Building A Better World...Now!

Where We

Are Now.UNDERSTANDING OUR CURRENT POSITION IS IMPERATIVE IN CHARTING OUR FUTURE.

Where We Are Now.

Co-operative is the superior business model.

UNDERSTANDING OUR CURRENT POSITION IS IMPERATIVE IN CHARTING OUR FUTURE.

But traditional capitalism continues to rule.

Where We Are Now.UNDERSTANDING OUR CURRENT POSITION IS IMPERATIVE IN CHARTING OUR FUTURE.

The co-operative message is confusing and awareness is low.


We have solid organizations to support co-operatives.


Where We Are Today.

Did You Know…

18-35 36-50 51-60 60+0%5%

10%15%20%25%30%35%40%45% 41%

28%

18%13%

April 2015 Research Study

OUR SURVEY

Our sample group covered a wide variety of ages.

Did You Know…

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%

61%

26%

12%


OUR SURVEY

Our sample group covered 3 major education categories.

Did You Know…

OtherHomemaker

StudentRetired

BusinessEducation

HealthcareGovernment

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40%

36%9%

5%9%

15%12%

9%5%


OUR SURVEY

Our sample group covered 8 major industry categories.

Did You Know…

$126,000+

$101,000 - $125,000

$76,000 - $100,000

$51,000 - $75,000

$26,000 - $50,000

Less than $25,000

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25%

13%

9%

22%

23%

23%

10%


OUR SURVEY

Our sample group covered 6 major income levels.

Did You Know…

West 19%

Northeast27%

Midwest22%

South32%


OUR SURVEY

Our sample group came from all regions of the United States.

Most People Don’tUnderstand Us.

“A co-op may include a store where a group of artists come to

sell the items they made.”

-Income <$25,000

“Some franchises.”

-Income $26,000 - $50,000

“A business that raises money.”

-Income $26,000 - $50,000

“Costco. Sam’s.”

-Healthcare ProfessionalIncome $26,000 - $50,000

“I have never heard of a cooperative before.”

-Income $26,000 - $50,000

“Helps union workers.”

-Income $51,000 - $75,000

“Secret.”

-Other Industry ProfessionalIncome $51,000 - $75,000

“A bunch of companies owned by a single company.”

-Income $51,000 - $75,000

“I should know this because I got my degree in Business

Management and had to memorize these terms with every upcoming test, but I

honestly forgot exactly what a cooperative is.”

-Income $51,000 - $75,000

“AARP. StateFarm. Red Cross.”

-Education ProfessionalIncome $76,000 - $100,000

“A big company with many locations around the world.”

-Income $76,000 - $100,000

“Haven’t heard of those.”

-Income $100,000 - $125,000

“No idea.”

-Business ProfessionalIncome $100,000 - $125,000

“Bank of America.”

-Income $125,000 +

“It means that you earn points or miles for shopping at certain

stores.”

-Education ProfessionalIncome $125,000 +

“Amazon.”

-Income $125,000 +

We Need to Communicate Better.

Did You Know…

Not Accurate Somewhat Accurate Accurate 0%

10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80% 74%

15% 11%


UNDERSTANDING OF CO-OPERATIVES

When asked to tell us in their own words what a Co-operative is, only 11% had an accurate definition.

Did You Know…

More Likely No Difference Less Likely0%

10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90% 78%

20%

2%


LIKELYHOOD OF CONSUMERS TO PURCHASE

78% of consumers are more likely to purchase goods or services from a business that they know is a

co-operative.

78% of consumers are more likely to purchase goods or services from a business that they know is a co-operative.

And that’s true for people from every profession.

Did You Know…

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%

76% 81% 83% 76% 75% 82% 81% 78%

Preference to purchase goods or services from a co-op by profession


LIKELYHOOD TO PURCHASE BY PROFESSION

78% of consumers are more likely to purchase goods or services from a business that they know is a co-operative.

And even more surprisingly at every income level.

Did You Know…

< $25K $26K-$50K $51K-$75K $76-$100K $101K-$125K

$126K +0%

10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

100%

65%80% 79% 83% 80% 78%

Preference to purchase goods or services from a co-op by income


LIKELYHOOD TO PURCHASE BY INCOME

We Have A Lot To Do.

We’ve been trying to do it alone.

Going It Alone

We’ve had success within categories but not across all co-op sectors.

IT’S NOT TRUE TO THE COOPERATIVE MOVEMENT TO GO IT ALONE

Our Challenges:What Holds the Movement Back.

OUR UNIFIED VISION COMPELS US TO MOVE FORWARD AND SHIFT MOMENTUM.

Our Challenges:What Holds the Movement Back.

Lack of awareness by the general public.

BY IDENTIFYING OUR CHALLENGES WE WILL BE MORE PREPARED TO OVERCOME THEM.

Lack of coordination and collaboration amongst co-operatives.

Our Challenges:What Holds the Movement Back.BY IDENTIFYING OUR CHALLENGES WE WILL BE MORE PREPARED TO OVERCOME THEM.

Farmer Co-ops

Electric Co-ops

FoodCo-ops

Retail Co-ops

Professional

Co-ops

Farmer Coops

Housing Co-ops

Healthcare

Co-ops

UtilityCo-ops

Our Collective Voice120 Million Members140 Million Customers2.1 Million Employees

Our Collective Voice120 Million Members140 Million Customers2.1 Million Employees

NRA

Sierra Club

AARP>

A diversity of types of co-operatives is both a strength and a challenge.


Lack of a unifying message to the universal public.


The conversation is dominated by what we do rather than why we do it.


Our Vision of 2020:Create a Movement.


Our Vision of 2020: Create a Movement.

Universal public awareness, affinity & action.


Significant, rapid growth & increased success within existing co-operatives.

Our Vision of 2020: Create a Movement.OUR UNIFIED VISION COMPELS US TO MOVE FORWARD AND SHIFT MOMENTUM.

Accelerated formation of new co-operatives.

Our Vision of 2020: Create a Movement.OUR UNIFIED VISION COMPELS US TO MOVE FORWARD AND SHIFT MOMENTUM.

Everybody Wins: Increased Exposure & Growth Benefits all Co-operatives.

As our movement gains visibility and consumer understanding, the potential for new co-operatives and the growth of

existing co-operatives increases.

Did You Know…

More Likely No Difference Less Likely0%

10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90% 78%

20%

2%


LIKELYHOOD OF CONSUMERS TO PURCHASE

78% of consumers are more likely to purchase goods or services from a business that they know is a

co-operative.

Everybody Wins – Increased Exposure & Growth Benefit All

More awareness increases the amount of customers choosing co-operatives.

Everybody Wins – Increased Exposure & Growth Will…

Increase the number of qualified workers seeking employment at co-operatives.


Influence public policy to make doing business easier and create more available funds for co-operatives.


Increase the number of co-operatives, making them easier to find and more accessible to the public.

First StepsOUR FIRST STEPS ARE IMPORTANT. THEY WILL POINT US IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

Here’s what we plan to complete first:

1. Develop an All-Inclusive Cooperative Message.

2. Create and Roll out a Co-op Employee Awareness Campaign.

3. Create a Cooperative Member Resource Portal.

4. Develop a Consumer-Targeted Awareness Website.

5. Coordinate a Unified Cooperative Social Media Campaign.

Immediate Goals:

First StepsOUR FIRST STEPS ARE IMPORTANT. THEY WILL POINT US IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

The Possibilities:Growing Stronger

INNOVATIVE AND CREATIVE TACTICS WILL HELP US SPREAD THE WORD.

The Possibilities: Supporting the Movement

1. Build on our brand look and feel

2. Create collateral materials for use by all co-ops that delivers consistent

branding and messaging but is also customized to each co-operative sector.

(logos, POP, banners, signage, digital assets, etc.)

3. Create a social media campaign to reach millennials

4. Develop a universal, public-friendly website

5. Form a public relations strategy

Branding and Marketing Campaign

INNOVATIVE AND CREATIVE TACTICS WILL HELP US SPREAD THE WORD.

Utilize social media to reach and engage our audience.

Spur Growth of Co-opsThe key to success is growing the movement

1. Create co-op branded social media accounts. (Facebook, Twitter,

YouTube, LinkedIn, Etc.)

2. Promote co-operative messaging and highlight individual co-

operatives.

3. Make the co-operative message easy to share.

You don’t have to lose YOU in order to support WE.

Tactics must focus on our commonalities without losing our uniqueness.

The Possibilities: Supporting the MovementINNOVATIVE AND CREATIVE TACTICS WILL HELP US SPREAD THE WORD.

The Possibilities: Supporting the MovementINNOVATIVE AND CREATIVE TACTICS WILL HELP US SPREAD THE WORD.

Who We Are….

…We Are A Co-operative.

Facilitate Inter-Co-operative Collaboration

Develop loyalty programs to encourage co-operative interconnectivity.

Capitalizing on the strength of our existing co-operative infrastructure

Build an international internship exchange program.

Facilitate Inter-Co-operative CollaborationCapitalizing on the strength of our existing co-operative infrastructure

Initiate a branded disaster relief program.

Facilitate Inter-Co-operative CollaborationCapitalizing on the strength of our existing co-operative infrastructure

CO-OPRelief

Connect experienced retirees with new co-ops for guidance. (like SCORE)


Engage business schools and college students to educate on the benefits of co-operative business models.


Before We Can Begin, We Must Come Together.

TAPPING INTO THE INFLUENCE, IDEAS, AND INSPIRATION OF THE GROUP IS ESSENTIAL.

TOGETHER WE ARE STRONG.

120 Million Members

140 Million Customers

2.1 Million Employees

Government & Nonprofit

Building A Better World...Now!