October 2004

VOLUME 19 ■ NUMBER 10

A lifestyle magazine for small business

FEATURES

4COVER STORY

Nifty after 50

BY PAUL AND SARAH EDWARDS

Whoever said life begins at 50 was right on the money. The golden

years have produced lots of green for many wise, experienced and

ambitious entrepreneurs. The Connection profiles “mature” Costco

members who are leaving retirement in the dust.

2The Consumer Connection BY DAVID HOROWITZ Late credit card payments are triggering interest rate increases from many banks.

3Bucking business tradition

BY PETER J. MALCOLM

Do you manage your business by the book? Management consultant and

Costco member Wolf Rinke offers new—and unorthodox— methods for

maximizing employee performance and ensuring business prosperity.

8The Wine Connection

Beautifully blended wines from Chile are becoming an American

favorite.

14And baby makes three

BY STEPHANIE E. PONDER

Novelist Jennifer Weiner’s experience of having a baby triggered the subject of her third

novel, Little Earthquakes, this month’s Costco Book Club pick.

AUTOMOTIVE, PAGE 15

15Automotive news travels fast!

Ford’s new Escape Hybrid SUV offers clean-running performance and economy; plus

Costco’s Tire Centers are now using nitrogen for precise and longer-lasting tire inflation.

INSIDE COSTCO

9Member Services Update

In this month’s expanded Update, members offer their two cents on merchant credit-

card processing, small-business loans and lines of credit and payroll processing.

11Buying Smart: A bevy of baskets
BY PAT VOLCHOK

Somewhere in the vast selection of Costco’s spectacular seasonal spa and food baskets are

GIFT BASKETS PAGE 11

the perfect baskets for everyone on your list.

13There’s no place like home
BY STEPHANIE E. PONDER

The Costco Connection is published by Costco Wholesale. All facts, opinions and statements appearing within this publication are those of the writers and editors themselves, and are in no way to be construed as statements, positions or endorsements by Costco Wholesale or its officers. Publishing offices are located at 999 Lake Drive, Issaquah, WA 98027. Information in The Costco Connection is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but the accuracy of all information cannot be guaranteed. Copyright © 2004 Costco Wholesale. Products advertised may not be available at all locations at time of publication.