costco
in the news
What are the media saying about Costco?
Here are some recent examples:
Rewarding experience
Tim Craig (left), editor of DSN Retailing
Today, presents Costco executive
Doug Schutt Costco’s newest accolade:
Retailer of the Year.
ROBB GREGG FOR DSN RETAILING TODAY
event where manufacturers and retailers
are singled out by industry peers for their
overall contributions to retailing. The
event is organized by DSN Retailing Today
(formerly Discount Store News), a leading
international newspaper serving the retail
industry (
www.dsnretailingtoday.com).
“It’s truly an honor to be recognized this
way,” says Costco executive Doug Schutt.
“We’re especially proud to have been acknowledged by such formidable competitors.”
OVER THE YEARS, Costco has been
honored with various retail-industry
awards. But on October 11, the company
was named the “Retailer of the Year” by
some of its most stringent critics: its peers.
The award is part of the annual SPARC
(Supplier Performance Awards by Retail
Category) program, a 28-year-old trade
This year’s SPARC retailer awards were
based on results from more than 25,000 ballots fielded from members of the retail community. “The industry certainly got it right
this year,” says Tim Craig, editor of DSN
Retailing Today. “Although the competition
was pretty daunting …[the results show] size
is not always the deciding factor.”—Will Fifield
The feel-good
greeters
WHO CAN RESIST a welcome of
“Hey, baby doll!” when they walk
into Costco? Apparently not the
members at the Kansas City, Missouri,
warehouse. That’s why editors at
The Pitch (
www.pitch.com), Kansas
City’s weekly alternative news and
entertainment publication, named
the employees checking membership cards at the door the city’s
“Best Mood Lifters.”
In its “Best of the Best” roundup
celebrating its 25th year, The Pitch
noted that area residents will travel
out of their way to “bask in the good
vibes of the Linwood [Boulevard]
Costco” even though they could shop
at other warehouses. Who wouldn’t,
when the cheerful folks at the
door remind departing customers
to “stay beautiful.”—WF
news from the
warehouse
A flood of donations
HURRICANES KATRINA and Rita have long
since passed, but the devastation will be felt
for years to come.
Costco members, employees, the company headquarters and numerous suppliers
were among the countless people who responded to these disasters with money, time
and product donations.
Warehouse locations across the U.S.,
Canada and Mexico have been collecting
donations at cash registers and online
through costco.com. As of early November,
when this article was written, members had
donated nearly $7 million. In addition, Not your average Joes: An anonymous
Costco’s company headquarters donated member in South Orlando, Florida,
more than $1 million to the American Red whom Costco employees refer to as
Cross and affiliated food banks. “Just Joe” (pictured next to truck),
“Costco is a member of the greater com- inspired a flood of donations after he
munity,” says Jim Sinegal, Costco’s president purchased five pallets of water to deliver
and CEO. “We have a responsibility to affect to hurricane survivors. Debra Stewart
the quality of life. When there is a disaster, we (pictured above), a member of the
believe we are obligated to do whatever we channel to these organizations. We’re grateful Oregon National Guard, stands next to
can to help relieve that suffering.” to those who have contributed to, and con- a truckload of Kirkland Signature bottled
AP/ WORLD WIDE PHOTOS
Jim adds, “We are so appreciative that we tinue to support, the rebuilding of America’s water to be shipped to Louisiana to
have members who are always willing to step Gulf Coast and the scattered lives of hurri- assist with Hurricane Katrina relief.
forward and provide money that we can cane victims.”—Mark E. Stroder
