This is our AP for our 2nd unit of Social Entrepreneurship. We covered a lot in the duration of this unit since it spanned over a period of 5ish weeks. We learned a lot about what it means for a business to be a Social Enterprise - some of the main themes were serving the public and working to solve a common social issue. We did a lot of exploration of mission and vision statements, business structures, marketing strategies, and what makes a business successful. We also looked at multiple social enterprises and analyzed their structures and mission/vision statements to see how they were operating. We had multiple guests - some of them being Sharon Cho, Felicia Winiecki, Ian Mackey, the Allstars program, and we also visited UChicago's NSP. Overall, we gained very helpful insight as we lead into creating our own business idea. After indicating a social issue we wanted to solve, we went on to create logos, brainstorm legal structures, business models, our business purpose, and how we would work to improve the future. Below, you will see my business, enjoy!
Mega-Thrift
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| MEM. Mega-Thrift Logo. 2022 |
Context
For the past couple of years, I have been pretty passionate about the current issues surrounding the well-being of our planet and specifically, how wasteful our country is. In one year (2018), the U.S. produced 292.4 million tons of solid waste and I think that is a direct consequence of there not being a designated place to send some of this waste, other than a landfill. I experience this myself where I throw away products that were not all the way used because I moved on to new ones, or I throw away food because it sat in my fridge until it expired, or I give away clothes that I never wore, etc. But as I discard these items, I never stop to think about where they go, and even if I do donate some of them, I can never be sure if they will be rebought or if they will just continue to collect in a facility, similar to if it were in a landfill.
Along with the amount of waste in the world, there is also the growing issue of individuals who live in poverty or who are homeless in this country. There is also the concern of affordability of products that I consider to be basic needs - quality clothing, food, and hygiene/sanitary products. In 2018, 29% of the population was considered lower-class, in 2019, 13.4% of the population was below the poverty line, and in 2021, 0.2% of the population was homeless. Many lower-income communities also live in areas where the local supermarket, convenience store, or clothing store, could be miles away. They don't have money for a car, and there is often no constant form of public transport. So, how do these people get their food, clothes, and hygiene products?
Oh so conveniently, there are many fast-food places that find their way into these communities, and since they are cheaper options, many people are forced to eat there. There has also been a rise in Fast Fashion and online stores like Shein, which produce clothing at a heavily cheaper cost than main fashion brands. Even though these items may cost less, they come with a much higher moral price. Brands like these are able to price clothing so low because they operate in countries where the labor laws are much looser, and they can get away with paying workers little to no wages, and they overwork adults, as well as children. They also have huge environmental impacts because of factory emissions and textile waste. This also leads to product production. A lot of cheaper options for makeup, shower products, personal hygiene items, etc are made with toxic chemicals and they also often test on animals. Unfortunately, the companies that produce more sustainably are smaller, so in order to stay afloat, they have to price their items higher. Consumers with less money are forced to continue to buy the more toxic options, and the 'clean' sustainable option is considered a luxury. It is strange that in this society, taking care of yourself, getting proper care, and having access to nontoxic food, products, and clothing are considered a luxury instead of something everyone is able to have.
Collecting this data was important in assessing the reason for my Social Enterprise and how it could possibly work to respond to this issue. While my idea can't necessarily solve poverty, hopefully, it can work to make it easier for those who fall into that category.
My business
My business is called Mega-Thrift. Similar to Goodwill, it is a place where anyone who is able can come and donate items they no longer find a use for. However, I wanted to think bigger than just clothes and home goods. People at Mega-Thrift can come and donate clothes/seasonal-wear/accessories they no longer want, food that is just collecting dust in their fridges or cabinets, and any toiletry/sanitary/hygiene products that they may have extra of. The only requirement is that anything that someone brings should be in the condition to pass onto someone else. Meaning, the things you are prepared to donate should be in like-new or good condition - preferably not heavily used. It is a place where homeless and low-income families can come to get whatever they need (within moderation), completely free of cost. My overall goal is to save the planet from harmful and unnecessary waste and especially to give people the chance to access basic needs, that they wouldn't otherwise have. Another main goal is for this to be open to everybody. I don't want it to be exclusive, and the business puts trust into recipients to be people of actual need and that people would not take advantage of taking free products from those who really needed them.
Along with clothing, products, and packaged food, Mega-Thrift also offers free showers, dressing rooms, and places to cook your food and come and sit for a while. Though spaces are limited, there are jobs (primarily for homeless people) and support offered to give them the opportunity to get back on their feet. Mega-Thrift is a non-profit so it survives based on people's generosity and donations, along with government funding. It also primarily relies on volunteers but there are employees as well - their salary is also provided by government funding.
Day-to-Day specifics
In terms of schedule, the day would start at 8 am and end at 8 pm. The facility would be opened and prepped by employees, getting the space cleaned up from the day before - showers stocked with towels and products, dressing rooms cleared out, eating and cooking area fixed up and sanitized, donation bins emptied and everything is taken to be displayed, etc. Once that is all done, the doors are opened and people can come in and out at their leisure. Donations are accepted for the duration of the day and volunteers can sign up for shifts from 9am-7pm but they can only work for a max of 4-hours at a time. Upon arrival, folks can stop by at the front desk and receive a 'proof of donation' receipt. They will then move onto the bins where their items will be assessed and placed in their designated bins. If someone's donation is money, they can drop it off at the desk and they will receive a different type of receipt which acts as a tax right-off depending on the donation amount. I hope for this to be a beneficial service to the public and for us to give back to our surrounding community. Along with us giving back, Mega-Thrift also provides the opportunity for others to give back as well. There is a volunteer program that gives college and school credit for students (under 18 requires a parent or adult accompanying them), and just an overall feel-good sense of achievement to anyone who signs up to help.
Future
For right now, Mega-Thrift is just going to be located in the loop of Chicago, but in the future, I hope to expand Nationwide and further eradicate these problems across the country. I hope to make the most out of my Social Enterprise and that it will be received well and actually succeed in its purpose. Additionally, I hope to eventually make the business double as a community center and a shelter.
Social-Media post
An effective strategy for marketing these days is Social Media. Below you will see an example of an Instagram Ad for Mega-Thrift and its Mission and Vision statement, Business model, and Real Tangible Change.
I hope you enjoyed learning about my business idea. All in all, I really enjoyed spending time brainstorming my business idea, especially because I am passionate about solving these issues. It was a little difficult to figure out some logistics, especially because I didn't realize how much detail has to go into creating a new business. I still don't even feel like I've included everything. That is probably something I'd add if I had a little more time - more numbers (stats) and detail about funding and the money management aspect of my business. Overall, I am proud of what I was able to come up with. Thank you for reading!
