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We talk to a fair few socially-minded businesses on an average day, and they all have some interesting takes on life, social entrepreneurship and the sector in general. Social Business Spotlight aims to share some of their views with you, and we hope they prompt thought and discussion. I recently met Parag Shah, founder and CEO of Art Switch, which is a new way of making fine art more accessible to all.

He told me about his business, social impact, advice for entrepreneurs and what the sector needs

So, how does Art Switch work?
Parag: It’s very simple. Artists lease their work out via Art Switch to its registered users, who pay £1 per day to have a painting or sculpture in their home or office for up to 90 days. If they don’t like it they can switch it for another piece, and if they do they can buy the art at a price based on its voted popularity among the Art Switch user community. So the artist earns twice: once for renting the work and once for selling it. Audiences get exposed to fine art at a very affordable price and can try before they buy.

How do you know Art Switch is making a difference?
Parag: One of our early success stories was an emerging artist who was trying to sell a piece at a private art show with a price tag of £200. It didn’t sell there, but, the painting was subsequently borrowed by an Art Switch users for two years at £1 per day, earning £730 in over that period before being sold for £650. Artist, borrowers and buyer were all happy.

Also, we’ve just this week signed Buckinghamshire County Council to display our art in their Surestart Children’s Centres, situated in disadvantaged areas. This puts fine art in an unfamiliar environment where it can really inspire people – and the children can vote along with the Art Switch community for those paintings they like best. We’re looking to make art accessible to people who might not otherwise have the opportunity to appreciate it.

How can social businesses measure their impact?
Parag: This is a philosophical question; our world seems to be dominated by an objective empirical approach to knowing the truth in data and numbers, with subjective intuition generally coming second. Adding life to years can’t be measured in the same way that adding years to life can, but who can state the former’s value? It’s more than just ‘fluffy stuff’ (technical term). So an objective, numbers-led approach is valid, but the subjective approach is equally important. Social businesses need to learn either to measure their ‘fluffy stuff’ or to describe it effectively.

What could Art Switch be doing better?
Parag: Everything, in particular communicating the benefits we bring to those involved: stakeholders are not always aware of the benefits their participation brings.

What advice would you give to someone starting a social business?
Parag: Firstly, know why you’re doing it. There are many wrong reasons to start; maybe you hate your job or the people you work with, maybe you want to change the world or you want to make a living out of your hobby. Common to all of these is often a lack of regard for what others want, or a blind desire for change. You could join another organisation doing a similar thing and make a difference there, so ask yourself why are you starting an enterprise?

Secondly, make sure there will be a need for what you’re doing, and know that you can make it happen. Have the skills; if you don’t have them, get them or be sure you know somebody who does.

What does the social business sector need most?
Parag: A clearer landscape, with a better understanding of the anatomy of the sector; it’s early days, so naturally it needs a greater degree of coherence; it’s often unclear what the relationship is between the businesses and the umbrella bodies, and how their activities overlap.

MBA and undergraduate business degree courses need to start putting social enterprise on their as a core module, not an elective one.

Also, the sector needs a solid administrative framework to lean on. The government pays a lot of lip service to social enterprise but it all seems to be blue sky at the moment, with few practical process or infrastructure implementations.

What social business do you admire?
Parag: The Co-operative; they’re great. I really didn’t realise the scope and breadth of what they do until recently.

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Thanks to Parag for his time and views: do you run a social business? Get in touch (tom at catfund dot com) and let us know your thoughts

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