A Global History of Consumer Co-operation since 1850


Book Description

With contributions from over 30 scholars, A Global History of Consumer Co-operation surveys the origins and development of the consumer co-operative movement from the mid-nineteenth century until the present day. The contributions, covering the history of co-operation in different national contexts in Europe, the Americas, Asia and Australasia, illustrate the wide variety of forms that consumer co-operatives have taken; the different political, economic and social contexts in which they have operated; the ideological influences on their development; and the reasons for their expansion and decline at different times. The book also explores the connections between co-operatives in different parts of the world, challenging assumptions that the story of global co-operation can be traced exclusively to the 1844 Rochdale Co-operative Society. Contributors are: Amélie Artis, Nikola Balnave, Patrizia Battilani, Johann Brazda, Susan Fitzpatrick-Behrens, María Eugenia Castelao Caruana, Kay-Wah Chan, Bernard Degen, Danièle Demoustier, Espen Ekberg, Dulce Freire, Katarina Friberg, Mary Hilson, Mary Ip, Florian Jagschitz, Pernilla Jonsson, Kim Hyung-mi, Akira Kurimoto, Simon Lambersens, Catherine C LeGrand, Ian MacPherson, Francisco José Medina-Albaladejo, Alain Mélo, Jessica Gordon Nembhard, Silke Neunsinger, Greg Patmore, Joana Dias Pereira, Michael Prinz, Siegfried Rom, Robert Schediwy, Corrado Secchi, Geert Van Goethem, Griselda Verbeke, Rachael Vorberg-Rugh, Mirta Vuotto, Anthony Webster and John Wilson.




Grocery Story


Book Description

Hungry for change? Put the power of food co-ops on your plate and grow your local food economy. Food has become ground-zero in our efforts to increase awareness of how our choices impact the world. Yet while we have begun to transform our communities and dinner plates, the most authoritative strand of the food web has received surprisingly little attention: the grocery store—the epicenter of our food-gathering ritual. Through penetrating analysis and inspiring stories and examples of American and Canadian food co-ops, Grocery Story makes a compelling case for the transformation of the grocery store aisles as the emerging frontier in the local and good food movements. Author Jon Steinman: Deconstructs the food retail sector and the shadows cast by corporate giants Makes the case for food co-ops as an alternative Shows how co-ops spur the creation of local food-based economies and enhance low-income food access. Grocery Story is for everyone who eats. Whether you strive to eat more local and sustainable food, or are in support of community economic development, Grocery Story will leave you hungry to join the food co-op movement in your own community.




The Consumer Co-operative Sector


Book Description

Globally, consumer co-operation has experienced a difficult period since the 1970s. Large scale failures in France, Germany and Austria were accompanied by loss of market share in the UK (including the failure of the Scottish Co-operative Wholesale Society and its takeover by its English counterpart). Even in the Nordic countries, where consumer co-operation has always been more robust, new challenges from the non-co-operative sector had to be confronted. How did co-operative organizations in different countries cope with these challenges? What were the processes of strategic renewal that they undertook? How successful were they? These are the key questions that the collection will address, culminating in an analysis by the editors of the effectiveness of strategic renewal in the co-operative sector. This book is a study of strategic renewal in the consumer co-operative sector, using eleven international case-studies to demonstrate how the concept has been applied over the last fifty years.




The Retail Value Chain


Book Description

The Retail Value Chain analyses the changes in the retail industry such as internationalization and consolidation and looks at the strategic options open to companies. It covers retail structures, efficient consumer response, partnerships in retail value chains, demand management, store operations, IT trends, loyalty programmes, shopper information sharing and more. In addition to providing useful insights into why retail operates the way it does, The Retail Value Chain describes the key concepts of Efficient Consumer Response (ECR) and provides several illustrative cases to demonstrate the results. As such, it is essential reading for both retail practitioners and students of retail and channel marketing.




Waking the Asian Pacific Co-operative Potential


Book Description

Replete with case studies, Waking the Asian Pacific Cooperative Potential applies a novel theoretical framework to aid in understanding meaningful change in cooperative firms, mutual firms, collectives, and communes, focusing in particular on the underexamined Asia Pacific region. It explores the common, albeit competing, objectives of transformational cooperatives that deliver a range of social benefits and corporative coops where the cooperative exhibits the characteristics of a competitive investor firm. The book provides examples of successful cooperatives in eleven countries across the Asia Pacific and reviews the theoretical framework of cooperatives, including issues pertaining to socio-economic, politico-legal, and domestic and international factors. Waking the Asian Pacific Co-operative Potential provides early-career researchers and graduate students with a systematic resource of cooperatives in the Asia Pacific, highlighting core lessons from case studies regarding the ideal role of cooperatives in a modern economy and on the enabling factors of the role of the state, the market potential for scale-up, the mitigation of poverty, and civil society. - Provides numerous case studies drawn from successful co-operative organizations across the Asia Pacific region - Advances a theoretical framework to help readers access and understand the reasons for co-operative success in the Asia Pacific region - Develops tools for practitioners to establish effective co-operatives and restructure them to optimal goals




Consumer's Cooperation


Book Description










Business Studies - Class 11 - English


Book Description

Introduction to Business At its core, a business is an organization or entity engaged in commercial, industrial, or professional activities with the primary goal of generating profit. However, the concept of "business" encompasses much more than just making money. Here are some key aspects: Value Creation: Businesses create value by providing products or services that satisfy customer needs or solve their problems. This value can take various forms, such as convenience, quality, innovation, or affordability. Exchange: Business involves the exchange of goods, services, or money between parties. This exchange can occur between businesses (B2B) or between businesses and consumers (B2C). Risk and Reward: Business activities involve taking risks, such as investing capital, developing new products, or entering new markets, in the hope of achieving financial rewards. Managing risks effectively is crucial for long-term success. Innovation: Businesses drive innovation by developing new products, services, processes, or business models. Innovation helps businesses stay competitive, adapt to changing market conditions, and create value for customers. Employment: Businesses create jobs and contribute to economic growth by hiring employees, contractors, and service providers. They provide opportunities for individuals to earn income, develop skills, and pursue career advancement. Legal and Regulatory Environment: Businesses operate within a framework of laws, regulations, and industry standards that govern their activities. Compliance with these requirements is essential for maintaining legality, ethical standards, and social responsibility. Customer Focus: Successful businesses prioritize customer satisfaction and strive to build strong relationships with their customers. Understanding customer needs, preferences, and feedback is critical for developing products and services that meet market demand. Financial Management: Businesses must manage their finances effectively to ensure profitability, liquidity, and long-term sustainability. This includes budgeting, accounting, financial planning, and investment decisions. Social Impact: Businesses have a broader impact on society beyond their economic activities. They can contribute to social welfare through philanthropy, corporate social responsibility (CSR), ethical business practices, and environmental sustainability initiatives. Globalization: In an increasingly interconnected world, businesses operate across national borders, engaging in international trade, investment, and collaboration. Globalization presents opportunities for growth and expansion but also challenges related to cultural differences, regulatory compliance, and geopolitical risks. Overall, business encompasses a wide range of activities and functions aimed at creating value, driving innovation, and meeting the needs of customers, employees, shareholders, and society at large.