By: Anya Firszt, General Manager
Hello and welcome, dear Owners, to February 2026; the shortest month of the year, and for some, the sweetest.
February is a busy month at the Co-op as we prepare for the Super Bowl, Mardi Gras, and Valentine’s Day. Whether you celebrate one or all of these occasions, we offer a wide selection of treats, including cheeses, fresh flower bouquets, handmade chocolates, chips, salsa, guacamole, and beverages. Each celebration is a great chance to enjoy good food and friends together.
Another date to think about in February is Wellness Wednesday, February 4, your next opportunity to stock up and save 10% on your wellness products, plus lotions, oils, and body scrubs for giving to that special someone or simply for enjoying yourself.
And finally, in the second half of the month, we plan to showcase our Inclusive Trade vendors, with samples and select items on sale. Reminder: our Inclusive Trade program highlights products from companies owned and operated by individuals from underrepresented groups. Learn more at willystreet.coop/inclusive-trade.
Old Co-op Gift Cards
Are you saving one of our old Co-op gift cards for a rainy day? Please find them and use them today, or exchange them for a new one. You can’t use the old ones (pictured here) at the registers, and starting this spring, it will take us much longer to determine any remaining balance on these cards. So get your new gift card today!
Improving Accessibility in our Stores
We have partnered with the company Aira on their Explorer app, which provides an audio interpretation of a person’s surroundings as viewed through a smart phone camera. For example, if a person slowly sweeps their phone in front of them side to side, the app can tell them that there is a sign for restrooms to their right, approximately 20 feet away. The app allows for free AI interpretation or live human interpretation, which is typically for a per-minute fee, but the Co-op is paying for the human interpretation option inside our stores. For more information, see aira.io.
FY25 Patronage
Again, I am sharing an update about patronage.
Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) was a profitable year. We had net income of $579,723 before provision for income taxes. This surplus allowed us to continue operating on a sound financial basis and to return a portion of the profit to Owners.
Per bylaw 6.5, your Board of Directors voted to allocate part of the surplus, or profit, as a patronage refund, with a portion distributed as a store credit.
Owners who are receiving a store credit should have already received notification with details about their refund (either by email or USPS mail). Starting on January 12, you can use your store credit towards a purchase, request cash back, or donate it to the Double Dollars program. To ensure that only the primary (or secondary, for household accounts) Owner uses credits, you need to sign for the refund. If you request your store credit as cash, you must provide a photo ID. Owners must claim their patronage store credits by June 28, 2026.
Does the Co-op Have Your Current Email Address?
We love nothing more than to keep you informed about what’s going on at the Co-op. If email is your preferred way to receive notifications from us, please make sure we have your current email address. You can update it at Customer Service or by sending an email to ora@willystreet.coop.
In closing, however you choose to celebrate this month, do so with heart and soul.
-Anya
P.S. PBS Wisconsin Garden & Green Living Expo
The Co-op is sponsoring and exhibiting at the PBS Wisconsin Garden & Green Living Expo, February 13-15, at the Alliant Energy Center. Stop by our booth and demos and say howdy! Join Chef Mike for some culinary inspiration to help you put those first-of-the-season local veggies to good use on February 13 at 2:30 p.m. and February 14 at 11:30 a.m. at Demo Stage A. We’re also selling tickets to this event through February 11! Learn more about the event at wigardenexpo.com.
