Where did Mountain Equipment Co-op start?

Vancouver, Canada
Mountain Equipment/Place founded

Who founded Mountain Equipment Co-op?

Sara Golling and her university friends founded the outdoor gear co-operative almost five decades ago in Vancouver. They offered $5 memberships, operated out of a van and sold affordable mountain climbing gear.

How long has MEC been in business?

1971 MEC is formally incorporated on August 2, with six members, and about $65 of operating capital. 1972 The first catalogue is produced: a single page, typed and taped to a door in the UBC Student Union Building.

What is happening with Mountain Equipment Co-op?

“They’re not internet trained. They’re actually trained in the outdoors.” Last September, deep in debt and with rising losses, Mountain Equipment Co-op filed for creditor protection and announced its sale to U.S.-based private investment firm Kingswood Capital Management.

Is MEC really a coop?

Mountain Equipment Co-op (1077 Holdings Co-Operative) is a Canadian co-op that started the MEC outdoor gear retail brand. The MEC brand name, assets and store leases were purchased by the American private investment firm Kingswood Capital Management’s subsidiary MEC Canada in October 2020.

Why did MEC fail?

MEC began eroding its membership’s democratic voice years ago, which put in motion the process that’s led to its demise as a co-operative. Researchers have shown that big co-operatives often fail when they drift away from co-operative principles and values, especially democratic representation.

What went wrong with MEC?

Why is MEC selling?

Another member said, “This sell out is a result of MECs board losing sight of the co-operative values, pivoting to a typical retailer and urban outfitter. Things started going downhill when they switched to MEC brand from Mountain Equipment Co-op.

What kind of Business is Mountain Equipment Co-op?

Mountain Equipment Co-op: A co-operative business model. Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC) is a Canadian-owned and co-operatively run provider of equipment for self-propelled, wilderness-oriented recreation. MEC consists of 14 stores across Canada with 1,500 employees and 3.3 million members (MEC Accountability Report, 2009).

Who was the largest outdoor equipment co-op in Canada?

As a co-op, Mountain Equipment Co-Op sold only to customers who held a lifetime membership, which was technically a share of the co-op. MEC (as a co-operative) was Canada’s largest supplier of outdoor equipment. Following its founding in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1971, MEC expanded across Canada and grew to operate stores in 20 cities.

Where are the distribution centres for Mountain Equipment Co-op?

Its distribution centres are located in Brampton, Ontario and Surrey, British Columbia . Each year, every member of MEC has the opportunity to vote in the elections for its board of directors, as well as on “special resolutions”, through a variety of methods.

Who is Chris strashok Mountain Equipment Co-op?

Chris Strashok, Research Associate, Canada Research Chair in Sustainable Community Development. Published May 13, 2011. Case Summary. Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC) is a Canadian-owned and co-operatively run provider of equipment for self-propelled, wilderness-oriented recreation.