The continued growth in collaborative consumption sites, fractional and part ownership services and the growth in co-operatives as the business model du jour indicates that people are welcoming the redress of balance in favor of consumers over corporations.

In our most recent Future Sign: Collaborative Consumption, we investigate many of the more interesting collective economic models from around the World. Examples range from hipster food co-operatives to local power-tool sharing schemes. It is timely therefore that this years’ Super Bowl winner, the Green Bay Packers, are very much a team of the times. Since it was incorporated in 1923 the club has held a not for profit community owned status. Despite the population of Green Bay being a meager 300,000, every game has been fully sold out since the 1960’s and the waiting list for season tickets is currently 90 years.

It is obviously not personal gain that motivates the shareholders and fans of this amazingly successful brand. Each shareholder receives limited voting rights and obviously there are no dividends. They invest in the team because to do so shows that they believe in their team and the wider community. As their site proudly claims:

’One of the more remarkable business stories in American history, the team is kept viable by its shareholders – its unselfish fans’

links to consider: http://www.packers.com/