Comments on: Co-op Idea Continued…

By: jfsinger

jfsinger — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 01:58:16 +0000

It has been implied above but, to emphasize an important point, any retailer (whether “for profit” or “not for profit”) who hopes to survive must turn a profit. Remember that the opposite of a profit is a loss and, with too many years of losses, any business will fail. What “not for profit” really means is that the profits of the business are not subject to taxes (do I see a left-wing tax avoidance scheme at work here?).

A great example of a successful not for profit coop is one of my favorite stores, REI. In 2007 they generated a little more than $41 million in profits, the bulk of which were returned to members in dividends (I’m happy to be a member!). By the way, the CEO of REI earned $1.753 million in 2007. She did a great job and I’m glad she was paid for it. Here are the details: http://www.rei.com/pdf/aboutrei/2007_ProxyData-REI_Final.pdf

By: decaturite

decaturite — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 13:06:45 +0000

Don’t worry WPMOM…I specifically asked for negative responses. And I’m grateful for each of them. If you look back to the original post you’ll see much more positive feedback. As runswithdogs pointed out, a grocery store is one of the hardest operations to manage and keep in the black. But even with all the other places people could go, I think there’s enough of a niche to at least float the idea. A store like this would put Decatur’s reputation for being fiercely loyal to local shops/businesses to the test. Because the owner wouldn’t just be one or two locals, but (theoretically) hundreds…including perhaps yourself.

That combined with location and quality is how I still see it as possible. Thanks for all your support.

By: WPMOM

WPMOM — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 12:36:01 +0000

I lied: one more thing. Didn’t this conversation start in a previous post about walkability scores of communities? I guess that is one more issue I have with the idea that Sevananda is just a few miles away. I am looking for something here in City of Decatur, so if I wanted to, I could stroll over on Saturday morning with my kid, pick up some healthy food in a relaxed atmosphere and eat an organic apple together on the way home-quality time all around. Okay, now I’m done!

By: WPMOM

WPMOM — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 12:11:26 +0000

Okay, last comment, I promise! I will support whatever anyone attempts to do. I will say though, that maybe its because I am a single working parent, but I just don’t have time to drive to Sevananda, try to get into their little parking lot and back out again, nor do I have time to drive all the way to Whole Foods in midtown, and I even find the big farmer’s mkt kind of a hassle b/c it is always so crowded. Besides all the ethical concerns I have already expressed, I just don’t have that many hours in the day to run my errands and fulfill all my obligations. A small convenient, well-stocked co-op in my local community would fit the bill (the same reason I continue to go to the little Kroger even though the Big Kroger on Moreland is so much better stocked). I’m hearing lots of negatives from this board though, so maybe I’m in the minority. Ah well, I can dream….

By: Vermont Mom

Vermont Mom — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 00:34:53 +0000

Good fresh food, a topic everyone can appreciate! Sevananda looks very similar to the Middlebury Natural Foods Co-op (MNFC) that I joined last year in Middlebury Vermont. Sevananda started in 1974 and MNFC in 1976. If the idea gets started in Decatur to form your own local co-op, I suggest checking out how others got started and what incentives they have for producers and members. Middlebury Natural Foods Co-op’s site is http://www.middleburycoop.com and membership is $20/year like Sevananda (or MNFC Co-op Partners buy 15 shares at once for $300). Membership also allows you to receive discounts on products and services at participating local businesses, which I think is a smart incentive to join! And by being a Co-op Advantage member, they can offer month-long sales on a variety of popular products. (The Life Grocery & Cafe in Marietta GA is also a member.) Check out “Eat Local America” at http://www.eatlocalamerica.coop/ and also the map of the National Cooperative Grocers Association’s member stores at http://www.ncga.coop/member-stores. Co-ops are a lot of work but the strong relationships that develop between the co-op and the local producers are terrificly important to both. MNFC actively promotes local “producers of the month” and also hosts annual truckload sales one day in September. I think perhaps the ever-popular Vermont Fresh Network (http://www.vermontfresh.net/) is similar to West Georgia and East Alabama’s Farmer’s Fresh Food Network.