WHAT IS A COOPERATIVE, or a CO-OP?

LocalMarketingU.com defines a Cooperative, or Co-Op, as:

“An autonomous association of local businesses united together to meet their common economic, social, and cultural needs and aspirations through leveraging technology, resources, and relationships to achieve their goals."

In other words, cooperatives are created by people who have a specific need and who are willing to work together to operate and organize a collective effort that will meet that need.