Welcome to the Catonsville Cooperative Market Interest Survey.
We are interested in learning more about your shopping habits and your opinions about having a cooperative market in Catonsville. Please take a moment to answer the questions on the following pages to help us determine whether or not a cooperative is the right thing for our community. There are no right or wrong answers. The information that you give will remain confidential and all data will only be analyzed in aggregate.
Below is some information about cooperatives:
What is a Co-op?
Co-ops look like any other business; they provide products just as conventional businesses do, but a
cooperative also exists to serve its members. What makes co-op membership different from other club-like stores, for example, is that the members of the co-op are also the owners. As an owner, in addition to getting the products you need and access to great deals, you also get to participate in the coop by voting in board of directors’ elections and sharing your input. Rather than rewarding outside investors with its profits, a co-op returns surplus revenue to its owners in proportion to how much they use the co-op, in the form of patronage dividends. This democratic approach to business results in a powerful economic force that benefits the co-op, its owners, and the community it serves.
Why Do Co-ops Matter?
Cooperation is defined as working together toward the same end and joining forces to accomplish a task that one can’t achieve alone. And, because cooperation builds strong bonds between the people whose products and the people who supply them, co-ops offer a way to transform the way business is done. Co-ops give you the opportunity to get the products you need on a daily basis while strengthening
the community around you. In our case, we plan to purchase as many products from local farmers and other local businesses as possible.
What Do Co-ops Sell?
There is a wide variety of products which co-ops sell, from equipment for outdoor activities (REI is a co-op!) to food. Our co-op will focus on produce, non-perishable foods, home care products, and self-care products. The co-op members help decide what the co-op will sell, which is another reason being a member is beneficial.
While we would appreciate answers to all of the questions, you may quit the survey at any time. If you experience difficulties or have a question, please contact us at catonsvillemarket@gmail.com .
