Grow Your Business

Resetting Board Systems and Culture: A Quick Guide

By Thane Joyal|2023-05-05T20:04:42-04:00February 22nd, 2023|

Board work can sometimes seem like a big challenge. I often open a workshop with a newly forming group with an activity in which the goal is to set a tent pole on the ground together, while the participants have also been told to keep their fingers in contact with the pole. It sounds simple, but in practice it can be very difficult. What’s more important? The goal of the individual or the goal of the group? If the group doesn’t focus on its shared objective, it will not be able to set the tent pole on the ground.

Board Trainings Tackle Trust and Conflict: January webinars build leadership skills

By Madeline Cochran|2023-05-05T20:04:43-04:00January 9th, 2023|

Welcome to 2023! As your co-op board of directors reflects on the past year and refreshes for the upcoming one, don’t forget that Columinate’s Cooperative Board Leadership Development program (CBLD) is here to support your work. For nineteen years, this award-winning program has been a resource to co-op boards across the country, providing monthly consulting, facilitated board retreats, and a robust lineup of engaging, relevant webinars. In January, CBLD is kicking off its fresh slate of webinars with sessions focused on building trust and navigating conflict.

Chris Dilley’s Path from Kalamazoo to Columinate: “There is always more to learn”

By Mike Houston|2023-05-05T20:04:45-04:00January 4th, 2023|

For the general manager of a food co-op, every day brings new challenges and new opportunities. Each and every day. That’s probably why Chris Dilley, who recently retired from People’s Food Co-op (PFC) in Kalamazoo, Michigan, knows exactly how long he was in that role. “Nineteen years,” said Dilley, before quickly adding: “and one month.”

Jen Christopher Profile: Strengthening General Manager Development

By Doug Johnson|2023-05-05T20:04:46-04:00December 29th, 2022|

No new food co-op manager (GM) walks into the position fully formed, knowing everything they need to know to make their co-op successful. Even experienced retailers can have a hard time navigating the intricacies of leading a cooperative enterprise. Luckily, Columinate has a large pool of professionals willing to offer the benefits of their experience in order to make leaders within the co-op sector stronger. One such professional is Jen Christopher, a point-of-sale (POS) and IT systems consultant working within Columinate’s GM Development Program.

Board Self-Monitoring: Replacing Surveys with Discussion

By Mark Thorne|2023-05-05T20:04:46-04:00December 29th, 2022|

At the Moscow Food Co-op, all C policies (Board Process) and D policies (Board-Management Relationship) are currently monitored using categorical surveys sent out to each board member with either a “How much do you agree with the following statement?” scale or, “With this sub-policy, is the board in compliance or not in compliance?” For each global policy and sub-policy, there is a comment option where a board member can express their thoughts and can explain why they answered as they did.

Larger Ambitions for the Columinate Job Board

By Doug Johnson|2023-05-05T20:04:57-04:00August 18th, 2022|

Changing careers can be one of the most stressful tasks we face as adults. So much of our identity is tied up in our work, and many of us want to find a job that reflects our values or that adds something back to the world. When you start looking at the multitudes of job postings that are out there, the variety of what is available can be overwhelming. The uncertainty of personal and cultural alignment makes knowing where to look for job postings a challenge. Columinate hopes to change that.

What to Know About Owner Capital Campaigns

By Mike Houston|2023-05-05T20:05:15-04:00April 7th, 2022|

Raising capital is especially important for cooperatives, which don’t have a typical ownership structure that banks or lenders are used to. Mobilizing the co-op’s membership to raise funds through an owner capital campaign can be an excellent strategy.

Five Ways to Keep Up with Pandemic Price Inflation

By Madeline Cochran|2023-05-05T20:05:24-04:00January 25th, 2022|

Backlogs in international supply chains and bottlenecks in global shipping networks have caused massive challenges for customers and retailers alike, and the retail grocery industry is no exception. Additionally, an inconsistent supply of goods has made it tough for retailers to respond to unpredictable customer demand.

Know Your Where & Why: The Value of CAT Surveys

By Columinate|2023-05-05T20:04:55-04:00September 12th, 2019|

Knowing where you draw your business from is a good idea; knowing how you’re performing in your trade area is even better. A Customer Address and Transaction (CAT) survey accomplishes both, giving you a valuable snapshot to inform marketing focus. It’s a straightforward analysis worth returning to time and time again.

Leadership Development for Expansion Readiness

By Columinate|2023-05-05T20:25:50-04:00March 14th, 2019|

The Middlebury Natural Foods Co-op is uniquely situated in small town Middlebury, Vermont. When they were ready to expand, they reached out to Columinate for assistance with a member capital campaign.

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