Direct Co-ops has developed a web-based platform that works with local business associations and others to connect local small and medium enterprises, and enable them to aggregate orders for goods and services from local and national manufacturers, suppliers and service providers.

The theory behind this is to access far better procurement rates by utilizing group purchasing power, thereby allowing groups of smaller businesses access to the preferential rates large businesses can negotiate with suppliers. This fits into Direct Co-ops’ wider business ideology – to create a sharing economy which creates a level playing field for both small and large businesses, encouraging small and local businesses to work together for a shared good.

Direct Global / Direct Co-ops has created the Local Driver Co-op for the transport of people and goods. Local Driver is a driver-owned cooperative, where members receive 90% of the revenues and equity, allowing Local Driver to not just undercut Uber and Lyft, but to pay our driver partners more.

Direct Global / Direct Co-ops has already established partnerships with some of the largest co-operative and business associations in N. America and has began to populate its marketplace platform for the future last-mile delivery of food and products.

In 2019, Direct Global / Direct Co-ops became the Canadian strategic partner of the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council, to promote the Direct Initiative in 53 countries, as well as the exclusive e-commerce platform for the US – Pacific Rim Chamber of Commerce. Direct Global / Direct Co-ops has been featured on MSNBC, Bloomberg-BNN, Yahoo! Finance, Business Insider and received mention in “Everything for Everyone”, Nathan Schneider’s seminal text on the modern business cooperative movement.