Hit Refresh scores more votes than the US election

Mashable has just reported on the continued success of Hit Refresh in the USA. This is one of my favourite examples of a big brand 'doing good'. Hit Refresh has seen Pepsi redirect their entire superbowl spend into making this program happen.

I love it because it leverages a brand truth beyond "CSR" to join, create and embed positive difference into culture.

Nic Mackay from The Human Race spoke about brands 'doing good' a few months back at Battle of Big Thinking in Sydney. He said " When 'doing good' is at the centre of everything a business stands for and does, genuine business advantage will arise'

Couldn't agree more.

Read article here

(article via mashable/ thanks Christian)

Toms Shoes Rock

One of my loves is innovation shown by regular people who manage to crack an idea so great it ends up becoming not just a brand but a movement.

Toms Shoes is a brand that has achieved such a outcome.

Started by a guy called Blake in 2006 who was appalled at the state of kids without shoes on his travels in Argentina. He got back to the US and started Toms Shoes which sells vegan and canvas shoes - the difference is that for every pair you buy, Toms donates a pair to a child in a developing country.

The rest as they say, is history.....

I have been able to track down Toms at a store in Sydney but hoping they'll get mail delivery or open up a retailer here under soon!