Innovative Store Investments & Coops Europe General Assembly
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Published 2 Jun 2023 in Phil's blog
Making our colleague’s lives easier - Electronic Shelf-edge Labels
As we continue to invest across our trading estate, Electronic Shelf-edge Labels (ESL’s) have now been piloted in our Homelands Food store in Bishops Cleeve. A brand-new technology that will help us work smarter and quicker, it benefits both colleagues and customers. So, it’s great to see these technological advances being trialled in our stores.
ESL’s are the latest technology with crystal clear easy-to-read displays, that showcase accurate pricing and promotional details which automatically update without colleague interaction. Easy on the eye, they ultimately provide our members & customers with an improved enjoyable modern shopping experience.
Innovative Electronic Shelf-edge labels (ESL's) with Edwina McHugh, Program Manager (left) and Zoe Hailing Store Manager at Homelands - Bishops Cleeve store
Helping the environment, they reduce printing, labour and waste costs, so colleagues can focus more on promoting membership and great customer service. So far, the changes have been well received by colleagues and members with promotional offers providing a different sales opportunity with point-of-sale material. Coming up, 29 stores are scheduled to go live this year, so watch this space.
Coops Europe General Assembly – Oslo
Representing Midcounties on the global stage, earlier this week, colleague Connie Muir from Younity spoke on a panel focused on climate change at the Coops Europe General Assembly event in Oslo, Norway.
Connie who recently joined Younity as Community Renewables Manager, already has a wealth of knowledge around community energy and was able to share this insight as part of the engaging panel session. Focusing on exploring ways to address climate change, the assembly continued to look at the challenges and potential collaboration between sectors.
A vital part of our connection to global coops, it gave the opportunity for all members of Coops Europe to come together and give a voice collaboratively. Coops Europe is the voice of cooperative enterprises in Europe on behalf of its 84 member organisations from 33 countries across all business sectors, helping to promote the cooperative business model in Europe.
Great work Connie, I look forward to hearing more about the outcomes soon.
Cannes Film Festival award for Bottle Yard Studios, Bristol
You may remember earlier this year; I visited the Bottle Yard Studios in Bristol as part of the 1MW rooftop solar energy project by the Bristol Energy Cooperative & Younity. Well, it’s very pleasing to hear that the studios have been awarded the 2023 Global Production Award for Best Sustainability Initiative at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival in France!
Presented at Cannes, I’ve been told the awards were launched this year to celebrate outstanding and sustainable work in the field of film and TV production, locations and studios. A real honour, it shows a great example of cooperation between Bristol Energy Cooperative and Younity’s Community Energy Kickstart Fund which will raise more awareness for renewable energy.
A big well done to the team who made this a success and to find out more about the studios watch the video here.
Global Innovation Coop Summit – take part
With a chance to win a trip to Montreal, Canada, I encourage colleagues to take part in our exclusive Global Innovation Coop Summit competition. Not only a chance to go abroad but the competition provides the opportunity to develop your knowledge and skills, as well as networking opportunities.
The summit itself helps to inspire, promote, and foster the development of cooperative enterprises around the globe, where we are challenging colleagues to answer our question around UK Co-ops and how they can help us build a fairer, more sustainable and ethical future.
I look forward to seeing your entries and ask that you share this with your fellow colleagues. To find out more click here.
Pay day & Colleague Pulse Survey
As mentioned in my blog last week, the enhanced colleague discount continues until January 2024. So, with it being Pay Day – colleagues can take advantage across our trading areas this weekend with 20% off in Food, up to £500 off in Travel along with some fantastic broadband savings with Your Co-op Broadband. To find out more, click here.
Plus, the latest colleague pulse survey is now live and will be open until 11 June. This is your opportunity to share your thoughts and opinions by participating. Simply log in to Colleagues Connect and you will find the survey link in your notifications.
Your views in the survey help us gain a rounded view of our colleagues, enabling us to make positive improvements. I encourage everyone to take part and to share the survey with your fellow colleagues. Rest assured; all responses are anonymous. By participating, you also stand a chance to win one of five £20 Your Co-op Vouchers. For more information, please click here.
Ian Wilkes, Northway Food - 35 year long service
Finally, as part of my store visits, I joined colleagues and Society President, Helen Wiseman at Northway Food today. We had the chance to celebrate the fantastic 35-year service of colleague Ian Wilkes. A fascinating catch-up, congratulations on your achievement Ian, well done.
Society President, Helen Wiseman with Ian Wilkes from Northway Food
Celebrating 35 years service in Northway with Ian Wilkes - well done!
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