September 2004
®
A lifestyle magazine for small business
VOLUME 19 ■ NUMBER 9
FEATURES
6COVER STORY
Rewards with every swipe
BY T. FOSTER JONES
The TrueEarningsSM Cards from Costco and American Express
offer a rich reward system, including 3 percent cash back for
restaurant purchases and 2 percent cash back on travel.
2The Consumer Connection
BY DAVID HOROWITZ
David Horowitz reminds us to always read the fine print in contracts to avoid ending up
the loser.
4Meet the clutter-buster
BY STEPHANIE E. PONDER
Is work piling up—literally? Professional organizer and author Julie Morgenstern can help
you dig out of your paperwork prison and give you the freedom to achieve success.
13A body of good work
BY DORMAN T. SHINDLER
Characters are the backbone of author and screenwriter Mark Spragg’s work. His second
novel, An Unfinished Life, is this month’s Costco Book Club pick.
12In case of emergency …
BY STEVEN BRILL AND SUSAN NEELY
Is your business prepared for natural disasters or terrorist attacks? The
authors offer tips for planning ahead in case the unthinkable occurs.
JULIE MORGENSTERN,
PAGE 4
14Book Beat supplement
Climber Aron Ralston’s graphic autobiography recounts his brush with death; plus,
Harlequin profiles six real-life inspirational heroines.
INSIDE COSTCO
8Relief on the home front
BY WILL FIFIELD
A surprise catastrophe can destroy your home, but it doesn’t have to ruin your life.
Home-owners’ insurance provided through Costco can help put the pieces back together.
9News from the Warehouses
Costco employees and members raised more than $8.3 million for the 2004 Children’s
Miracle Network fund-raising campaign.
9Keep an eye out for sting rays
BY DAVID WIGHT
Glasses with transitional lenses can help prevent overexposure to ultraviolet rays, which
are linked to eye diseases such as cataracts and macular degeneration.
TRANSITIONAL LENSES,
PAGE 9
10Buying Smart: Dressing up value
BY PAT VOLCHOK
The Kirkland Signature line of clothing compares favorably with high-end retailers—with
one wrinkle: The competition can’t match Costco’s sharp value.
costco.com • 1-800-774-2678
