During times of transition, Columinate's interim General Managers (IGMs) have helped co-ops stabilize and implement lasting change. IGM and Columinate consultant Scot Destasio had a transformative impact at the Old Creamery Cooperative, located in a traditional "Hilltown" in Western Massachusetts.
When co-ops enter a time of transition, they can turn to Columinate's group of experts available for contract management services. These folks step in as Interim General Managers (IGMs) to work fast and smart, implementing lasting change for their clients. Ranging from a few months to a few years, IGM engagements are meant to bridge a co-op from Point A to Point B.
If you are like most Americans, your shopping patterns - as well as your customers’ habits - have changed drastically in the past several weeks. More people are buying fresh produce to stay healthy, and for good reason: a diet that includes lots of fresh organic produce is a great way to keep your immune systems strong in these uncertain times.
So much is changing so quickly right now, and our co-ops are uniquely positioned to serve our owners and community today, and be practical alternatives to 'business -as-usual' in the future. We don't have a crystal ball to see that future, but we can discuss together how our co-ops can have a larger role and how we can talk about our co-ops as important parts of a better society.
Financial health is the backbone of a successful co-op. Like every other part, it’s twisting and turning during the current pandemic. “Things are changing really fast,” says feasibility and project development consultant Don Moffitt. “I’m not sure that anybody knows exactly what they need to be doing right now.”
This chatinar will focus on pinpointing opportunities for operators to work with finance team to resolve issues in their financial performance and achievement. Audrey Griffin and Wynston Estis will share the simple matrix they’ve developed that identifies relationships between the administrative, operations and finance departments and where the strength and crossover of those relationships can overcome challenges, optimize processes and produce successful outcomes.
Spotlight on Safety & Security with Mike Feiner and Paul Feiner – part of a three-part series. You can be sure that shoplifter gave a lot of thought to how to get away with stealing; how much thought have you put into stopping it? How does your store organize its overall approach to loss prevention? Who’s tasked with your loss prevention, safety, and security responsibilities? Join us to discuss the component parts of a broad Loss Prevention Program, and how to start putting those in place.
Creating a harmonious working relationship requires buy-in, transparency, clear boundaries of accountability and an openness to having some fun!
Make the most of your holiday merchandising space this season to delight shoppers, create a lush and generous ambiance and optimize sales.
It’s not just you: building a successful wine program comes with a certain intimidation factor. The holiday season can amplify the pressure, and your co-op members probably feel it, too. “People who don’t purchase wine as often might want to buy wine for Thanksgiving, and not know where to start,” says Samuel Vandegrift, an industry veteran with two decades of experience.
