Each of us reaches milestones throughout our lives. First steps. First book read. First kiss. Things like birthdays, graduations, and weddings are celebrated with loved ones. Some milestones are more quiet affairs—first time voting or first time on an airplane. Milestones are important to recognize; they are critical to our growth and development. The same principle applies to the growth and development of businesses, including the Cedar Falls Food Co-op. Late in February, the Co-op reached a significant milestone—300 members. As such, we are officially in Stage II of our development.
The three stages of development, as a tool, have been created to reflect both the pattern as established by co-ops across the country, as well as a guide to help other co-ops move from idea to reality. CDS Consulting, a cooperation of consultants from throughout the U.S. and a resource that the Cedar Falls Food Co-op has utilized many times, created the handbook of co-op development. When we talk about the three stages of development, we’re referring to their guide.
Stage I is, of course, the Organizing Stage. So much happens in this phase, from meeting with community members to the development of bylaws, from building a shared vision to creating a logo and brand image. Stage I also includes incorporation, the first membership drive, and the first Board elections. I am eternally grateful for all the people and businesses who have helped the CFFC complete all these tasks, as well as the 300 (and counting) individuals and households who have made the leap to become the first member-owners, moving the CFFC into Stage II.
Stage II is known as the Feasibility and Planning Stage. Like the previous stage, Stage II has a lot of tasks to complete as we recruit another 300 members. It’s broken up into two parts that reflect the name of the stage. As far as feasibility goes, I remember asking CDS representatives about how we can determine feasibility so far into the process, but I was reassured that the feasibility refers more to the scale of our eventual operation, not whether or not it’s feasible to even have a co-op.
To help guide us through Stage II, the CFFC is bringing in another consultant, Dakota Worldwide, a company based out of Minneapolis that has helped numerous start-up co-ops, and has come highly recommended by co-ops such as BisMan Community Food Co-op, in Bismarck, ND, and Durham Co-op Market, in Durham, NC. We’ll be working with Dakota starting this month.
Stage II concludes with developing an operations and financial plan, preparations for hiring a general manager, and creating preliminary store designs. Very exciting!
Stage III, by the way, is called Implementation, and it’s the final stage. This is where we start construction or renovation of the space for the new store. Soon, we’ll all be able to shop at the Cedar Falls Food Co-op!
In cooperation,
Tom Wickersham