The Co-operative

Why Ethics Girls will be a Co-operative

Ethics Girls believes that everyone has something of value to contribute. As co-operatives put people at the heart of the business, we think this is the best way of working to advance our common goals of helping the planet and improving people’s lives.

Co-ops work to a broader set of business values than just making a profit. Profit is a means to an end, not an end in itself. Co-ops are owned by their members, giving them a real say and ensuring that the business meets their needs and those of the wider community.

We want membership to be at the heart of Ethics Girls, and so we will be developing a co-operative structure to include the different groups of people involved: consumers, employees and suppliers. We think this is the best way to recognise everyone's contribution to our success.

What will membership involve for consumers?

To become a consumer member, you will need to purchase a minimum share in the company – this is likely to be £25. Being a member of Ethics Girls will then give you a say in how the business is run, helping to determine policy and even standing for the Board...

You will also be entitled to a share of any profit through a member dividend. Members will also be encouraged to get involved in different aspects of the business – such as what products we sell - and we hope to form a 'style' council to support the ongoing work in buying for the fashion shop.

We think it is important that members see the benefit of their involvement with Ethics Girls. Hence we believe that a membership dividend is a central goal, and we will also evolve a reward system in accordance with members’ activities within the shop and the magazine.

Full details will be announced once the new model is open for membership in February/March 2008.

If you want to join the queue for membership then please email us at jointheco-operative@ethicsgirls.co.uk.

Not sure what a co-operative is?

What is a co-operative?

A co-operative is a way of organising a business so that people are at the heart of the business rather the more traditional form of business that has 'capital' at its centre. Co-ops follow a broader set of values than those associated with purely making a profit. Co-operatives are owned by their members and through a democratically controlled system, the decisions taken by co-operatives balance the need for profitability with the needs of their members and the wider interests of the community.

The definition of a co-operative states that the business is autonomous – this means that the company is wholly owned by its members and cannot be owned by anyone other than its members. The members then all work together in an open and democratic way to meet their common economic, social and cultural needs.

Current examples of co-operative style businesses in the UK:

The Co-operative Group – a range of co-operative businesses including The Co-operative (food supermarket), the Co-operative Bank, CIS – Co-operative Insurance, Co-operative Funeral, Co-operative Travel – the Co-operative Group is a consumer co-operative where the membership is open to its consumers

The Phone Co-op – a consumer co-op that suppliers phone and telecommunication services

New Internationalist – a worker co-operative – where the staff are the members

All co-operatives subscribe to the co-operative values and principles:

Co-operative values

self help, self responsibility, democracy, equality, equity and solidarity.

In the tradition of their founders, co-operative members believe in the ethical values of honesty, openness, social responsibility and caring for others.

Co-operative Principles