Sample Press Release Consumer Co-ops
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Product: Sample Press Release
Co-op Type: Consumer Co-ops
Audience: External Media
[FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE]
Contact:
October 1, 2003
National Survey Finds Consumers Trust More
Accountable Businesses, Prefer Co-op Products & Services
Local Business Leader Says Consumers Have
Homegrown Co-op Options
Washington D.C.—In the wake of corporate
accountability scandals, [Co-op spokesperson first and last
name], [title] of [co-op name], pointed to new national
survey findings that show Americans have greater trust in businesses
that are owned and democratically governed by consumers and prefer
to buy products from these consumer-owned cooperatives.
The national survey of 2,031 adult Americans
found that more than two-thirds of consumers believe businesses
that are owned and governed by their customers and have consumers
on their boards of directors are more trustworthy than those that
do not. A majority also said companies that are locally owned and
controlled and allow customers to democratically elect the board
of directors are more trustworthy.
More than two-thirds agreed that consumer co-ops
are ethically governed, while just 45 percent said the same of publicly
traded corporations. More than 75 percent agreed that these co-ops
run their businesses in a trustworthy manner compared to just 53
percent for publicly traded companies.
Asked whether consumer co-ops have the best
interests of consumers in mind when conducting business, 77 percent
agreed they did. Fewer than half said the same of investor-owned
corporations. Co-ops also outscored publicly traded corporations
by wide margins on questions of value, quality, price, and commitment
to their communities.
"This survey shows clearly that consumers
want a more responsive, accountable business alternative to the
large, scandal-prone publicly traded companies that have made headlines
over the past two years," [last name of spokesperson]
said today. "Fortunately, the public has another option: consumer-owned
cooperatives."
Consumer cooperatives are owned and governed by their members—the
people who use their services or buy their goods-rather than outside
investors. And those members directly elect the board of directors
from within the membership.
[last name of spokesperson] said there
are more than 48,000 cooperatives across the U.S., including [number
of local or state co-ops] in [locality or state.]
"These co-ops already provide consumers with a democratic and
accountable business alternative," [last name of spokesperson]
said. And this survey demonstrates that their trust in and preference
for co-ops far exceeds that for publicly traded firms."
[include information about your cooperative, what it does, number
of members served, how it serves consumers in terms of saving money,
providing services or otherwise offering value.]
Consumer Preference for Cooperatives
Asked whether they would be more or less likely
to buy products or services from a business if they knew it to be
a cooperative:
- 73% were more likely to buy products from a food cooperative
- 71% were more likely to use a credit union
- 69% were more likely to patronize independent, local businesses
that belonged to a buying co-op
- 69% were more likely to purchase food produced by a farmer-owned
cooperative
- 67% were more likely to buy electricity and telecommunications
from a local utility co-op
- 56% were more likely to use day care services provided by a
parent-owned co-op
- 55% were more likely to prefer health care services offered
by a consumer-owned provider
- 51% were more likely to hold policies with a mutual insurance
companyCo-op
Members Rate Co-ops Higher, Consumers Need
More Information
Though a majority surveyed preferred to do
business with co-ops and rated them more highly than publicly traded
corporations, trust and preference for co-ops was even stronger
among those who already belonged to a cooperative.
"The survey demonstrates that consumers
know co-ops by their reputation for quality service and products,"
[spokesperson] said. "And those who have directly
benefited from that service through their membership in a co-op
demonstrate even greater loyalty to, and preference for cooperatives.
Regardless of how you measure it—in terms of cost savings,
value or satisfaction—consumers can get more for their money
at cooperatives."
The challenge is in raising consumer awareness
of and access to cooperatives," said [spokesperson].
At a Washington, D.C. press conference today
releasing the survey results, the National Cooperative Business
Association, the Consumer Federation of America and a coalition
of cooperative organizations called on state and federal consumer
agencies to make more information about cooperatives available to
consumers.
Methodology/Sponsorship
Opinion Research Corporation surveyed 2,031
adults during July 24-28. At a 95 percent confidence level, the
maximum expected error is plus or minus 2 percent.
The survey was sponsored by a coalition of national cooperative
membership associations and released during October, the month in
which cooperatives celebrate their accomplishments.
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