marketing

Marketing in the Co-op Matrix

By Rebecca Torpie|2023-08-29T15:59:08-04:00August 29th, 2023|

The board and general manager need to become literate around the quantitative as well as the qualitative aspects of the marketing field. Marketing is often at the top of the list of operational tasks that become part of the discussion at meetings of the board of directors. Topics can range from the quality of the marketing to the board feeling it’s not plugged in enough when engaging with owners through marketing channels. Marketing issues are often of concern—whether warranted or not—to boards and individual directors.

Articulating your Co-op’s Value during a Pandemic — and Beyond

By Ben Sandel|2023-05-05T20:05:59-04:00May 14th, 2020|

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.

Cultivating Awesome Marketing-Operations Communication

By Rebecca Torpie|2023-05-05T20:04:44-04:00March 21st, 2020|

Creating a harmonious working relationship requires buy-in, transparency, clear boundaries of accountability and an openness to having some fun!

Preparing for the Launch of Columinate: CDS Consulting Co-op Rebrand

By Patricia Cumbie|2023-05-05T20:05:03-04:00July 1st, 2019|

Just as we have assisted change in other organizations, we also recognized that it was time for a shift within our own cooperative. Our brand is built one-on-one in the work we do together with clients and consultants, and now we are building a new platform for those relationships. Doing this is part of our long-standing vision to initiate positive change and amplify our impact.

Marketing Planning that Cuts Through the Clutter

By Jeanie Wells|2023-05-05T20:27:05-04:00October 10th, 2018|

Retailers face lots of challenges, profit margins are small, inventory needs to turn, and the competition is fierce. Getting customers into the store and keeping them satisfied should be everyone’s focus to boost sales and enhance profitability. Retailers faced with flat or declining sales need to take a closer look at their marketing and customer service experience. Since food co-ops are owned by the [...]

Marketing Systems Revamp Lifts Sales

By Columinate|2023-05-05T20:27:06-04:00October 10th, 2018|

Ashland Food Co-op in Ashland, OR is a successful food co-op in an artsy university town that also draws a lot of year-round tourists. The co-op is especially known for its outreach and popularity in the community. Recently, they faced a dilemma about this very thing. What should the co-op do when their dynamic and long-term marketing director retired? What could the co-op do to build on that success in a rapidly changing market?

Telling the Board Story Through the Co-op Marketing Department

By Rebecca Torpie|2023-05-05T20:06:20-04:00July 1st, 2017|

By Rebecca Torpie 190 May-June 2017 Co-op boards and marketing teams can be like two ships passing in the night. Chances are they’ve crossed paths during election season and annual meeting planning, but contact beyond that can be very limited. At many co-ops, neither the board nor the marketing team truly understands the other’s role or perspective, and this can lead to misunderstandings, haphazard planning [...]

Beefing Up Your Marketing Plan: Making sure yours is still relevant

By Columinate|2023-05-05T20:07:03-04:00June 29th, 2016|

By Nicole Klimek, Joy Rust 184 May-June 2016 As competition creeps up to #1 on the “food co-op worry list,” many co-ops find themselves wondering how they can combat declining sales while not investing an arm and a leg in store labor and operations. Taking a look at the changing marketplace, we notice that many of the major players in the natural foods industry [...]

Analyzing Your Store’s Systems

By Walden Swanson|2023-05-05T20:29:18-04:00December 28th, 2015|

By Mary Myers, Walden Swanson 042 September - October - 1992 This is the third in a series of articles based on Business Planning For Cooperatives, a manual published by Cooperative Development Services that provides step by step Instructions for writing business plans. This manual is based on the principles of systems analysis, which recommend an analysis of each of a retail co-op's key [...]

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