There are people in your community who would love to join your buying club if they only knew it existed! Most buying clubs aren't visible in their towns. How do you let other members of your community know that they have an opportunity to purchase natural foods at discount prices?

1. Word of mouth. One coop doubled their membership by having each member bring one friend to an order meeting. Take a pricelist with you to work, school, or a friend's house.

2. Public events. Publicize and host an event, such as an open house, with lots of food samples and information on joining your coop. Contact Buying Club Services for extra catalogs. Alternatively, you might host a table at a local health fair, community event, church fair, or farmer's market. You could offer juice or water to runners in a local race. The possibilities are endless!

3. Press Release. Contact your local newspaper about featuring your coop, or send out your own press release to local papers, TV, and radio stations. Have a member ready to be interviewed and provide membership information.

4. Advertise. Take out an ad in the local paper, or try the personals in the Classifieds.

5. Posters. Create a poster about the benefits of joining your buying club. Post it in public locations such as community buildings and churches.

6. Radio. Call a local radio "Buy, Sell, Swap" call-in show. Briefly describe your coop and what's available through it. Offer a contact person's name and phone number. (One group we know started this way.)

7. Use your imagination. Talk to individual friends or talk to people in local groups. Contact organizations whose members have an interest in health, food, or have special dietary needs. Consider contacting hospitals, local heart and cancer groups, groups for parents of hyperactive children, people with allergies and sensitivities, or your local church groups.

What do potential members need to know?

• What a buying club is: give a brief overview and describe a typical ordering cycle.
• What products are available -- offer a pricelist and mention your favorite products.
• The benefits and responsibilities of membership.
• How buying from a distributor differs from buying in a store.

What next?

A thorough orientation is the key to happy, effective and cooperative members. Make sure new members understand how your buying club works, and what's expected of them.