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Community Shops: The Better Business Model. James Alcock: Community Retail Manager Plunkett Foundation. Overview. Introduction to Community Shops Best Practice from Kirdford, Sussex Best Practice from Brockweir and Hewelsfield, Gloucestershire Further support available Group Discussion.
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Community Shops: The Better Business Model James Alcock: Community Retail Manager Plunkett Foundation
Overview • Introduction to Community Shops • Best Practice from Kirdford, Sussex • Best Practice from Brockweir and Hewelsfield, Gloucestershire • Further support available • Group Discussion 01993 810730 info@plunkett.co.uk www.plunkett.co.uk www.plunkett.uk.net
Introduction • Definition: Shop which is owned and/or managed by the community, for the community • Legal Structure: Industrial and Provident Society for the Benefit of the Community • Start-up Capital: £20,000 - £200,000+ • Premises: Original shop premises, New build, Portable Buildings, Church, Village Halls • Stakeholders: 150 members, 7 committee members, 2 employees, 30 regular volunteers, • Customer base: Immediate population, plus passing trade • Turnover: £7,000 – £900,000 (avg: £130,000) • Year Started: 1984 • Stage of Development: 271 shops trading, opening at a rate of 20 per year
Better Resilience • 96% success rate • Increasing rate of shop openings • 400 village shop closures each year 01993 810730 info@plunkett.co.uk www.plunkett.co.uk www.plunkett.uk.net
Better Governance • Robust legal structures: genuine community ownership • 65% IPS Bencom: Prioritise community benefit • Democratically elected committees: answerable to the community • Avg of 150 members: resource pool * Caveat CLG and CICs 01993 810730 info@plunkett.co.uk www.plunkett.co.uk www.plunkett.uk.net
Better Finances • Community Shops are (or should be) profit focused! • Collective turnover: £32million pa • Turnover range: £7,000 - £900,000 • Average Net profit: £3,654 • Reduced staffing costs - Volunteer hours Avg 30 – saving of £6.2m • Favourable terms on other overheads • Trading for community not commercial purpose • Inclusion of Share Capital: e.g. Dunsfold and Tewin • Local Food – £1 = £1.76 to local economy 01993 810730 info@plunkett.co.uk www.plunkett.co.uk www.plunkett.uk.net
Better services • Retain essential retail service • Local Food: village shops number one platform to purchase local • Safeguard Post Office services: 56% have Post Offices • Cafes: 40% have cafes • Community Spaces: 15 in Village Halls, 5 in Churches, 3 in Pubs 01993 810730 info@plunkett.co.uk www.plunkett.co.uk www.plunkett.uk.net
Better communities and Lives • Social value of community shops • Inclusion of cafes, volunteers, events • Support the elderly, less mobile and more vulnerable • Active citizens, supporting citizens • Profit reallocated for community use: 22% • £197,754 annually • Volunteer opportunities: 30 volunteers • Employment: 1.8 employees • Training: all ages 01993 810730 info@plunkett.co.uk www.plunkett.co.uk www.plunkett.uk.net
Better Environmentally • Less Travel • Reduced food miles • Influenced by modern day behaviours and values e.g. Thorncombe • Food re-use • Composting • Recycling • Bag loans 01993 810730 info@plunkett.co.uk www.plunkett.co.uk www.plunkett.uk.net
5th June 2010 Official Opening
Chichester Observer Community Award for Best Shopworker
CLA/AiRS Success in Rural Business Award 2011 South East Region Winner 2011
Involve your community Create ownership and pride Regular dialogue Newsletters Emails Events Press coverage Website Facebook Twitter
How do you reach and communicate with all sections of your community?
Support Available • Central Support Service • Telephone, Email, Face-to-Face • Adviser Network • Community Advisers, Specialist Advisers and Mentors • Online Community Shop Network • Forum, Directory, Tools and Resources • Advice Sheets • Legal structures advice and registrations service • Community Shares and Fundraising • Membership Services • Representation and Purchasing • Press and Publicity.
Summary Community shops: • Are more resilient and financially robust • Promote inclusively • Address social exclusion • Support the local economy • Reduce carbon footprint 01993 810730 info@plunkett.co.uk www.plunkett.co.uk www.plunkett.uk.net