Culture
Highlighting Costco's relentless effort to cut costs for members, this iconic internal tale features buyers continually reworking packaging and shipping to drop the price of a fish fillet from $5.99 to $4.39 per pound.
What is the Salmon Story?
Applying the fourth rule of its Code of Ethics, Costco guarantees its vendors prompt payment and protects their proprietary information as if it were its own, treating them as business partners.
What is "Respect our suppliers"?
Founded in San Diego in 1976 by Sol and Robert Price, this warehouse club merged with Costco in 1993, laying the groundwork for the modern membership model.
What is Price Club?
Weighting in at over 3 pounds, this classic holiday pie from the Costco bakery is a Thanksgiving staple, known for its size and value.
What is the Costco Pumpkin Pie?
Demonstrating a culture of promoting from within, virtually all warehouse managers at Costco started their careers in these entry-level hourly positions.
What are cashiers, stockers, cart pushers ?
Illustrating the second principle of its Code of Ethics, Costco got a lower wholesale deal on Calvin Klein jeans and lowered the price from $29.99 to $22.99 instead of keeping the extra markup.
What is "Take care of our members"?
Two of Costco's biggest signature items debuted in this single year: opening its very first gas stations and launching the private-label Kirkland Signature line.
What is 1995?
AVOCADOS!
What is produces #1 selling item?
Driving its culture of impulse discovery, Costco intentionally moves core grocery items to the back of the store and regularly shifts seasonal inventory without notice to create this addictive shopping experience.
What is the "Treasure Hunt"?
When expanding into Taiwan, Costco canceled its first warehouse rather than pay a bribe to a local official,upholding this first rule of its Code of Ethics.
What is "Obey the law"?
Sustainability has long been a core part of Costco's philosophy. In the Ivory Coast, Costco supports farming communities by installing clean water wells and advancing social conditions for women and children.
What is Costco's sustainability commitment?
When older product is moved forward so it sells before newer product, this practice is being used.
What is FIFO (First In, First Out)?
Proof of Costco's commitment to member value, co-founder Jim Sinegal famously threatened to kill ex CEO Craig Jelinek if he ever raised the $1.50 price of this iconic food court item.
What is the Hot Dog and Soda Combo?
By providing automatic 401(k) contributions, Costco ensures that decisions benefiting this group of owners also directly build wealth for its employees.
What is "Taking care of out employees"
Founded in San Diego in 1954 by Sol Price, this membership-only discount store established the low-markup, employee-first philosophy later inherited by Price Club and Costco.
What is Fedmart?
To handle the massive thanksgiving rush, Costco bakeries plan ahead by prepping, shaping, and doing this to the pie dough before use.
What is freezing it?