June 26, 2012

Features Of Co-operative Stores

A retail institution which is established and operated by the community members is called cooperative stores. There are some specific features of co-operative stores such as voluntary membership, service motive, cash sale, democratic management, no middlemen etc.

The main features of co-operative stores are as follows:

1. Open and voluntary membership

Any consumer can be a member of co-operative store voluntary. The consumers having same interest and mutual feelings get organized themselves, establish co-operative store and operate it.

2. Service motive

Service motive is an unique feature of co-operative stores. A co-operative store buys and sells consumer goods., but its purpose is not to earn profit but to provide service to its member. So, it is established with service motive.

3. Capital

Consumers co-operative society collects necessary capital for establishing and operating co-operative store by issuing small units of share. The consumers acquire membership of the co-operative store purchasing such shares. A consumer should purchase at least one share and many purchase more share units to the limit as fixed for a member.

4. Cash sale

Consumer co-operative store sells goods only for hand cash, but it does not give credit facility.

           
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5. Democratic management

Another feature of co-operative stores is democratic management. Management, control and operation of a co-operative store is based on democratic system. Whatever units if share a member has purchased, management committee is elected on the basis of one member one vote.

6. Elimination of middlemen

Co-operative store directly deals with producers and purchases large quality of goods directly from them. Hence, a co-operative store aims at eliminating middlemen.