The Wise Foundation believes that all people and communities should have the opportunity to achieve economic independence through business. Our core mission is, ‘To strengthen communities through assisting the creation of innovative economic models.’

Based in Melbourne, Australia, the Wise Foundation was formed in April 2008 to further the community development and social commitments of The Body Shop Australia, the Adidem group of companies and the Wise family.

The Wise Foundation is a registered Tax Concession Charity for the purpose of assisting marginalised people achieve meaningful participation in the community.

TOMS Pops up at the Mulgrave Farmers Market

Last year the Wise Foundation began a joint venture with international philanthropic retail brand TOMS to raise much needed funds for Wise Foundation projects in Australia, East Timor and Samoa. Not only are TOMS the purveyor of great shoes and shades but for every pair they sell worldwide, they give a pair of shoes to a child in need and with their eyewear, they restore someone’s sight.

Since then the Wise Foundation and TOMS have worked together to open series of Wise Foundation pop up stores selling TOMS shoes and sunglasses. The first was in Melbourne’s iconic Flinders Lane shopping precinct which was soon followed by a store at Melbourne’s St Kilda Festival and another inside The Body Shop Bourke Street.

We’re at it again! The collaboration has been so successful that there will be a Wise Foundation store selling TOMS shoes and eyewear at the Mulgrave Farmers Market each Sunday. All proceeds from the Wise Foundation store will go towards projects that help marginalised people in Australia and overseas.

Come down to the Mulgrave Farmers Market, enjoy some fresh local produce and see the TOMS range yourself.

The Mulgrave Farmers Market is open every Sunday from 8am-1pm and is located on the corner of Wellington and Jacksons Road Mulgrave.

The future is looking Buffed

Buffed, Australia’s first social franchise, provides the means for individuals who are long-term unemployed or underemployed to secure their own futures through small business ownership.

Buffed offers shoe shine and leather cleaning services from portable stands located within commercial office towers, boutique retail arcades and key transport nodes.

The Wise Foundation launched Buffed to create real business opportunities for people whose employment outlook is limited – such as recently arrived migrants, people with unstable health, or those who lack the basic skills required for mainstream employment. Buffed provides high-level support for franchisees through no-interest loans, business mentorship and dynamic marketing to ensure franchisees have the best chance of creating successful businesses.

Franchisee training focuses on more than just shoe care. Buffed emphasises customer service and business training and development to ensure that franchisees are assisted in both their short-term and long-term futures.

Buffed was launched in Brisbane in November 2011 and has stands in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.

Buffed was launched by founding partners Bank of Queensland, University of Queensland Business School and The Body Shop. Each site is owned and operated by individuals through a franchise agreement.

Visit www.buffed.org.au or call 07 3211 7601.