is no time for slacking before starting another busy week!

Yesterday, the Green Team (a group of eco-minded TOMS staff who work to make the office a “greener” place) hosted a potluck lunch, which was an awesome way to decompress amidst the craziness. Having attempted potluck lunches before, I halfway expected most people to forget about it and pick up a bag of chips at the store on the way to work. That was soooo not the case. Let me just say, not only are TOMS employees passionate, funny, and intelligent (not to mention totally hip and trendy), but these people can COOK! Several of the interns participated as well and impressed the office with our mad culinary skills.

I brought homemade spaghetti sauce, Grace made roasted beets, Julia brought a fruit platter, Alex baked some mac n’ cheese, David made arugula/feta pasta salad, and Amanda baked some delicious blondie brownies for dessert. Other interesting dishes included chicken stuffed with swiss and brocolli, veggie fried rice, baked brie, spicy zucchini, vegan oreo cupcakes, and oh yeah- the most amazing banana pudding I’ve ever tasted. And I’m from the South, so that’s saying something…. sorry Grandma!

Alex checking on her Mac n’ Cheese!

I am coming to realize that here at TOMS, people are constantly going above and beyond… even in the kitchen.

Amanda showing off her plate of homemade goodness!

Gotta remember to stir the spaghetti sauce!

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who are we?

swalpert — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 18:55:31 +0000

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!

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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artist skillz from an 11 year old TOMS fan

admin — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 00:46:49 +0000

One of our awesome young fans, Anna, recently sent us this drawing of her newest pair of TOMS shoes! Not only is she generous, but she’s an artist as well Thank you guys for continuing to inspire us every day. Keep sending us your pics, letters, and drawings!!

Sending snail mail?
TOMS Shoes
attn: Awesome Social Media Dept.
3025 Olympic Blvd. Studio C
Santa Monica, CA 90404

Prefer digital style?
Sarah.Walpert@TOMSshoes.com

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the starting line

swalpert — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 20:09:23 +0000

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.

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?

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

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.

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.

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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TOMS in star magazine

admin — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 19:37:34 +0000

TOMS have been a hit on Holiday Gift Guides this season… and Star Magazine seems to have gotten the memo.

Don’t know what to get your hubby, boyfriend, brother or uncle? Tired of cliche gifts like cologne or a new tech toy…? Consider putting TOMS at the top of your list!

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blake to set sail on the plastiki

admin — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:39:37 +0000

It’s October 15th. This may not be meaningful to some, but to those in the blogosphere it signifies the 3rd annual Blog Action Day! Blog Action day’s mission is to unite bloggers from around the world to start a discussion about similar issues on the same day that focus around an issue of global importance. This year’s focus is climate change, an issue that effects us all.

This couldn’t be a more fitting time to announce, TOMS Chief Shoe Giver, Blake Mycoskie’s involvement in The Plastiki Expedition! The “Plastiki” is a 60-foot catamaran made out of reclaimed plastic bottles. Blake will be accompanying David de Rothschild and a “handpicked” crew in the last leg of this sailing adventure across the Pacific Ocean, from Bali to Sydney. Explore this innovative vessel and track their voyage at www.theplastiki.com.

“The goal of the expedition is to not only continue encouraging the world to focus on reducing, reusing and recycling more of its natural resources but ultimately to think smart by re-thinking waste as a resource. It is such a re-think that will ultimately help to promote and provide stepping-stones towards the type of thinking that will lead individuals, business and industry alike to start living within the equilibrium that our natural world craves.”

Blake is extremely excited to be chosen as a crew member during the final leg in late January 2010. What could be better than raising awareness for an amazing cause while enjoying your passion for sailing? Caring for the environment is important to us here at TOMS. Everyday we are trying to improve our environmental awareness. It’s inspiring that TOMS Chief Shoe Giver is passionate to do the same.

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the october issue

admin — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 17:09:50 +0000

Did you see TOMS in Vanity Fair this month? Behind the scenes footage from that photoshoot coming soon…

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TOMS gets the coolest fan mail

admin — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:22:32 +0000

TOMS fans are incredibly creative- we see it every day in the ridiculous custom TOMS you all post to our Facebook Page! Its no surprise that the fan mail that comes in is also pretty amazing. Check out this piece from Camryn in Hudson, Ohio.

Feeling creative today? Send us some art!

TOMS Shoes
Attn: TOMS Fan Mail
3025 Olympic Blvd Studio C
Santa Monica, CA 90404

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TOMS in cold places with the boston bruins

admin — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 21:58:39 +0000

You guys are doing a good thing, keep it up! There are a couple of us that play for the Boston Bruins that are big fans of your shoes and what your company stands for, thought you might like a picture of me and Mark Stuart in our dressing room. I have been living in my TOMS and have been getting them as gifts for my family who are also stoked on them.

Thanks for the great work,

Andrew Ference

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use your sole

admin — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:03:26 +0000

Since TOMS got its start three years ago, the guys of HANSON have been avid supporters of the One for One movement, and they’ve done more than just wear the shoes and tell the TOMS story. Isaac, Taylor and Zac have been authentic inspirers of change, organizing nearly 25,000 one-mile barefoot walks with their fans to raise money for Friends of TOMS and funding other programs to help fight poverty and disease in Africa. The guys are familiar faces at TOMS too. Some full-time employees actually joined them on the road in 2007 to sell the HANSON limited-edition Great Divide TOMS and to share the One for One movement with the incredible HANSON fans.

Now you can support TOMS + HANSON with banners for your website, blog, MySpace, or Facebook profile. Click here to pull the code!

Don’t forget to check the schedule for this Fall’s Use Your Sole tour and head to a HANSON and HelloGoodbye show in your hometown! Tour kicks off end of this month!

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