Canadian Association of Agri-Retailers (CAAR) has extended its Retailer Member Survey to Jan. 15, 2021, giving members additional time to express their opinions on how CAAR can improve the services it offers and identify the most important issues members would like the association to work on.

CAAR introduced the member survey in October 2020 in hopes of opening a dialogue on how to shape CAAR into an association that better fits retailer members’ current needs. While CAAR appreciates everyone who participated in the first round of the member survey, Mitch Rezansoff, executive director of CAAR, says they hope to capture a larger audience the second time around by extending the survey’s open window to after the holidays.

“While we appreciate the opinions of members that have completed the survey back in October, we want to capture the opinions of as many retailers as possible,” says Rezansoff. “It’s extremely important for members to complete the survey as it gives CAAR the tools to better support the community we’re so proud to be part of and serve every day.”

Rezansoff says the survey is an opportunity for retailers to voice their opinions, helping CAAR staff to identify the most current issues and challenges facing Canadian ag retailers today. The responses also provide insight into how retail members perceive the association and how members assess the value of the services CAAR offered this year.

Extending the Retailer Member Survey

COVID-19 restrictions and government regulations quickly changed throughout the country, sometimes by the hour. Theresa Bolton, board chair of CAAR, says these changes, along with the wrap up of harvest, may have contributed to the small pool of completed surveys when it closed in late October.

“We realize that we ran the member survey at a time when retailers were busy adapting to changes affecting all of us,” says Bolton. “We’re really hoping to give everyone a chance to have their opinions heard.”

The CAAR Retailer Member Survey covers all aspects of CAAR's operations, including advocacy and lobbying, communications, the CAAR Conference and CAAR Training, along with questions on the current needs of ag retailers.

For example, survey questions like “In your opinion, what do you see as the mandate of CAAR?” can help CAAR assess their current mandate and how to improve it. The survey has a variety of multiple choice, yes or no and long-form response questions and takes less than five minutes to complete.

“It’s important for us to continue to grow and learn with our members,” says Bolton. “We believe the CAAR Member Survey will help us maintain CAAR members’ values while strengthening their voice in all ag industry affairs.”

Shaping the Future of CAAR

Members’ feedback from the CAAR Retailer Member Survey can help update CAAR’s current mandate, training sessions, services and address retailer’s current needs, all of which can better serve CAAR members in the long run says Rezansoff.

“Our staff and board are continuing to build our relationship with CAAR members,” says Rezansoff. “Their feedback in the CAAR Retailer Member Survey will help us reach our goal of providing programs and services relevant and valuable for the evolving needs of Canadian ag retail businesses.”

All responses from the CAAR Retailer Member Survey will be reviewed during CAAR’s strategic planning session as a part of the February 2021 board meeting.

Visit caar.org/to/retail-survey to take the CAAR Retailer Member Survey today! Survey will be open until Jan. 15, 2021.