To the People's Supermarket in London today - it is a fantastic example of a social venture that will clearly fly. Why? Because:
- It is a part of the community and decisions are made with the community in mind. So when a local florists of many year's standing had to shut down because of high rents, TPS invited them into work out of the shop. It keeps services in the community, and jobs in the community.
- It is loved - there are over 1,000 members, all of whom have to work and PAY to do so! And when asked, most say that they would work there if there was NO volunteer discount. How many private businesses can count on that degree of loyalty?
- It provides work experience for people who may not fit into a commercial business- the motive is not entirely profit, to recruitment and volunteering can be driven by social concerns. So TPS provides a place for people who are long-term unemployed, or have drug and alcohol issues, or are homeless, and it helps them to engage again.
- It taps into a popular concern about the role of mulitnationals/ major supermarkets and provides an opportunity for everyone to be part of an alternative.
- It makes money and so can sustain. How many social ventures can say that this year?
- It can scale out - without scaling up.
- It is owned by members; members decide everything -: do we sell tobacco? Cheap alcohol? Fairtrade goods? High carbon footprint goods?
A model of social enterprise - being both genuinely socially useful and commercially sustainable and scalable - a tremendous concept and it's working well.
http://www.thepeoplessupermarket.org/ or visit, and buy something, and join, and work there!
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