What Is a Social Enterprise? How Home Start Creates Social Impact in San Diego

How Home Start Creates Social Impact in San Diego

Coined in 1978 by UK consultant/author Freer Spreckley, “social enterprise” describes a business or organization that reinvests its profits into social, humanitarian, or environmental services rather than distributing them to owners or shareholders. In a traditional business model, a company focuses on generating profits and reinvests its earnings to create wealth for its owners. For public companies, profits are often maximized to increase shareholder value.

A social enterprise, on the other hand, aims to create social good through business activity. While sales and revenue still matter, the ultimate goal is impact over profit — using commerce as a tool to drive change.

Social Enterprise vs. Nonprofit: What’s the Difference?

It’s easy to confuse social enterprises with nonprofits, but they aren’t the same thing.

  • Nonprofits typically rely on grants, donations, and fundraising to support their mission.

  • Social enterprises earn income by selling products or services — and reinvest that revenue back into their mission-driven work.

Many nonprofits, like Home Start, operate successful social enterprises that generate sustainable funding while also creating job opportunities and skill-building programs for clients.

Home Start’s Social Enterprises: Building Bright Futures

At Home Start, our mission is to strengthen families and protect children from abuse. To support that mission, we operate two thriving social enterprises that create jobs, training, and income for individuals working to build stable, self-sufficient lives:

1. Home Start Thrift Boutique

Since opening in 2015, the Home Start Thrift Boutique has been a cornerstone of the Normal Heights community. The boutique sells high-quality secondhand and vintage clothing, furniture, home décor, and more — all donated by the community. The proceeds directly fund Home Start’s housing programs, family support services, and behavioral health programs, helping San Diego families build safe, stable futures.

But the Thrift Boutique’s impact doesn’t stop there. It also provides employment and job training for Home Start clients. By working at the boutique, participants gain valuable retail experience, develop customer service skills, and build confidence — all while earning an income to support their families.

When you shop or donate at the Home Start Thrift Boutique, you’re doing more than finding a great deal — you’re helping create real change in your community.

🛍️ Visit the Home Start Thrift Boutique
3611 Adams Avenue, San Diego, CA 92116, Open Tues – Thurs, 9:30am-5pm, Fri – Sat: 10-6pm (Closed Sun & Mon)

2. Bright Futures Candles

Launched in 2019, Bright Futures Candles began as a creative social enterprise supporting women in Home Start’s housing programs, many of whom are overcoming homelessness or domestic violence. Thanks to grants from REDF and the Cushman Family Foundation, a storage space behind the Thrift Boutique was transformed into a candle-making studio where women hand-pour beautifully crafted candles.

Each Bright Futures Candle is made from a clean blend of apricot, coconut, and soy wax, and available in a variety of scents and sizes. Every purchase supports job training, income generation, and career readiness for women rebuilding their lives.

You can shop Bright Futures Candles in-store at the Thrift Boutique or online at brightfuturescandles.com, where wholesale and custom orders (like wedding favors and corporate gifts) are also available.

✨ Shop online now ➜ brightfuturescandles.com

Expanding Impact Through Social Enterprise

With the continued success of the Thrift Boutique and Bright Futures Candles, Home Start recently welcomed Erica Lara as the organization’s new Social Enterprise Manager. Erica will oversee operations and strategy, ensuring both ventures continue to grow — creating even more opportunities for clients and expanding Home Start’s positive impact throughout San Diego.

Through these programs, Home Start demonstrates what a successful social enterprise looks like: blending business principles with compassion and community focus to generate real, lasting change.

Why Social Enterprises Matter

Social enterprises like Home Start’s prove that business can be a force for good. By shopping secondhand, purchasing socially conscious products, or donating to a mission-driven organization, you’re helping fuel sustainable solutions to challenges like homelessness, poverty, and family instability. Every candle purchased, every outfit donated, and every visit to the Thrift Boutique helps create brighter futures for San Diego families.

Get Involved

Support Home Start’s social enterprises today:

Together, we can make San Diego a stronger, safer place for children and families — one candle, one thrift find, and one act of kindness at a time.

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