Social Enterprise Idea

[justlikeme]

I just had an idea the other night and just thought I'd test the water.

I was just sitting thinking about the whole "them and us", anti-business and general lack of aspiration these days.

So I was thinking of ideas for a business/Social enterprise as my way of changing minds and here is what I came up with.

A Food Delivery business à la Abel and Cole, possibly just food and veg but preferably far broader and including meat and other locally sourced small brands such as Jams and cheeses and all sorts. - The main aim of this would be to support local businesses and source fresh and as close to the customer as possible and make it clear the businesses they are helping.

Ok so far nothing original but I'd also like to get it to a place where rather than hiring staff, we had self employed representatives in a way similar to Avon and business models like that. They would go out find business we would supply the products at a hub and they would keep a commission on what they earn. Helping people get into work in a self employed capacity, finding their own business and gaining skills they can take and maybe start their own businesses.

And finally I'd like a percentage of the profit to be used again for good causes, I have 2 possibilities for this, the first is completely charitable and related to the food aspect of the business, and that would be just donating food to Africa or something like that.

The second possibility is business related and that would be giving out loans/grants to other small businesses to help them grow and start up. If it was more towards low interest loans than grants well then that is also another revenue stream and perhaps makes it more sustainable.



I'd like some opinions on the idea, if you think it could work? Do you think the market is too saturated? Is the social enterprise aspect enough of a USP to stand out?

 

[ethical PR]

Being a social enterprise if you have strong clear social and/ or environmental aims like Divine Chocolate can help you differentiate your brand and help you engage a target audience who support this sort of business concept.

Like when you are doing research for any other business look at your competition, whether there is a market, how do you differentiate your officer, can you do this at a competitive rate? Etc.

However you can't give a percentage of your profit; all profit needs to be invested back into the business and the not for profit initiatives you support/ run.

If you haven't already done so pop over to the Social Enterprise Coaltion site.

 

[Billmccallum]

rather than hiring staff, we had self employed representatives in a way similar to Avon and business models like that. They would go out find business we would supply the products at a hub and they would keep a commission on what they earn. Helping people get into work in a self employed capacity, finding their own business and gaining skills they can take and maybe start their own businesses.

This is not likely to work in a real business environment in the early stages of your plan.

Anyone taking this on would want to be sure that they had some credibile opportunity to earn a decent living, but on relatively low cost products, they would have to sell at least £1,500 a day at 10% commission, £3,000 at 5% commission (which is more realistic on these types of products).

It may be realistic for school-leavers, but then you may have problems with travel, attendance and customer trust.

 

[justlikeme]

This is not likely to work in a real business environment in the early stages of your plan.

Anyone taking this on would want to be sure that they had some credibile opportunity to earn a decent living, but on relatively low cost products, they would have to sell at least £1,500 a day at 10% commission, £3,000 at 5% commission (which is more realistic on these types of products).

It may be realistic for school-leavers, but then you may have problems with travel, attendance and customer trust.

I thought the same, that part would be more of an aspired goal to phase in once there is a customer base and proven financial model. Not something I'd start from the offset.