We are proud REI Co-op members and broader supporters of the cooperative business model. We are asking REI Co-op to embrace their co-op identity by stocking products made by other co-op businesses. This is an effective, simple, and common practice that consumer co-ops use to embody ‘Cooperative Principle #6 - Cooperation among Cooperatives’. Currently, REI does not carry products made by other cooperative businesses.

We feel that this is a major oversight and missed opportunity for REI Co-op to support other co-op businesses as they grow into large companies that can have a large and positive impact impact for their members and employees similar to the way REI does. For example, Orbea is a large co-op bike manufacturer in Spain that makes high quality bikes (https://www.orbea.com/us-en/bicycles) and REI Co-op could be selling their products.

Specifically, we are petitioning the REI Co-op Board to include the following motion at the next REI membership meeting to be included on the ballot that accompanies the annual meeting notice:

Motion: REI should support local co ops and give preference to stocking products made by co-op businesses.

Please include your REI number in your signature! Look it up here:
https://www.rei.com/membership/support