--- title: Common Share | Dan Matthews description: Co-operatives First produces articles and podcasts each month on how-to's, what you need to knows and cool co-op stories. Follow us. --- [![Co-operatives First](https://cooperativesfirst.com/isl/themes/cof/img/logo.png)](https://cooperativesfirst.com) Go Back - Courses - [ONLINE GOVERNANCE COURSE](https://cooperativesfirst.com/governance/) - Workshops - [CREATING CONNECTIONS WORKSHOP](https://cooperativesfirst.com/workshop/) - [INSPIRING LEADERSHIP](https://cooperativesfirst.com/what-we-do/inspiring-leadership/) - [EXPLORING OPPORTUNITIES](https://cooperativesfirst.com/what-we-do/exploring-opportunity/) - [Co-op Talk Lunch & Learn](https://cooperativesfirst.com/co-op-talk-lunch-learn/) - [Board Effectiveness Workshop](https://cooperativesfirst.com/board-effectiveness-workshop/) - Resources - [Co-op Creator](https://cooperativesfirst.com/what-we-do/resources/) - [BLOG](https://cooperativesfirst.com/blog/) - [THE BACKROAD DIARIES](https://thebackroaddiaries.com) - [THE COMMON SHARE PODCAST](https://cooperativesfirst.com/common-share-podcast/) - [Co-operative FAQs](https://cooperativesfirst.com/co-operative-faqs/) - Advising - [Biz Dev Refresh](https://cooperativesfirst.com/biz-dev-refresh/) - [AGM Planning](https://cooperativesfirst.com/agm-planning/) - [About](https://cooperativesfirst.com/about-us/about-us/) - [WHO WE ARE](https://cooperativesfirst.com/about-us/about-us/) - [BOARD OF DIRECTORS](https://cooperativesfirst.com/about-us/board-of-directors/) - [ANNUAL REPORT](https://cooperativesfirst.com/about-us/annual-report/) # The Common Share ## Dan Matthews ### Recent Posts [![](https://blog.cooperativesfirst.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/stanYUpic2.jpg?width=767&name=stanYUpic2.jpg)](https://blog.cooperativesfirst.com/blog/2019/01/03/how-this-yxe-bike-co-op-gives-back) ## [How this YXE bike co-op gives back](https://blog.cooperativesfirst.com/blog/2019/01/03/how-this-yxe-bike-co-op-gives-back) [Read More](https://blog.cooperativesfirst.com/blog/2019/01/03/how-this-yxe-bike-co-op-gives-back) January 03, 2019 • Dan Matthews ## [How Co-op is giving back](https://blog.cooperativesfirst.com/blog/2019/01/02/how-co-op-is-giving-back) \[gallery columns="2" size="medium" ids="1612,1613" orderby="rand"\] [Read More](https://blog.cooperativesfirst.com/blog/2019/01/02/how-co-op-is-giving-back) January 02, 2019 • Dan Matthews ## [How Affinity Credit Union gives back](https://blog.cooperativesfirst.com/blog/2019/01/02/how-affinity-credit-union-gives-back) Co-ops are great at giving back. In our recent [Holiday Podcast](https://cooperativesfirst.com/blog/2018/12/21/holiday-podcast-how-co-ops-give-back/), Aasa spoke with some amazing co-operatives in western Canada. Each of them gave us insight into how and why their co-operatives give... [Read More](https://blog.cooperativesfirst.com/blog/2019/01/02/how-affinity-credit-union-gives-back) January 02, 2019 • Dan Matthews ## [6 tips for marketing your co-operative difference](https://blog.cooperativesfirst.com/blog/2018/10/22/6-tips-for-marketing-your-co-operative-difference) A few weeks ago, [Co-operative News](https://www.thenews.coop/na/) talked to marketing leaders from the co-op sector about [marketing the co-operative difference](https://www.thenews.coop/130853/topic/business/market-co-operative-difference/). The responses both provide insight and reflect a few themes. In this... [Read More](https://blog.cooperativesfirst.com/blog/2018/10/22/6-tips-for-marketing-your-co-operative-difference) October 22, 2018 • Dan Matthews ## [3 essential ingredients in successful co-operative start-ups](https://blog.cooperativesfirst.com/blog/2018/07/27/3-essential-ingredients-in-successful-co-operative-start-ups) At its most basic, [every co-op needs a champion](https://cooperativesfirst.com/blog/2017/12/22/every-co-op-needs-a-champion/) with a vision, a group with a shared interest and a market for the service or product delivered by the co-op. Creating bylaws, setting up incorporation... [Read More](https://blog.cooperativesfirst.com/blog/2018/07/27/3-essential-ingredients-in-successful-co-operative-start-ups) July 27, 2018 • Dan Matthews ## [With Growth on the Horizon, Stocksy United Removes its Membership Cap](https://blog.cooperativesfirst.com/blog/2018/05/31/with-growth-on-the-horizon-stocksy-united-removes-its-membership-cap) For the first time since inception in 2012, [Stocksy United](https://www.stocksy.com/), an artist-owned photography + cinematography co-op run by some of the world’s best creatives and innovators, has announced that it will... [Read More](https://blog.cooperativesfirst.com/blog/2018/05/31/with-growth-on-the-horizon-stocksy-united-removes-its-membership-cap) May 31, 2018 • Dan Matthews ## [What succession planning is and why it matters](https://blog.cooperativesfirst.com/blog/2018/05/29/what-succession-planning-is-and-why-it-matters) Succession planning is how business leaders answer the question of how their business continues without key players, like owners and high performance or essential skill set employees. For small... [Read More](https://blog.cooperativesfirst.com/blog/2018/05/29/what-succession-planning-is-and-why-it-matters) May 29, 2018 • Dan Matthews ## [Video: The Food Forest and Learning Centre Co-operative](https://blog.cooperativesfirst.com/blog/2018/04/30/video-the-food-forest-and-learning-centre-co-operative) # The Food Forest and Learning Centre Co-operative Maggie Bluewaters shares a story of healing and food security in [rural Saskatchewan](https://cooperativesfirst.com/blog/2018/07/20/context-and-opportunity-a-brief-survey-of-indigenous-co-ops-in-canada/). Our thanks to Maggie and everyone at The Food Forest and Learning... [Read More](https://blog.cooperativesfirst.com/blog/2018/04/30/video-the-food-forest-and-learning-centre-co-operative) April 30, 2018 • Dan Matthews ## [6 unique businesses that also happen to be co-ops](https://blog.cooperativesfirst.com/blog/2018/04/26/6-unique-businesses-that-also-happen-to-be-co-ops) The co-operative business model is versatile and being used successfully in every sector of the economy. Businesses using the model bring utilities, like power, water and broadband to rural and... [Read More](https://blog.cooperativesfirst.com/blog/2018/04/26/6-unique-businesses-that-also-happen-to-be-co-ops) April 26, 2018 • Dan Matthews ## [Episode 2: What makes a co-op?](https://blog.cooperativesfirst.com/blog/2018/04/13/new-podcast-what-makes-a-co-op) In this episode, Kyle, Dan, and Aasa discuss what makes a co-op. They discuss the different definitions of co-ops, the seven principles, and the ways this model is different from other business... [Read More](https://blog.cooperativesfirst.com/blog/2018/04/13/new-podcast-what-makes-a-co-op) April 13, 2018 • Dan Matthews [Older](https://blog.cooperativesfirst.com/author/dan-matthews/page/2) ![People in a co-op](https://cooperativesfirst.com/isl/themes/cof/img/people.svg) ![Co-operatives First](https://cooperativesfirst.com/isl/themes/cof/img/logo.png) A business development organization funded in full by the Co-operative Retailing System and Federated Co-operatives Limited. Every day, we focus on promoting and supporting business development based on the co-operative business model. Our priority overall is increasing rural and Indigenous economic development across western Canada. - Courses - [ONLINE GOVERNANCE COURSE](https://cooperativesfirst.com/governance/) - Workshops - [CREATING CONNECTIONS WORKSHOP](https://cooperativesfirst.com/workshop/) - [INSPIRING LEADERSHIP](https://cooperativesfirst.com/what-we-do/inspiring-leadership/) - [EXPLORING OPPORTUNITIES](https://cooperativesfirst.com/what-we-do/exploring-opportunity/) - [Co-op Talk Lunch & Learn](https://cooperativesfirst.com/co-op-talk-lunch-learn/) - [Board Effectiveness Workshop](https://cooperativesfirst.com/board-effectiveness-workshop/) - Resources - [Co-op Creator](https://cooperativesfirst.com/what-we-do/resources/) - [BLOG](https://cooperativesfirst.com/blog/) - [THE BACKROAD DIARIES](https://thebackroaddiaries.com) - [THE COMMON SHARE PODCAST](https://cooperativesfirst.com/common-share-podcast/) - [Co-operative FAQs](https://cooperativesfirst.com/co-operative-faqs/) - Advising - [Biz Dev Refresh](https://cooperativesfirst.com/biz-dev-refresh/) - [AGM Planning](https://cooperativesfirst.com/agm-planning/) - [About](https://cooperativesfirst.com/about-us/about-us/) - [WHO WE ARE](https://cooperativesfirst.com/about-us/about-us/) - [BOARD OF DIRECTORS](https://cooperativesfirst.com/about-us/board-of-directors/) - [ANNUAL REPORT](https://cooperativesfirst.com/about-us/annual-report/) 4-1810 8th Street East Saskatoon, SK 306.382.4410 [info@cooperativesfirst.com](mailto:info@cooperativesfirst.com) © 2019 Cooperatives First ![Consider a Co-op](https://cooperativesfirst.com/isl/themes/cof/img/sign.svg)