1. Definition
Community business refers to the groups of local people conducting
businesses to gain higher incomes to local people or create potentials
of local communities by setting community shops.
Community shop refers to shops or groups of people trading in villages.
Local people are shareholders and committee members are selected to
manage the shops. Dividends (return form purchase) will be paid to the
members.
2. History of Community Shop
The government has a policy to distribute income to provincial areas
to avoid income concentration in the city where most people have been
taken advantages consumer products and lack of bargaining power and
do not have chance and channel to develop their expertise commercially.
Thai economic crisis causes decreases in population revenue. It is necessary
for public authorities to work together to enhance efficiency and activities
of communities and occupations.
The Ministry’s policy emphasizes on the establishment of people network
in order to set community shops in remote areas. People, than, can buy
consumer goods in fair prices and increase their bargaining power. Community
shops will be a learning centers under the management of local people
and public sectors will provide financial and academic support including
accounting and management.
3. Management Structures of Community Shops
comprise
3.1 Shareholders
: Member of community shops have rights to participate in management
by selecting shop committee and setting policies and regulations of
shops to be guidelines for the operation of the committee. Members will
also buy goods from the shop.
3.2 Committee will have 7-10 members, namely, Chairman, Deputy Chairman,
Procurement Committee, Audit Committee, Accounting Committee, Finance
Committee. Committee shall be high-responsible, honest and dedicated
persons.
3.3 Shop manager will be recruited from Committee members to manage
and control shops such as selling and making orders under the approval
of the Committee.
4. Selection and Establishment of Community
Shop
To enhance the establishment of community shops, it is necessary to
consider preparedness and intention of community members. Without member
collaboration, shop cannot run efficiently.
From part experience, shops in remote areas will accomplish their goals
more than shops in cities with convenient transportation. To accomplish
the goals of selecting and establishing community shops, the following
shall be taken into consideration:
1) Community members are ready to and intend to set shops.
2) Villages are located in remote areas or inconvenient areas.
3) Members shall provide collaboration and but goods from shops.
4) Committee shall dedicate, are honest and manage the shop transparently.
5) Sell on cash or a small proportion of sales on credit.
Location of Community Shop
Shops should be located in community areas and shall be granted permission
from the public or owners to occupy such areas.
5. Shop problems : Presently, social and economic environments have
been changing so it is more convenient to transport between places.
There is higher numbers of entrepreneurs in all areas with higher growths.
The necessity of setting community shop is lower. The Department turns
to focus on the sustainability of potential shops. New shops will be
located in villages with proper economic environment.
From all community shops supported by the Department during 1987-2006,
456 shops have been operating (28 shop with first capital and 28 shops
with second capital) in 67 provinces.
5 .Development of Community Shop under the
Support of the Department of Business Development
1) provide management knowledge and set management systems.
2) provide advices, solve problems and monitor their operations at the
Provincial Business Development Offices
3) develop product displays and shop images as convenient shops to complete
with other retail shops and set the National Best Shop competition.
|
