Why Aren't We a Co-op?

When I was planning the store, I traveled quite a bit and visited many organic stores in Canada and some in the USA.  One story was common.  It had started off as a co-op and eventually the paid employees got tired of the volunteers not showing up consistently, or of boards of directors micro-managing them and they bought the store from the co-op.  Or it was still a co-op and the paid employees complained about volunteers not showing up consistently or working so few hours each that it was hard to get anybody trained, or about their boards micro-managing them.  There were a few that worked very well, and a few that have since gone broke even though they had massive sales.  I am a believer in co-ops, but at that point in my life, having worked for and been on many volunteer boards for a number of years, I just wanted to be able to make the decisions and hire the help I needed to do the job properly.  My staff are consulted on all decisions and hey give input when changes are made, but I am the boss, and I like it that way.  It is very time efficient, and there are a lot of details to keep track of in such a complicated enter prize.  There isn't time for a board of directors to make a lot of the decisions. 

I decided to go as a private business, even though my life in the environmental movement was a positive experience working in democratic organizations run by boards.  I have never complained about volunteers not showing up or about anyone micro-managing me.  Our prices are as low or lower than most co-ops you will find in Canada.  Our selection is outstanding, and I have well trained, excellent staff people filling every role in the store.  I have decided that I prefer to create jobs and train people well, rather than utilize member volunteers.  Our atmosphere is one that many people love.  And if we were a co-op we would have to pay our manager (me) more, which would have meant much less money going into the building of the store.  Which would be a shame, because I think we have built a lovely store, even if it isn't a co-op. :)

The store is a member of a co-op.  The Regina Festival Market Co-operative, a weekly outdoor market in downtown Regina, set to begin operations in August, 2005. (note, we seem to have hit a snag, the market has not yet begun).