Chatham Marketplace

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What is a co-op?

By definition, a cooperative is an independent group of people joining freely to meet their common economic, social, and cultural needs via a community owned and democratically governed business.

All co-ops are guided by 7 basic principles.

Voluntary and Non-discriminatory membership/ownership.
Democratic control - you have a voice and a vote!
Owner Economic Participation - members/owners contribute financially to their cooperative and also receive direct and indirect financial benefits.
Independent - co-ops are autonomous, self-help organizations controlled by their members/owners only.
Educational - cooperatives offer education and training to their owners so they can successfully manage their co-op. They also educate the larger community about the nature and benefits of co-ops.
Cooperation among Cooperatives - cooperative owners and the cooperative movement in general is served best by working collaboratively with other local, regional, national, and international co-op organizations.
Concern for Community - while focusing on owner needs, cooperatives work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies accepted by their owners.

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