Barneys New York, Coop or Co-op?

Barney’s New York Co-op: Not quite a cooperative, but definitely full of fresh merchandise.

Recently, while uptown near the Barney’s New York Madison Ave. store, a woman asked me for directions to the Barney’s Coop (not co-op, but “coop”). An honest mistake if she had only read it and not heard it pronounced.

The word “co-op”, a noun- short for cooperative, meaning “a jointly owned enterprise engaging in the production or distribution of goods or the supplying of services, operated by its members for their mutual benefit, typically organized by consumers or farmers.” With the definition in mind, you could understand why the woman would not quickly assume that her elite fashion destination would have a “CO-OP”.

The street encounter was a mere blip on the radar screen of the day, but it got me thinking (and Googling). While searching co-ops and cooperatives later on, I found so many fantastic graphic designs built with these four simple letters. I thought I would share my findings…

Coop: Italian Cooperative Food Market

I discovered that this particular logo was designed by a rather famous Dutch graphic designer, named Bob Noorda. I have to say, it really is pretty awesome.

Co-op Records: Music shop in Chicago, USA

Co-op: British Supermarket Cooperative

Otter Co-op: A Food and Household Cooperative in British Columbia, Canada

National Farm Machinery Cooperative: 1940′s Tennessee, USA

Fruita Co-op Corporation: Homeowner and Ranch Cooperative, Colorado, USA

Chicken Coop (no hyphen)

The only definition of the word combining c-o-o-p prior to 1860, when the tern co-op came into being.

And, then there is…

Chris Cooper (Coop)- also no hyphen

Personally, one of my favorites!