# Communal Business Seeking social involvement, entrepreneurs turn to community retail enterprises. By [Tana Makmanee](https://www.trendhunter.com/tmak), SVP, Research Services at Trend Hunter | Published Oct 27, 2014 | Category: [Business](https://www.trendhunter.com/pro/category/business-trends) Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/communal-business ## Key Figures - Trend score: 4.9/10 - Evidence articles: 5 ## What is the Communal Business trend? **Communal Business:** Finding drive, particularly among a generation consumed with complacency, can be challenging, prompting individuals to look toward more social business innovations. Using community movements and local neighborhoods as a source for inspiration, budding entrepreneurs are leveraging social causes as base for emerging businesses, reflecting a move toward more socially invested business developments. ## At a Glance - Evidence: 5 featured examples - Articles from: Jan 22, 2014 to Oct 21, 2015 - Published: Oct 27, 2014 - Patterns: [Redirection](https://www.trendhunter.com/pattern/redirection), [Acceleration](https://www.trendhunter.com/pattern/acceleration) - Megatrends: [Instant Entrepreneurship](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/instant-entrepreneurship), [Catalyzation](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/catalyzation), [Authenticity](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/authenticity) ## Audience - Gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Themes within the Communal Business trend ### Community Business Entrepreneurs are leveraging social causes as a base for emerging businesses reflecting a move toward more socially invested business developments. ### Crowdfunding Sites for Restaurants Equity crowdfunding platforms are enabling entrepreneurs to fundraise for their hospitality-based ventures and giving future customers the opportunity to become capital-raising investors. ### Co-Working Spaces as Community Hubs There is a movement toward rustic, stylized coworking spaces that put a premium on design aesthetic as well as approach to business. ## What the Communal Business trend means for industry ### For Hospitality Equity crowdfunding platforms offer a new way to raise capital for restaurant start-ups. ### For Office space and design Co-working spaces are increasingly being designed to foster collaboration and creativity. ### For Retail and Bookstores There is a trend toward creating community-oriented retail spaces that offer more than just products. ## Trend signals for Communal Business Trend score 4.9 out of 10, from popularity 82%, activity 58%, freshness 8%. - Popularity: 82% - Activity: 58% - Freshness: 8% ## Examples of the Communal Business trend 5 featured examples from Jan 22, 2014 to Oct 21, 2015. - [Community Pizza Shops](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/andpizza): Michael Lastoria Discusses &Pizza; For the Millennial Entrepreneur Forum (Category: Lifestyle) Implication: Potential for differentiation and community building in an increasingly competitive industry. - [Sociable Children's Bookstores](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cafe-bookstore): Columbia's 9 3/4 Cafe Bookstore Encourages Play Inside Comfy Nooks (Category: Art & Design) Implication: The hospitality industry can incorporate the concept of cafe bookstores to enhance customer experiences and create new revenue streams through the sale of food and beverages along… - [Manual Book-Transferring Celebrations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/chain-of-book-lovers): Chain of Book Lovers Event Pays Tribute to The Baltic Way (Category: Business) Implication: Disruptive innovation opportunities for publishers to create interactive events that engage book lovers and foster a sense of community. - [Restaurant Crowdfunding Sites](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/equity-crowdfunding-platform): The Equity Crowdfunding Platform Turns Customers Into Investors (Category: Lifestyle) Implication: Equity Eats is disrupting traditional restaurant finance by enabling entrepreneurs to fundraise through equity crowdfunding and allowing customers to become investors in future ea… - [Charismatic Coworking Hubs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nyc-coworking): This NYC Coworking Space is a Launchpad for the Next Big Idea (Category: Social Good) Implication: Opportunities for coworking space providers to differentiate themselves by focusing on design and creating a unique atmosphere. ## Recent trend clusters - [Assisted Conversion](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/ai-assisted-checkout) (Business) - [Occasion Commerce](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/occasion-commerce) (Business) - [Autonomous Merchandising](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/autonomous-merchandising) (Business) - [Assisted Choices](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/weight-loss-medication-support) (Lifestyle) ## Trending in Business - [Performance-Based Creator Ads](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/creator-ad-platforms) - [MIami Pop-Culture Shirts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/miami-pop-culture-shirts) - [Natural Deodorant Expansions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/target-beauty-studios) - [Mini Beauty Stores](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/little-luxuries-store) All articles: [Business](https://www.trendhunter.com/business)