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THE END OF POVERTY: Examples of social Businesses

In business the number one priority is profit maximization.The question most business men and women ask themselves is how do we increase our profit margin.So they come up with different models and projects to achieve this goal.As people in the business world we think of concepts like demand and supply, customer satisfaction and experience.Another important question is what market demographic to target.So we carry out research and draw pie charts and graphs and things like that.But we fail to see the fact standing in front of us that there is a market with the highest demographic and potential for profit if properly harnessed.  That market demographic is made up of poor and physically challenged people .
Yes it is  hard to see why big corporation would want to make products for this demographic but if we look closely at the figures it would be a prudent decision to make. Over three billion people live in the world live in poverty today and 80 percent of the worlds population lives on less than $10 a day .Imagine a business model that could take into account the needs of the poor and still make profit....That is truely a social business.Imagine saving the world and making clean money while doing it...That would  be the dream of any truely humane individual.
The social business model lets you do this.The number of people in need is enormous and products to meet their needs are few.If businesses could provide such products it would result in a two way success story.This is the basis of social business to try to resolve social issues while earning a reasonable amount of profit.
 Here are a few examples of social businesses:


Grameen Danone Foods Ltd.

It is the children of Bangladesh who frequently suffer from serious vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Grameen Danone Foods Ltd., a social business joint venture of Danone and Grameen in Bogra/Bangladesh, has provided effective assistance: It produces and distributes yoghurt enriched with vitamin A, zinc, and iodine – a mixture that exactly meets the nourishment needs of the children. Moreover, at a price that approximates 6 Eurocent per cup, it is affordable for the poor and even the poorest. Grameen Danone’s social business goal benefits everyone in the chain of value: purchasing, the local dairy industry, production, new regional jobs; in distribution, where it has made it possible for the so-called “Grameen Ladies“ to earn enough to support their needs.

You will find further information about Grameen Danone on the following web pages of the Danone Group:

→ www.danone.com/en/what-s-new/focus-4.html

Pegasus GmbH

Pegasus GmbH, in Berlin (Germany) is an extraordinary service provider. At Pegasus physically or mentally disabled individuals pursue quite ordinary career with the help and support of other employees. Indeed, their work is quite successful in the market place – with a wide range of activities that include construction and painting, facility management and IT support, as well as gastronomy and catering. Pegasus not only satisfies the widest range of customer needs, but also provides work to 100 employees based on their individual abilities and inclinations.

For further information go to the web site of Pegasus:

→ www.pegasusgmbh.de

Grameen Danone.
is a profit-oriented business that is owned by the poor or other underprivileged parts of the society, who can gain through receiving direct dividends or by indirect benefits. Grameen Bank, being owned by the poor, is the prime example of this type of business model, Grameen Danone, which is Yunus* prototype social business was launched in 2005. It's social mission is to address malnutrition in Bangladesh, by providing products, such as yoghurt, containing many of the nutrients missing in an impoverished child's diet and providing these products at a price affordable to everyone. Grameen Danone received seed capital and in-kind support from dairy products company, Danone and the brand credibility leant by Yunus' well-known micro-finance company, Grameen Bank.
These are a few examples of social businesses that are changing the concept of doing business.The world needs more social  businesses to make life easier for less privilegded people.  
* Prof. Muhammad Yunus was the first to describe the social business model in his books Creating a world without poverty - Social Business and the future of capitalism and Building Social Business - The new kind of capitalism that serves humanity's most pressing needs) 

Social business a way to reduce poverty....

For those that dont know what it is the first question may be what is a social business.Well the definition is easy  according to Professor Muhammad Yunus  the major pioneer of the social business model the describes it as The new kind of capitalism that serves humanity's most pressing needs.The social business model  is  designed to generate a modest amount of profit for companies while addressing  social objectives and problems. It is different from non-profit  because it seeks to meet societal needs at thesame bringing revenue for the company.A social business model is a rather prodent way to go for small or big business looking for new products to sell because when you are selling a product that is needed by the majority of people in your region it means you are going have more profit.
 The social business model targets social issues like poverty,education,clean water supply,housing needs,diseases and other issues affecting the society at large.

In Yunus’ book Creating a World without Poverty - Social Business and the Future of Capitalism, two different types of social businesses are proposed:

• A Type I social business focuses on providing a product and/or service with a specific social, ethical or environmental goal. A prominent example is Grameen Danone.
• A Type II social business is a profit-oriented business that is owned by the poor or other underprivileged parts of the society, who can gain through receiving direct dividends or by indirect benefits.Green Bank, being owned by the poor, is the prime example of this type, although it would also classify as a Type I social business.

Grameen Bank, which is Yunus' prototype social business, was launched in 2005. It's social mission is to address malnutrition in Bangladesh, by providing products, such as yoghurt, containing many of the nutrients missing in an impoverished child's diet and providing these products at a price affordable to everyone. Grameen Danone received seed capital and in-kind support from dairy products company, Danone and the brand credibility leant by Yunus' well-known micro-finance company, Grameen Bank.

Seven Principles of Social Business

These were developed by Prof.Muhamaad  Yunus and Hans Reitz, the co-founder of Grameen Creative Lab:

• Business objective will be to overcome poverty, or one or more problems (such as education, health, technology access, and environment) which threaten people and society; not profit maximization
• Financial and economic sustainability
• Investors get back their investment amount only. No dividend is given beyond investment money
• When investment amount is paid back, company profit stays with the company for expansion and improvement
• Environmentally conscious
• Workforce gets market wage with better working conditions
• …do it with joy

This is just an introduction to the blog socialbusiness forlife.blogger.com for more information on social business and social business networking check out this blogg constantly...socialbusiness is truly a way to revolutionize business and you should be a part of it.you  can do that by joining our network in order to learn more so you can be a leader or participant in this business model that can change lives.