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It’s official: Americans love a good deal. In 2024, shoppers smashed Black Friday and Cyber Monday (BFCM) records, spending $10.8 billion (up 10.2% on 2023) and $13.3 billion (+7.3%) respectively. And with BFCM 2025 set to remain the busiest sales period of the year, manufacturers, retailers, and brands are preparing now for the peak holiday season.
With so many eye-catching promotions available, BFCM will be a super busy period for your staff, too. Many will see its discounts as the perfect opportunity to reinvent their wardrobe, for instance—whether that’s treating themselves to a fresh pair of pants, or even investing in new winter boots. However, their new buys also mean that old shoes and clothing are pushed aside.
Too often, these extras just gather dust—or worse, get tossed in the trash and sent to landfill. But there is a third option – one that transforms your workforce engagement, meets company Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives, and puts all this footwear and apparel to the best use possible.
A simpler way to give back
Even before Black Friday rolls around, many people own far more pairs of shoes and clothing than they wear. Hosting a shoe and clothing drive is a simple and effective way to put these products to work, provide opportunity for people in need, and safeguard the environment. But what is it?
A drive simply involves collecting new or gently used shoes and clothing and passing them on to a good cause. It could take place in your offices, warehouses, or even your stores— wherever you think is most accessible for your people. It’s not just employees who can make an impact, either; customers can join in too, dropping off their own used products or even financially donating towards your cause at the checkout.
Importantly, shoe and clothing collections are a powerful way of engaging your workforce. We’ve discussed in a previous article how purpose drives people and business performance; employees who engage in company volunteering report five times higher levels of wellbeing, while 70% believe they boost morale more than happy hours.
These tweaks translate into real bottom-line benefits. On average, staff turnover drops by 57%, companies gain almost $6,000 in productivity per employee, and over three-quarters (77%) of consumers would rather buy from companies that help make the world a better place.
Best of all? With Soles4Souls, it’s incredibly easy to get started.
Collect, donate, impact: It’s that simple
Hosting a shoe and clothing drive with Soles4Souls takes just three quick steps.
- Reach out to our team to register your interest in holding a Soles4Souls drive.
- Collect your donations: A Soles4Souls representative will provide all the resources you’ll need to invite people to participate and to maximize your impact.
- Deliver to us: Box up your donated shoes/clothes and deliver or ship them to one of our warehouses (make sure to fill out the digital donor form first!).
Once we receive your digital donor form, you’ll automatically receive a thank you letter confirming your donation. Then, we’ll get to work turning your shoes and clothes into impact—here’s how their journey works:
- Donations: People donate their own gently used shoes or those they’ve collected through shoe drives, and brands donate excess or returned shoes and clothing.
- Partnerships: Vetted partners in-country purchase the donated shoes and clothing and resell them at a modest markup to 4Opportunity entrepreneurs and thrift stores.
- Entrepreneurs: Entrepreneurs receive training and ongoing support so they can continue to reinvest in their business and grow.
- Families: Having a sustainable income means entrepreneurs can better meet their family’s basic needs.
From one drive to global change
At Soles4Souls, we give goods a second life and people a second chance. By diverting shoes and clothing from landfills, we turn what’s unwanted into relief for those in crisis, opportunity for communities, confidence for kids, and a healthier planet for all. Alongside the 4Opportunity program above, our work also spans three other main initiatives:
- 4Relief: We provide new shoes and clothing to people in crisis, from natural disasters to homelessness, so that people can focus on what’s next.
- 4EveryKid: We deliver new athletic shoes to children experiencing homelessness, removing barriers to learning, sports, and a brighter future.
- Solutions4Good: We extend the lives of shoes and clothing through sorting, grading, recommerce, repurposing, repairing, and responsible end-of-life solutions.
Top brands, retailers, and organizations trust Soles4Souls as the perfect fit for turning excess inventory and donations into opportunity. Together, we’re stepping up to fight poverty, provide relief, and protect the planet—one pair at a time.
This Black Friday, don’t let waste pile up. Host a Soles4Souls drive and turn clutter into opportunity; just email us at corporate@soles4souls.org to get started.
