INCLUSIVITY: One of the Co-op’s Key Values

By Kenna S. Eaton, General Manager

This month we’re conducting a member satisfaction survey. We do this every three years or so, using the same survey as our sister co-ops so we can compare our members’ responses to those of other co-ops. We do this survey because we care what our members think and because we’re always interested in how we could be even better. The survey is being sent out via email to 1500 members for whom we have good email addresses. There are lots of questions on the survey to find out how well we are meeting your needs and what key areas we can target for improvement. In amongst the questions about what you buy at the Co-op and who you are, we also ask, “What makes you feel welcome at the Co-op?”.

You may have seen the signs around the store that explore our Co-op’s values and how they speak to our mission of “Working Together to Nourish our Community.” This summer we’re thinking a lot about one of them, inclusivity, defined in our Values statement as “we work to welcome and include our community.” We’d like to know how welcome you feel at the Co-op and if we can improve. What would that look like? What makes you feel welcome? How do you want to be welcomed? Maybe you’d like one of our staff to say “hello” when they see you shopping. Or maybe you’d rather we didn’t say anything other than “thank you” at the end of your shopping trip. Do you like to be asked if you need help? What else can we do—or not do?

This value is very important, so we are asking the question “How can the Co-op be even more welcoming?” not just in our member survey, but also through this blog and in the store. We will post a QR code in the store that will lead shoppers to this question. Once we digest all the feedback, we’ll be formulating ways we can improve and creating pathways for making our store even more inclusive. Thanks for helping us—we couldn’t do it without you!