MOUNTAIN EQUIPMENT CO-OP: RETAILING WITH A DIFFERENCE

Richard Ivey School of Business Cases
Author(s): David W. Conklin
Document types: Case (Field)
Publication: Aug 7, 2002
ProQuest document ID: 1226036221

A co-operative involves many unique business features, and these are illustrated by Mountain Equipment Co-op. Of particular interest is the way in which customers are shareholders, and so the firm faces customer empowerment that both strengthens its market presence and also influences its product mix and pricing structure. Management faces a unique set of success criteria. Apart from its co-op nature, Mountain Equipment demonstrates the creative ways that a service sector retailer participates today in the manufacturing sector. Its proactive role involves ongoing contributions to the design of products, and even participation in the ownership of manufacturing facilities.