In 1890, the “Second Consumers’ Society” was established in the Nizhny Tagil settlement. Its members, wishing to protect themselves from poor-quality goods, pooled their money to buy food and everyday necessities from trusted merchants. By 1916, it had 1,991 members, most of whom were factory skilled workers and artisans; there were also office employees, engineers, and officials.
One of the founders and the main supplier of goods for the “Second Consumers’ Society” was P. P. Aksyonov.
According to recollections that have survived to this day, goods in the society’s shops could be bought both on account and on credit, and during the economic crisis of the early 20th century—also with vouchers, with which part of wages was paid at the Demidov plants.
In Tagil, the society had three shops—at Klyuchi, at Vya, and in the central part of the settlement. Somewhat later, shops were also opened in Laya, Chernoistochinsk, and at the Avrorinsky Plant.