ce Lounge in Honolulu Consider Kirkland Signature™ prod-
It’s also beneficial, ucts. Mel Milewski learned a fresh trick
xecutive Member, she’s and grew her business during a trip to
2% Reward on most 9Costco last year. “I tried the Kirkland
hases. “I received a Signature Multipurpose Cleaner,” says
ck [the maximum Milewski, owner of D.A. Houseland Clean-
member can earn in a ing (909-750-1066) in Moreno Valley, Cali-
April,” Foster says. fornia. “My clients love the smell and how
ly, that check covers well it cleans. They love that it doesn’t
an entire shopping trip leave their house smelling like chemicals
It only makes sense to or make it hard for them to breathe.”
Executive Member, (Costco’s buyers develop these unique
ou’re going to shop at Kirkland Signature products and offer
yway.” them at substantial savings.)
of the Month.” Carol Always say thanks—and keep your
l chef business (A clients. Brother and sister Michael and Kally
ersonal Chef Service, Tsangaris of Crown Point, Indiana–based
com)experiencedabig RCS Financial Advisors Ltd. (e-mail:
amed “Business of the mgaris@webtv.net) buy gifts and roses for
utheast Memphis ware- their clients at Costco. Because Costco roses
s great opportunity, ap- are such a good price, they sometimes give
my brochures were out two dozen or more at a time. “We buy
month,” she says. “I re- the roses in particular for our female clients,”
quirycallsperday, and says Michael. “They get a tremendous
overall because of the response.”
your local warehouse to Control your inventory. In starting her
iness of the Month.”) business, A Gift Basket by Carmela (www.
oduct. Leaving a lasting agiftbasketbycarmela.com), Carmela Daniele
y important for Kimbra of Springfield, Massachusetts, faced a huge
mpany, My Life Designs problem: finding ways to buy supplies in the
m), in Littleton, Colo- proper amounts. Typical distributors, she
rado, reproduces and reduces digital and print found, sold products only in large quantities—
family photos and seals them into pieces of which tied up precious cash in unneeded
jewelry, such as charm bracelets and neck- inventory. “When you deal with a distribution
laces. “The Kodak Premium Picture paper we company, you have to deal with minimums,”
buy at Costco is essential to my business,” she says Daniele. But at Costco, she was able to
says. “I’ve tried other photo paper products, buy products in precise amounts. She fre-but they’re not as crisp and clear. And the cost quents her local Costco to buy nuts, cookies,
of 100 sheets is almost 40 percent less than at
an office supply store.”
CHRIS A RUSNAK
owner of Any Pla
(808-947-8977).
since, as an E
receiving a
Costco purc
$500 che
amount a
year] last
“Basical
almost
for us.
be an
since y
Costco an
Be a “Business
Borchardt’s persona
Thought For Food P
www.athoughtforfood.
boost after she was n
Month” at Costco’s so
house. “Because of thi
proximately 500 of
distributed during the
ceived two to three in
acquired three clients
display.” (Check with
see if it selects a “Bus
Use the right pr
impression is especiall
Orr. Her Web-based co
( www.mylifedesigns.co
fruit, coffee and tea, and numerous other products for her personalized gift baskets.
Offer incentives for safety. Morse Bros.
Inc. ( www.morsebros.com), a 60-year-old
materials supply and construction company in
Oregon, found that using Costco Cash cards
was a great way to reward their 600-plus
employees for observing job safety. Based on
the risk levels of their job, each employee could
earn up to $250 on his or her Costco Cash card.
Cruise with your workers. How’s this
for employee motivation: a four-day cruise to
Ensenada, Mexico? That’s what Americor
Lending ( www.americorlending.com) in
Irvine, California, offered to their 88 employees if they met their quarterly goals. The
result? “We exceeded our goals for the first
Tesseentnial
business
services from Costco
℡
Beyond
trail mix
In his job as tour director for Knapsack Tours
( www.knapsacktours.com), Mike Palucki
takes hikers to beautiful wilderness areas
around the world. But one feature that draws big
“oohs” and “aahs” is the huge spread of Costco
snacks that guides lay out during trips in some
U.S. national parks.
Tired hikers, of course, would be happy to
see any food. But Palucki says the praise really
comes because the treat is unadvertised. “They
completely don’t expect it,” says Palucki. “All of
a sudden, there’s all this great food out there. I
think this makes a world of difference.”
KNAPSACK TOURS
15
The lesson to be learned here: Give clients
the unexpected, says Palucki. It makes a great
impression on clients, who then are more likely to
recommend the trips to others.
For Knapsack Tours, the Costco approach
makes particular sense. The company’s motto is
“Day Hikes on a Shoestring.”
“Budget hiking and Costco go hand in hand as
we strive to keep our costs down and our prices
low,” says Palucki.—Tim Talevich
• Merchant Credit-Card Processing.
Get a great rate of 1. 64 percent plus
20 cents for card-swiped retail classified
merchants, with no “junk fees.”
• Payroll Processing. Save up to 30
percent on this important service.
• Prepaid Overnight Delivery. Save up
to 30 percent per delivery; it adds up!
• Health & Dental Insurance.
Exclusively for Executive Members (currently
available only in California, Hawaii,
Nevada, Oregon and Washington).
• Auto Buying and leasing. Great savings
on new autos for your business fleet—
no matter how large or small.
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50 percent on toll-free numbers, virtual
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Credit. Starting at $10,000 each, with
exclusive rates for Costco members.
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off bank prices.
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per month for Executive Members,
$17.95 for Business/Gold Star members.
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for Costco members.
To learn more about our complete suite of
member services, click on the "Services" link
at costco.com or call 1-800-220-6000.
