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Expanding Markets - Documents
To learn more about the benefits of expanding the social enterprise market through purposeful purchasing, follow the links below.
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Marketing Social Enterprise
Marketing is in a funny position in social enterprises. They are organizations with great ideas and a great passion. So it makes sense to sell customers on the great things that they do for the community. Indeed, the enterprise's success ultimately depends on how well it does those great things or supports them. That's why social enterprises face intense pressure to get out and grow, despite the higher costs inherent to them and very limited sources of funding and investment. Yet there's rarely enough time and resources to back up this keen interest in marketing with adequate market research.
As a result of all these factors, many social enterprises are drawn to "cause marketing." Their brochures, ads, luncheon presentations, and radio spots emphasize how "good" their customers are entitled to feel after they make the "right" purchase decision.
This is the trap into which both Inner City Renovation (ICR) and Potluck Catering stumbled over the past five years. In Winnipeg, after losing some natural allies in the nonprofit housing sector, ICR tried to use cause marketing to find commercial customers. It didn't fly. Nor did Potluck's attempts to cause-market catered food to businesses in downtown Vancouver. As subsequent research revealed, what these markets really want is to get is quality building or quality food, not to help the disadvantaged. To sell the cause, ICR and Potluck first had to sell the product
And they have. Both have now established themselves as players in these markets. More important, each organization has made marketing a key function of their operations, with the staff and budget it requires. And guess what - they now find their customers are more receptive to "the "cause"!
Authors: Glen Lougheed and Marty Donkervoort
Source: CCCR's i4 ejournal
Publication Date: 2009DOWNLOAD THE ARTICLE
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Procurement and the Social Economy Podcast
Procurement and the Social Economy was part of a Telelearning event hosted by the Canadian Social Economy Hub
May 13th, 2009
MP3, 58 mins, 24.9 MB- What is the impact of different purchasing policies on community development?
- What challenges do governments face in developing ethical purchasing policies?
- How does ethical trade fit in as a component of the alternative response to the global economic crisis?
These questions were answered by:
J.J. McMurtry, Coordinator of the Business and Society Program at York University, and Brendan Reimer, Prairies/Northern Territories Regional Coordinator for the Canadian CED Network, in an engaging telelearning session hosted by David LePage Program Manager of Enterprising Non-Profits.
DOWNLOAD THE FULL PODCAST HERE
TagsSubmitted by the scientist on Tue, 02/21/2012 - 05:45.I think that this are some serious questions and I am sure about the fact that they have to find some good answers to them Asigurare RCA
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Buying Social: A Guide to Socially Responsible Public Procurement
The Buying Social Guide is a very concrete tool to help public authorities to buy goods and services in a socially responsible way in line with European Union rules. The Guide is useful in a North American context as we too face similar trade restrictions that can cause confusion for public procurement strategies. It also highlights the contribution public procurement can make to stimulate greater social inclusion.
Public procurement represents 17% of the GDP of EU Member States. While preserving competition and transparency, it may be used in a way to steer the market in a more socially responsible direction and thus contribute more generally to sustainable development.
The Guide explains the wide range of possibilities offered by the existing EU public procurement rules to take social aspects on board in the various stages of the procurement process. Those clarifications will allow public purchasers to integrate with greater confidence social considerations in public procurement, while ensuring equal access to all European interested bidders and guaranteeing an efficient use of public money. The exercise is in line with the Europe 2020 Strategy and the EU goals for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth.
The document is illustrated by a number of practical examples covering a broad range of social issues, such as promoting equal chances and employment opportunities, improving labour conditions, social inclusion of vulnerable persons, such as disabled persons, compliance in substance with the provisions of the fundamental ILO conventions, etc. Public authorities in the Member States, social partners, NGOs and other interested stakeholders have provided useful input to draw up this practical guide.
CLICK HERE to download the full Guide
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Ripple: The Potential Power of Purposeful Purchasing
Author: David LePage
Source: Making Waves Magazine (Volume 19, Number 3)
"Like a stone thrown into a pond, every purchase creates a ripple. Unintentionally or intentionally, every decision to purchase causes not one, but multiple transactions affecting the community’s capital, whether social, environmental, cultural, structural, human, or economic."
In this article, David LePage looks at the strides being made in the private, public, and non-profit sectors towards more environmentally, socially, and economically responsible purchasing practices. He concludes by providing examples of businesses and organizations that have effectively blended these purchasing objectives through supportive policies and practices.
TagsSubmitted by freakzmichael on Mon, 04/16/2012 - 12:19.In this article, David LePage looks at the strides being made in the private, public, and non-profit sectors towards more environmentally, socially, and economically responsible purchasing practices. He concludes by providing examples of businesses and organizations that have effectively blended these purchasing objectives through supportive policies and practices. epilare
Submitted by Gabrielle on Tue, 02/21/2012 - 07:49.Very nice! It's so true that throwing a stone in the water can create big waves and even a tzunami if you aren't aware of the consequences of your actions!
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Making Waves out of Ripples
Author: Brendan Reimer
Source: Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
Date: August 18, 2010
In this edition of CCPA Fast Facts, Brendan Reimer examines the public's growing awareness of socially responsible purchasing practices. Unfortunately, popular discourse have polarized this issue into a debate over protectionism vs. free trade.
"This procurement approach is not about an old-fashioned paradigm, nor is it a simple either/ or debate," Reimer writes. "In fact, it is a cutting edge and informed perspective that is catching around the world as people and governments of all persuasions increasingly understand the full costs and benefits of their purchasing decisions."
TagsSubmitted by Gabrielle on Tue, 02/21/2012 - 07:55.It's very nice to hear that someone took some time to examine the public's growing awareness of socially responsible purchasing practices. it's very important in order to improve this field so that the results to be very good in the future!
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I've seen a lot of ads in the Sacramento classifieds section from charitable organizations that sell products or offer services only to donate the profit to charity. ejaculare
I've seen a lot of ads in the Sacramento classifieds section from charitable organizations that sell products or offer services only to donate the profit to charity. But the point that you've made is valid, businesses are interested in getting quality products or services first, charity comes later. If they manage to create a solid business relationship, these charitable organizations can little by little bring charity into discussion but if they start off on that idea only, they are bound to fail.
Sincerely I really think that you're very right with this and I am sure that there will be a lot of people who will be interested to find out more information about this subject. Reparatii Masini
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