Community Owned Shops
For private shop owners the financial rewards are often small, particularly for the hours of work. Add to this the increasing pressure from supermarkets and the recent round of Post Office closures and it is easy to see why many shops are closing.
When the community owns the shop it is different. They are able to use profit as a tool to meet the needs of the community rather than being controlled by it; there is a direct bond between the shop and its customers; and they can access financial and development support. These are some of the reasons why community shops have shown the ability to survive and succeed even in areas where private retailers would struggle.
There is no 'typical' community owned shop - some are based on different models and all show individual characteristics depending on the community in which they are based. However, based on our current membership, community owned shops are generally:
- Businesses with a recognised legal structure
- Owned by local people through sale of shares
- Governed by a voluntary management committee
- The main or only shop in the community.
- Significant local employers.
- Profitable but don't distribute profit.
- More than 'just a shop' - have a strong social remit.