Hello TOMS fans, followers and random passersby! I’m Erin, one of eighteen fresh faces that just began the intern experience here at TOMS headquarters in Santa Monica, CA. As the Social Media department’s intern I will be running this blog for the duration of our internship.

It’s technically our second week here, but it feels like we just finished orientation yesterday. The Brand Experience department organized an incredible two days for a group of strangers to come together, all with different backgrounds, school and job experiences, with the one common thread that we were all thrilled and awed to now be a part of the TOMS family.



If only one theme stuck in our heads during our first few days, it would be that TOMS is more than just a company or a business. The One for One mission statement goes beyond being a simple (and revolutionary!) business model – it is the essence of everyone’s existence here. All departments, from Customer Service to Alternative Sales seem to operate on the foundation of giving and storytelling.

“What’s our story?” we were rhetorically asked several times by employees from different departments, as they were spending quality time with us, explaining their jobs, inviting questions and offering incredible words of wisdom.

The sagest advice can be summed up here: to enter humbly, explore your assigned department, volunteer outside your area and to engage fellow TOMS employees, gaining knowledge from their own experiences.


(L to R: Kelly, Dana, Kari and Michael)
“TOMS is great not only to be able to work for, but to meet and get to know people from all over. On our first day off, some of us interns had the chance to get together and hike to the Hollywood sign for fun!” Kari, Campus Club intern

As orientation continued, a palpable sense of pride emerged in our group. We are wearing shoes – a simple pair of consumer merchandise, with four simple letters – that carries meaning beyond the canvas and rubber constituent parts. We are now part of the story! We are contributing our own unique perspectives to the philosophical and physical story that is TOMS.


A favorite moment from orientation was the Style Your Sole activity – it felt like we were doing arts and crafts at summer camp!


“It was so fun to be creative and to see how different everyone’s shoes turned out!” Jenna, Retail Marketing intern, fashion

The spring 2012 intern class is full of energy, ambition and inspiration! We are psyched to be a part of the TOMS movement, and look forward to sharing our future experiences.