Miss Terry Shopper

Miss Terry Shopper gets emotional about shoes and goes online to shop – all in the name of charity, of course.

I may not fit the stereotype, but I’m not really into shoes. There. I said it. My obscenely flat feet and inability to walk properly in heels means that when I attempt to shop for shoes I inevitably just end up with foot envy. (I have a ridiculous jeans habit that more than makes up for my shoe apathy.)

So it was to my surprise that spotting a pair of shoes while watching Ellen inspired me to head online instantly to make a purchase.

Ellen was interviewing Blake Mycoskie who founded TOMS , a company that matches every pair of shoes purchased with a pair of new shoes given to a child in need. While travelling in Argentina, Mycoskie found that many children who can’t afford shoes aren’t allowed to attend school. Cue tears. (Really, it doesn’t take much.)

Before the snippet of video had finished showing Mycoskie’s friends, family and colleagues handing out thousands of pairs of TOMS shoes to smiling third-world children, I had already gone online to check that they ship to Australia.

I chose the women’s version of the EXACT pair that Mycoskie was wearing on the show (subliminal messaging much?) and after checking that they would indeed be giving a pair of shoes to a child in need as a result of my purchase, added the shoes to my shopping basket and proceeded to check-out.

I usually opt for products that state they are donating a percentage of profits to a chosen charity, I’m happy to run a half marathon if I know that it’s for a good cause and I have an enviable collection of charity ribbons. But why did these shoes get me so excited?

Mycoskie has trademarked his One for One system which now extends to eyewear (for every pair of glasses bought, one person receives medical treatment, sight saving surgery or prescription glasses).

I’m usually pretty cynical when it comes to these things. Post-check out when the feel good endorphins had worn off, I wondered, is it all just a marketing scam? A clever way for retailers to stand out from the crowd? If I really wanted to help those in need, would my money have been better spent elsewhere?

Whether I was tricked or not, it sure got me off the couch and onto my computer quick-smart. And now I have a very nice pair of bright red shoes to show for it. Besides, what have your shoes done lately?!

"The ghost who types"... Many wonder who Miss Terry Shopper is... Some swear to have seen her in the flesh... others say she's a disturbed bald man posing behind a keyboard... no matter what you believe, her calling is clear. Miss Terry Shopper IS scouring the web 24/7 - determined to unveil the good, the bad and the outright bizarre of online retail practices.

Source: http://www.powerretail.com.au