Join a Co‑operative
For many their experience of a co‑operative is of the retail stores that trade on our High Streets. These co‑operatives are owned and controlled by their consumer members, and that means you.
Anyone can become a member of a consumer owned co‑operative. All these co‑operatives ask in return is that you shop with one of their businesses.
There are many reasons why you might want to join one of the United Kingdom's consumer co‑operatives.
- Members can share in the profits of the co‑operative.
- Members can get involved and take part in the co‑operative's democracy.
- Members can have a say in how the co‑operative achieves it's co‑operative, environmental and social goals.
A consumer co‑operatives does not just measure its success by how profitable it is, but also by how much it returns to its members; by how many of its customers are members; and, by how much of its trade is conducted with members.
By joining a consumer co‑operative and shopping with one of their businesses you will be contributing to that success.
But you can do more than this. You can get involved in the running of the business. And because consumer co‑operatives work on the principle of one member one vote you might even be able to stand for and get elected to the Board.
What other type of business can say this?