Recreational Equipment Incorporated (REI) is a 69-year-old consumer cooperative founded for the purpose of providing high quality equipment to its members and customers for their enjoyment of the outdoors. Our cooperative structure allows us to remain true to our founding vision while providing exceptional guardrails to help guide the organization's growth.

As the country's largest consumer cooperative, we are owned by our members and they elect the company's board of directors. The board oversees the company's policies and performance and guides the co-op in pursuit of our purpose of "inspiring, educating and outfitting for a lifetime of outdoor adventure."

Our goal is to share our financial success each year with members, employees and the communities in which we operate. Company profits are distributed to members in a patronage refund that is proportional to their eligible purchases. Each year, our goal is to return to our members 10 percent of their eligible purchases.

All employees share in the company's success through an incentive pay program. Eligible employees also receive contributions to their retirement plan.

We have a target of setting aside three percent of operating income for our annual donations programs. In 2006 our donations accounted for $3 million in grants. A special $1 million grants program brought the year's total giving to over $4 million Finally, like any business, we retain a portion of our profits to ensure the financial health and managed growth of the co-op.

REI's co-op structure allows the company to take a long-term business view that is focused on the company's ability to support member needs and the coop's mission, rather than needing to drive quarterly results or direct financial returns for individual owners. We measure our success through healthy, sustained growth, member satisfaction, high employee engagement and a strong commitment to environmental and social responsibility. A five-year view of REI's member growth, member dividend, sales, and profitability (operating income) are available here.

REI's cooperative structure have allowed the company to pursue its business differently than more conventionally structured organizations. Read more about REI's purpose statement, values and guiding principles, here.

REI—The Consumer Cooperative REI's Purpose, Values and Guiding Principles
Facts About REI REI's Board of Directors About This Report
Stewardship report brochure(403KB PDF)