Here are “word cloud” representations showing what was most important to you about the coronavirus response and about the Co-op overall from the open comments in the May member survey.

Each includes the most frequent 100 words occurring in the comments. The bigger the word, the more often it occurred. As the color shifts from dark brown, through green, to blue and then pink, the words go from higher “rank” to lower “rank”.

 

Your input about the reopening strategies being considered was invaluable, contributing to decisions to limit the number of shoppers in the store and to require masks, but not to schedule appointments to shop. Though many also supported having a “traffic pattern” to follow in moving through the store, it was judged not practical given the overall store layout.

By the numbers, agreement was lower for continuing online ordering and curbside pickup; but many wrote to say that in your individual situations, it was the only way you could safely shop and has been an invaluable service. Continued curbside pickup can co-exist with in-store shopping, so with the reopening you can now choose the option that best fits your needs. What was abundantly clear was that overall, shoppers want the protection of safety measures to reduce the risk of virus exposure – both for themselves and for the sake of Co-op staff. We are not yet ready for “business as usual.”