Having recently finished a short-term contract working at the University of Texas at Austin’s Co-op Bookstore, and having previously served as the Board President for Montreal’s Concordia Community Solidarity Co-op Bookstore, I thought I’d share a (relatively) brief blog regarding some of the interesting differences I’ve observed between two co-op businesses working within the same sphere. Both function as bookstores in their respective cities, and both have their strengths, so I thought you might find it interesting to see a compare and contrast, especially if you have no idea what the heck a co-op is to begin with.
Concordia Co-op
Montreal's Concordia Co-op Bookstore entrance (photo by Laura Roberts)
As initially explained to me by my friend Larissa, the manager of the CCSCB (or Concordia Co-op Bookstore), co-ops are business models that function based on the will of their members. In the case of the Concordia Co-op, members direct the actions of the Co-op on the basis of one person = one vote (or one sponsor = one vote, in the case of group memberships). To become a member at the Concordia Co-op, you pay a $10 membership fee for life (or $100 if you’re a group that wants a membership) and you’re in. You can then vote at the Annual General Meeting (generally held in November), become a Board member (also at the AGM), or exercise your influence by talking to the store manager directly. Your membership entitles you to special discounts in-store, which vary depending on the list price of the items in question, but generally range from 1-10% off suggested retail price.
One of the most interesting aspects of the Concordia Co-op is its textbook consignment service, where students can set the price they’d like to sell their used textbooks for, give the book to the Co-op, and receive money when the book sells. The Co-op marks up the seller’s price by 20% to achieve a profit, but the student receives exactly the amount he or she has set for the book. Neat, right?
All in all, the Concordia Co-op does not attempt to out-perform the main Concordia Bookstore, but offers important parallel services that allow students to cut their textbook (and pleasure reading) costs, recoup significant savings by re-selling their books, and buy unique artisan-made gifts and crafts while they’re at it.
Co-ops vs. Collectives
It’s important to note that co-ops are not the same as collectives, which require a complete consensus of all members in decision-making procedures. The Concordia Co-op relies on a general majority rule, but does not enforce strict adherance to Robert’s Rules of Order, which requires a certain percentage of members to be present at the AGM in order for votes to count. The Co-op is owned by its members, i.e. anyone who has chosen to purchase a membership (note: in light of their recent fee levy win, potentially all Concordia students will now be considered members, although I’m not sure what their specific policy is here). This is interesting, because it means that all owners of the Co-op can, for a mere $10, use their membership to help direct policy, planning, purchasing, hiring and much more.
Most members, obviously, are only interested in the discount on books and other in-store merchandise that the membership offers.
UT Co-op
UT Co-op Bookstore (image via universitycoop.com)
At the UT Co-op, on the other hand, I’m not entirely sure who is entitled to direct the actions of the store, outside of the CEO and President, George Mitchell. There is, however, a Board of Directors, similar to the one at the Concordia Co-op, and these people receive a special in-store discount of 40% off all merchandise during their tenure.
As for how one might get involved with the BoD, though, this remains a bit of a mystery. There are currently two seats available to UT students, and the remaining Board is made up of two more students, four faculty members, and a faculty chairperson. The current UT BoD consists of the following people:
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| Michael Granof Chairman – 2001-Present Ernst & Young Distinguished Centennial Professor of Accounting, Ph.D. |
Jefferson Stein 2009-2011 McCombs School of Business |
Linda L. Golden
2008 – 2012
Marlene and Morton
Meyerson Centennial Professor in Business, Ph.D. |
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| Steven Goode 2007-2011 W. James Kronzer Chair in Trial and Appellate Advocacy and Distinguished Teaching Professor, JD |
Sue Greninger 2006-2010 Secretary To General Faculty, Ph.D. |
Minette Drumwright 2009-2013 Associate Professor College of Communication , Ph.D. |
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| Mathew Hite 2008-2010 McCombs School of Business |
Morgan Davis
2009-2011 College of Fine Arts |
Sanchir Enkhbaatar 2008-2010 College of Natural Sciences |
You can also see the rest of the important people who work at the UT Co-op here.
The most interesting aspect of the UT Co-op, in my opinion, is the rebate program. UT students are encourage to buy their books and assorted Longhorn paraphernalia at the Co-op, keep their receipts, and then at the end of the academic school year (by June 30) can turn in these receipts to ultimately receive a rebate of up to 10% of their total purchases. As per the UT Co-op’s website, the rebate is set by the BoD each year, and therefore varies, but most of the time averages out to be about 10%. Students therefore receive store credit, which can either be refunded in textbook form the following year or in UT’s patented burnt-orange goods for those who are nostalgic graduates. You can apply this rebate to virtually anything in the store. How cool is that?
In addition to the rebate program, the UT Co-op also offers a “Texas Exes” program to graduates, enabling them to receive 10% off all Longhorn goods for life. This means that UT grads can buy bumper stickers, t-shirts, anti OU-hats and banners and much more with their 10% discount in all of the UT Co-op outlets across Texas. Again, is that cool or what?
Different strengths
The Concordia Co-op is near and dear to my heart, mainly because one of my best friends in the whole world currently manages the store. I’ve volunteered my time as a Board member, performer, baker, cashier, and more in order to make sure that this little co-operatively run independent bookstore succeeds. I’ve sold copies of my zine there, bought great erotica and gender studies books, gotten gifts for friends and relatives, and even picked up cheap school supplies. The store is, in some sense, a place that I consider a home away from home, with their liberal reading policies, interesting doodads, and even a couch (and ConU wifi!) in the back. The staff has always been super friendly, and so I’ve always wanted to buy something—even if it was just something small—in order to show my appreciation.
The UT Co-op is a completely different planet, and mainly sells all things burnt orange to die-hard UT fans. It’s not bad, just different. Having never attended UT, I’m not nearly as compelled to snap up items with “Texas” emblazoned on them as others might be, but having worked at the store for about a month, I was beginning to feel the undeniable pull to add more burnt orange to my wardrobe. (I currently own only one UT shirt, and it’s grey. It was mainly purchased in the hopes that the Horns would Hook ‘Em at the football championships, thus showing my support for the team in the rush the next day, but unfortunately that didn’t happen.) I was surprised to see how much Longhorn paraphernalia the store actually sells, including items as diverse as rhinestone Bevo car decals, burnt orange Bevo-branded pepper grinders, and even a Texas Magic 8 Ball.
As a friend of mine who originally hails from Utah pointed out, “Y’know, the bookstore at BYU actually sells… books!” At the UT Co-op, the books are situated in the basement, while both the main and second floors are entirely devoted to UT gear. That should give you some idea about the store’s priorities. I wouldn’t say this is wrong, given Texans’ Longhorn mania, but it just goes to show what sells at a university bookstore and what is considered… well, let’s just say less relevent.
I think both stores bring different strengths to the table, and find each of them unique in their niche. The Concordia Co-op is all about heart and mainly functions thanks to the personality of its effervescent manager, Larissa, while the UT Co-op is all about raking in the dough and then spreading their wealth around. They each benefit students in different ways, and I admire them both for their committment to giving something back to students—a group that is often overworked and underprivileged. If you’re ever in Austin or Montreal, I would definitely recommend checking them out, and if you get a chance to compare and contrast like I did, more power to you!
The UT Co-op Bookstore is located at 2246 Guadalupe in Austin, Texas, and the Concordia Co-op Bookstore is located at 2150 Bishop in Montreal, Quebec.
