Trade based on cooperation principle – First participatory store without trade margins opens in Vienna

A participatory store operating on the principles of cooperation, joint management and solidarity has opened in Vienna.

It is a concept in which consumers are not just buyers, but actively participate in the operation of the store, enabling the sale of products without the usual profit - trade margins. It is the first such store in Austria.

The store has been named Mila, and the creators of the project say that it represents an important step towards sustainable and more affordable food procurement.

– It is a concept where consumers are not just buyers, but active co-creators of the business. Members contribute a one-time contribution of EUR 180, or EUR 20 for people with lower financial means. In addition, they perform three hours of volunteer work every four weeks - for example, at the checkout, in the warehouse or stacking shelves or - participate in deciding on the product range – the management of this store states.

The financial model of the participatory store allows it to operate without the usual trade margins.

A fixed margin of 30% is added to the purchase price of the product to cover basic operating costs.

The store currently has around 1,000 members, which is a solid basis for further development, but it still needs wider support and new members to become fully financially independent, SEEbiz.eu reports.

Similar participatory stores have already proven successful in European cities such as Berlin and Paris, where they have become an important part of local food chains.

Vienna

Mila

participatory store

trade margins

buyer seller cooperation