Dear Cooperative Community,
This is absolutely my favorite time of the year! I love all the potential that spring brings. Thinking of warm sunny days, planting a garden, swimming, and vacations puts everyone in a more positive mood and we totally feel that in the store. It is amazing how much nicer people are on a sunny day!
We try to bring you the sunshine, even on the cold and cloudy days. We appreciate your kindness and understanding every day. Speaking of kindness, we have had several owner lenders forgive loans and interest on their loans to the Co-op! That act of cooperative kindness will allow us to pay more people back faster. I enjoy writing checks to pay Owners back! For those of you on the fence about this, please know that it has a huge impact on our financial status. As Owners, contributing capital is totally your business, as this is YOUR business. Plus, you automatically become my new favorite Co-op Owner. I thoroughly enjoy connecting with each of you.
I am thrilled to report the payback of two big owner loans recently. Those two opened the gates for eight smaller loans that I will be paying back over the next eight months! I am also super excited about this year’s Annual Owner Meeting. You will receive information about it starting March 20th, so keep your eyes out and pencil in May 6th on your calendar. It will be so much more than a meeting this year. It will be a celebratory educational experience that we can continue to grow on for years to come.
I am continuing to work on my Sustainability and Environment Master’s degree (one class at a time). Every class I take, I am focused on how it can be superimposed on the Cooperative Movement. This semester’s class is focused on facility sustainability, which is perfect for envisioning a more sustainable co-op, and putting ideas together and a plan for how to make that happen. Of course, it will require capital, so getting these loans paid off is of the highest priority. If any of you have financial connections to help speed this along, please email me and let’s chat gm@deeprootsmarket.com.
One last big thing- Happy 10th Anniversary in our Downtown location! We have come so far since I took on this role more than six years ago now. We have gone from extreme financial crisis to pandemic related emergencies to the highest sales we have ever seen now. Our management team is passionate and well-seasoned (with organic and fair trade spice, naturally) and a team of cooperators that care deeply about making the world a better place for all. I am so proud of all our teams, including the Co-op’s Board of Directors. I cannot wait to connect with the three new Board members that you will choose by vote in May.
Being “co-op busy” makes ten years seem like two. I am so excited to be a part of the Deep Roots team and community. I am thrilled to help push the greater Guilford community towards Sustainability and Cooperation. There are so many exciting things around the corner, especially those spring flowers and that sweet seasonal produce!
See you in the aisles,
Nicole Villano, GM