Costco Connection - March 2008

Japan

news from the warehouse

Costco grows in Asia

COSTCO OPENED its fifth, sixth and sev- crowded into the five-story Ilsan store,
enth warehouses in Taichung, Taiwan; Ilsan, matched by similar numbers in Taichung
South Korea; and Sapporo, Japan, respec- and Sapporo.
tively, on November 7, 2007, and January 24 “It was amazing to see that many people
and 25, 2008. in a single location,” says Jim Murphy, senior
Pomp, ceremony and ritual were in order vice president of Costco International.
at each new warehouse, with parades, music In the years since Costco opened its first
and, in Sapporo, the breaking open of a saké locations in these three countries, the con-
barrel (photo, upper left), a tradition of cept of bulk shopping has experienced an
opening to harmony and good fortune. overwhelmingly positive response from cost-
Record crowds of excited new members conscious customers, according to Murphy.
were literally lined up around the block for “Costco has a great business model,” says
the opening in each country, waiting to enter Sapporo warehouse manager Seiji Watanabe.
t he multistory monoliths. “I am certain that we can succeed in any area
Nearly 25,000 excited new members we go.”—T. Foster Jones

Taiwan

Korea

Taiwan

Korea

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