building a community of interest and practice in service design

The People's supermarket

ABC 1 is currently airing the story of 'The people's supermarket' - a co-op style shop supported by the community for the community. I remember Anna Meroni talking about visiting the one in New York - but now there's another initiative in London. Its a fantastic documentary of how challenging and rewarding social innovation and entrepreneurship can be! Ideology is one thing - but making it into a viable business that actually serves the needs and desires of a diverse community can be really hard. Your heart really goes out to Arthur...!

http://www.abc.net.au/tv/guide/abc1/201201/programs/ZX6379A004D2012...'s%20Supermarket

Comment by Emma Gerard on January 10, 2012 at 16:08: I will be watching this one. great story!
in QLD this Christmas I was staying with family in Maleny and we used their co-op. They just won Organic Consumer Choice Award - Organic Retail Outlet QLD 2011. Woohoo they can succeed!

http://www.maplestreetco-op.com/

Comment by Yoko Akama on January 19, 2012 at 9:40: That's awesome - and I haven't heard an example in Australia, so thanks for the heads up! I wish there was one in Melbourne, somewhere in the West ideally - closer to my house - but I doubt anything of this kind would open where I live (wrong kinda demographic).

Did you see the program a few weeks ago, where he holds the first 'community' meeting and they find out that there's such diversity in values and needs that it causes a lot of tension? It was really interesting seeing that - and really demonstrates how the ideology of wanting to have, and build a cohesive community is quite far from the reality of things... I thought Arthur was really reflective in his thinking, questioning his assumptions and activities. That was really refreshing to see in a chef (whose stereotype tends to be ego-centric)!