On June 6, 1957, the Hanover Co-op introduced the Suggestion Box to its members. The Co-op’s weekly bulletin—a mimeographed, single-sided sheet that contained a list of product specials plus Co-op news—described it this way:

Introducing The Suggestion Box!!!
Mrs. Robert Newton, wife of our Bob Newton – in charge of Groceries – made the box for us. Then she painted it. Then Mr. Gerald Wheeler, whose sign painting is next door to the Co-op office, lettered it for us. Bob Newton himself is now in the act of "installing" the Box – near the Bulletin Board.

Many Thanks to these people, for providing the Co-op with something really valuable!
FOR
Since You, the customers, are in most cases also the real owners of this store, we want you to feel free to express your opinion about anything here which interests you or which you would like to have improved.

Naturally, we cannot change the width of the aisles, nor add spaciousness to the "foyer," but if you have a good constructive criticism or a request, or a helpful hint, we think you should have a chance to tell us about it, in a way that will cause you the least possible embarrassment.

The suggestion box is for you to USE – freely and without hesitation.

Just write out your suggestion at home at your leisure, or at the store, if something occurs to you while shopping. Please DO NOT sign it!... In this way it will be completely impersonal... Just fold it, and drop it in the box. We hope to use this store bulletin to answer or explain any questions which are asked, and we hope that this will prove to be a way in which members, customers, and store staff can communicate freely, for greater shopping pleasure.

Although the above mentions using the store bulletin to answer questions, that does not appear to happen in subsequent issues, at least not in question and answer form. A 1966 monthly Co-op News refers someone to the "Comment Corner," the bulletin board where member suggestions and answers were posted, but no mention is made of the suggestion box again until several years later.

A tradition since 1957, the suggestion boxes in both Co-op Food Stores yield roughly 70 comments and questions per month. About 90 percent of these are product requests.

In December 1972, newly hired Education Director Harrison Drinkwater took over as editor of the Co-op’s monthly newsletter and began a column called "From the Suggestion Box," a forerunner of the "Forum" page we currently use. Among other topics, members at that time were asking for an express lane, seeking information on nutrition, inquiring after products that had disappeared from the shelves, and suggesting the Co-op provide a collection point for grocery bags for reuse (which is illegal in the state of New Hampshire, in case you’re wondering).

Today, we receive roughly 70 comments and questions per month through the suggestion boxes in both stores, of which about 90 percent are product requests. Because the volume of suggestions makes it impossible to post every one with an answer, we ask that you include your name and a means of contacting you so we may personally answer your suggestion, question, product request, or comment. We continue to anonymously post questions and answers of general interest on the bulletin boards above each box and to publish a few in each issue of the Co-op News.

In addition to using the suggestion box, you are welcome to contact us by e-mail at comment@coopfoodstore.com.

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