# Empowering Retail Social businesses create job opportunities for underprivileged communities. By [Katherinev123](https://www.trendhunter.com/katherine), Contributing Editor | Published Feb 23, 2012, updated Mar 27, 2012 | Category: [Social Good](https://www.trendhunter.com/pro/category/social-trends) Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/empowering-retail ## Key Figures - Trend score: 3.1/10 - Evidence articles: 9 ## What is the Empowering Retail trend? **Empowering Retail:** Social businesses are steadily growing in number, and one of the ways these businesses help developing countries and underprivileged communities is through the creation of new jobs, especially in retail ventures, which range from bakeries to fashion design. By providing fair-wage employment, these businesses empower local citizens, ultimately helping them to improve their quality of life. ## At a Glance - Evidence: 9 featured examples - Articles from: Nov 20, 2011 to Feb 21, 2012 - Published: Feb 23, 2012 - Patterns: [Divergence](https://www.trendhunter.com/pattern/divergence), [Acceleration](https://www.trendhunter.com/pattern/acceleration) - Megatrends: [Instant Entrepreneurship](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/instant-entrepreneurship), [Prosumerism](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/prosumerism), [Many to Many](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/many-to-many) ## Audience - Gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: South America, Asia, Africa ## Themes within the Empowering Retail trend ### Social Businesses Empower Communities through Job Creation Social businesses are providing fair-wage employment to underprivileged communities, especially in retail ventures. ### Fair Trade and Ethical Employment Companies are providing sustainable and ethical employment to women in developing countries such as Afghanistan, East Africa and Bangladesh through the sale of handmade crafts and textiles. ### Restaurants and Coffee Shops Provide Employment Opportunities Social enterprises are providing employment, training and support to individuals who have been homeless or have learning disabilities. ## What the Empowering Retail trend means for industry ### For Handmade Accessories and Jewelry Small businesses can provide a platform for young and emerging female jewelry designers by offering resources and fair commissions. ### For Textiles and Home Decor Fair trade clothing, accessory and home decor companies can create sustainable income-generating opportunities for artisans in developing countries. ### For Food and Restaurant Services Restaurants and cafes can offer training and employment opportunities for individuals who have been homeless or have learning disabilities. ## Trend signals for Empowering Retail Trend score 3.1 out of 10, from popularity 32%, activity 51%, freshness 8%. - Popularity: 32% - Activity: 51% - Freshness: 8% ## Examples of the Empowering Retail trend 9 featured examples from Nov 20, 2011 to Feb 21, 2012. - [Empowering Accessory Collectives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/chloe-isabel): Chloe + Isabel Gives a Platform for Burgeoning Jewelry Designers (Category: Fashion) Implication: Chloe + Isabel operates in the e-commerce industry, providing a platform for jewelry designers to sell their products online. - [Fair Trade Weaving](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/womencraft): WomenCraft Offers Ethical Employment in East Africa's Mafiga Matatu Area (Category: Social Good) Implication: The use of sustainable, locally-sourced materials and traditional handcrafting techniques, as seen in WomenCraft's woven fruit bowls and placemats, represents a disruptive innovat… - [Empowering Crochet](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pebble-baby): Fair Trade 'Pebble' Baby Line Employs Women in Bangladesh (Category: Social Good) Implication: Disruptive innovation opportunity: Incorporate sustainability and ethical practices into the production of baby toys and accessories. - [Nonprofit Coffee Shops](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/strawberry-line-cafe): Strawberry Line Cafe Employs Adults with Learning Disabilities (Category: Social Good) Implication: Coffee shops can explore the opportunity to become social enterprises and engage in inclusive hiring practices to make a positive impact on the community and support marginalized… - [Hope-Promoting Handmade Bags](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/94-store): The 94 Store Employs Historically Disadvantaged South Africans (Category: Social Good) Implication: Disruptive innovation opportunity: Integrate sustainable employment practices into the fashion industry and promote socially conscious brands. - [Vibrant Fair Trade Products](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/global-mamas): Global Mamas Helps Ghana-Based Artisan Reach New Markets (Category: Social Good) Implication: Opportunity for the fashion industry to collaborate with artisans in developing countries to create vibrant and unique products. - [Vibrant Opportunity Dining](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cafe-create): Cafe Create Employs People Who Have Been Homeless (Category: Social Good) Implication: Opportunities for socially conscious dining establishments to create training and employment programs for marginalized populations. - [Empowering Bakeries](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-bread-maker): The Bread Maker in the UK Employees People with Learning Disabilities (Category: Social Good) Implication: Disruptive innovation opportunity: Incorporate inclusive hiring practices in the hospitality and catering industry to create more opportunities for people with learning disabiliti… - [Sustainable, Empowering Rugs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/arzu-studio-hope): 'Arzu Studio Hope' Offers Employment to Women in Afghanistan (Category: Social Good) Implication: Opportunity for rug retailers to embrace sustainable practices and collaborate with female weavers to create ethically-made rugs. ## Recent trend clusters - [Sugar Moderation](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/sugar-moderation) (Lifestyle) - [Luxury Electrification](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/luxury-electrification) (Autos) - [Effortless Rounds](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/golf-training-devices) (Lifestyle) - [Flavor Rotation](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/rotating-bakery-menu) (Lifestyle) ## Trending in Social Good - [Culturally Grounded Wellness Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/culturally-grounded-wellness-apps) - [Athlete-Partnership Charity Pizzas](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nick-bosa) - [Cancer Awareness Art Installations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/carry-the-fire-road-hockey-net) All articles: [Social Good](https://www.trendhunter.com/socialgood)