In this evergreen post from Shane Heywood, he identifies the importance of recognizing the difference between the rich and poor. Non-uniform: Consumer Choices and the BOP Despite similar low levels of income, low-income households have different product preferences and different shopping styles. Do development practitioners need a reminder of this? Different folks, different strokes While working in Bangladesh, with BRAC, one of the world’s largest NGO, on a Microfinance initiative 7 years ago, I met 15 women. All were clients…

  Shane Heywood takes a look at how the Direct to Consumer business model could have meaningful implications for social enterprises.  My earliest shaving experience was around the age of 13. After 10 minutes, reeling from irritation everywhere, and minimal hair in the sink, I also felt slightly cheated by how much I had spent on the razor. Apparently, that feeling has helped to lead to a $1 Bn USD deal. Across some consumer-facing industries, from shaving cream to mattresses…

Shane Heywood provides an article that reveals how beer manufacturers are collaborating with smallholder farms to get a more secure supply chain, lower the cost of raw materials, and empower more households with income, and all in addition to improving yields from farming that could change lives for the 2 Bn+ smallholder farmers in the world. While interacting with 20+ smallholder farmers in Kenya, I, in addition to charities like One Acre Fund,  had the chance to see first hand how…