Toolboxes
National Cooperative Grocers Association (NCGA) is pleased to offer a series of “toolbox” manuals to provide guidance and best practices in various specific topic areas. Some of the manuals were originally published by the Northcountry Cooperative Development Fund (with funding support from NCB Capital Impact). NCGA is updating previously published titles and will also be developing new manuals.
Food Co-op Toolbox Manuals are available only as a PDF file. There is a one-time charge per manual (price is noted on each manual) for any co-op or group that wishes to purchase a copy. Such copies may be shared freely with among all involved individuals of the purchasing co-op. However, copies may only be used for the benefit of the purchasing co-op. To make a copy available to a partner organization (non-profit or for-profit), please either have that organization purchase their own copy or contact the CGN office for arrangements.
These manuals can be purchased by CGN members by filling out a form. For non-CGN members, contact the CGN office about purchasing an electronic copy of any of the titles.
Titles currently available for purchase and download:
- Hiring a General Manager by Carolee Colter; revised December 2008
- Challenges to the Cooperative Board of Directors edited by Dave Gutknecht and Karen Zimbelman, 1996
- Financial Management Toolbox by Mary Courteau, 2002
- Governance Toolbox by Mary Courteau & Corinne Shindelar, 2002
- Market Study Toolbox by Northcountry Cooperative Foundation, 2006
- Ownership Toolbox by Karen Zimbelman and Marilyn Scholl, 2002
- Relationship of Respect: Evaluating the General Manager Toolbox by Carolee Colter with Marilyn Scholl & Karen Zimbelman, 2002
- Relocation and Expansion Toolbox by Bill Gessner, 2002, updated 2013
- Retail Basics – Managing Key Indicators by the National Cooperative Grocers Association, 2011 (NOTE: newly revised)
- Retail Basics: Merchandising and Store Conditioning Toolbox by the National Cooperative Grocers Association, 2010
- Retail Basics: Supervision and Team Building by the National Cooperative Grocers Association, 2010
- We Own It: Member Equity Toolbox by Rob Wilson and Rob Okun, 1995
