Cooperative

A cooperative (also spelled co-operative, or co-op) is when several people come together in cooperation to reach a common goal. It is a type of organization used to make the lives of its members easier; it is usually not focused on making profit, instead focusing on serving member needs.
Characteristics.
Cooperative ownership can have different details about what ownership means and how cooperation works. A basic cooperative-ownership structure has the following characteristics: 
Co-operatives are democratic organizations owned by the people who use them. Cooperative organizations help people adapt to capitalism. 
History and examples.
The first cooperative was a store in Rochdale, England started in 1844. The people who started it wanted food that was cheaper and better quality. Since then, people have found many ways to cooperate. 
Examples of cooperatives:
The International Cooperative Alliance was started in 1885. It reports that there are 800 million cooperative members in the world.