As you often read in these pages, on the website and in other member communications, you don’t just belong to Weavers Way — it belongs to you.

Your $30 a year (or more) equity payment represents your ownership of our $21 million-a-year business. Not to get too wonky, but the third International Cooperative Principle is Economic Participation: Member-owners contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of the cooperative. The economic benefits of a co-op are returned to the members, reinvested in the co-op, or used to provide member services. You control the capital. 

You own it!

Now, as you’ve probably read in these pages, your Co-op is planning an expansion. Weavers Way is in a great position financially to do this, in no small part due to our shoppers. But we know that increasing the amount of Member Equity we have in the bank puts us in even better shape. This is where only our members can help! But we want to make it as attractive (and affordable) as possible. 

Introducing the Together We Grow equity program.

Members who add $400 to their equity accounts will receive a $100 EasyPay credit. Every member is eligible. Whether you have $30 in equity or $400 (or more), investing another $400 gets you an extra $100 to spend in the store. 

How does paying you a 25 percent premium help the Co-op?

Having more member equity in the bank makes it easier for us to borrow at a good rate. And lenders like it even more when a high percentage of members are fully invested. It shows that we have an active, engaged membership, committed to the success of the Co-op. And, of course, having more cash on hand lets us pay off older loans, some still carrying higher interest rates than what we can get now.

Weavers Way is unusual in that our equity structure allows members to pay in $30 increments over 13 years. Most co-ops require members to contribute their full share of equity within two years or even less. We set it up this way to keep Weavers Way affordable. About a third of our membership has invested the full $400. If we were able to raise full equity from the other two thirds of our member households, we would have an additional $1 million in the bank! 

Member Equity is fully refundable should you leave the Co-op. For Together We Grow, we ask that you leave your additional $400 in for five years; if you want to get your equity back before then, we will deduct the $100 premium. Money we raise with this program will be go toward paying down debt, enhancing our operations, improving programs — and strengthening Weavers Way’s financial position so we can continue to do all these things. 

You already own it. Why not grow it? Please contact the Membership Department for information on how to strengthen your Co-op by investing in Together We Grow.