TOMÁŠ BAŤA
1876–1932
Tomáš Baťa was a hugely successful businessman who not only built his family business into an internationally recognized footwear company but also sought to look after his workers.
On April 3, 1876, Tomáš Baťa was born into a family of shoemakers in Zlín in what is now the Czech Republic. With his brother and sister, he set up a company in his hometown in 1894, with 10 employees. Facing financial setbacks, Baťa began making shoes using cheaper canvas instead of leather, known as Baťovka. This proved so popular that the company was soon employing 50 people. Further growth came when Baťa ...
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