member
connection
MOST PEOPLE pamper
their pets, so why not get
them a driver’s license?
Costco member Mary Kenez
in Boulder, Colorado,
created a license for her
golden retriever Chloe
( www.chloecards.com) as an adjunct to her postcard
business. Driver’s licenses are available for any pet
(dog, cat, bird, potbellied pig) and every state and
Canadian province. Kenez notes that the Pet Driver’s License®
is not only fun, it’s functional, since it can be made into an ID
tag. And no written test is required!—Anita Thompson
King
Louie
LOUIE DI RAIMONDO was
just searching for a job when he
moved from New York City to
Miami in 1972. He never imagined that the job he took would
lead to his becoming the hot
dog king—one of the world’s
largest distributors of
hot dog carts.
ALL AMERICAN HO T DOG CAR TS
While registering his
car in Miami, Di Raimondo
spotted a hot dog vendor and He’s on a roll, says Louie Di
bought a dog. Then he saw a Raimondo, the hot dog king.
“FOR SALE” sign hanging on the
cart. On an impulse, he bought of vending carts, such as flower,
it for $1,500 and set up his pretzel and coffee carts.
own business. Today Di Raimondo, a
But in his haste to get up and Costco member, sells more than
running, Di Raimondo forgot to 4,000 carts a year out of his
remove the “FOR SALE” sign. The Miami showroom.
first day, he sold more than 100 He attributes part of his suc-
hot dogs, but what intrigued him cess to his flair for promotion.
the most was the people asking if Donning a robe and crown, he
they could buy his cart. branded himself “America’s Hot
Over the years, Di Rai- Dog King,” first in local promo-
mondo bought more carts and tions and ultimately in appear-
made his living selling hot dogs, ances on The Today Show, The
all the while fielding questions Discovery Channel, The Food
from people interested in buying Channel and in several commer-
a cart and starting their own cials and films.
business. Eventually, he realized “I branded myself like
that he could make more money Donald Trump,” Di Raimondo
selling carts than dogs, and in says. “Some people think I go a
1976 founded All American Hot little overboard, but the more I
Dog Carts ( www.allamerican go overboard, the more my sales
hotdog.com), which sells an array increase.”— Robyn A. Friedman
Pet proje ct
Fitness poses take
on a new dimension
at Fitness Express
Manhattan.
S YLVIA CLEMEN T
The art of fitness
Adam@Home by Brian Basset
WITH THE PROLIFERATION a place for women not only to
of fitness clubs, Costco mem- get fit, but to expose them-ber and personal trainer Sylvia selves (figuratively speaking)
Clement felt it was time to to local art.
hop on the entrepreneurial The walls are adorned with
treadmill herself, the art of fellow New Yorker
with a colorful twist. Michael Perez (www.michael
Fitness Express perez-artist.com), a personal
Manhattan Inc. friend of Clement’s.
SPECIAL TO THE CONNECTION. ADAM IS © B Y BRIAN BASSET, UNIVERSAL PRESS SYNDICATE
( www.fitnessexpress “His work is very
manhattan.com) is a beautiful and very colorful,”
women-only circuit- says Clement. “It makes
training gym that each [workout] station that
caters to the com- much more interesting.”
munity by providing —T. Foster Jones
We want to hear from you
IF YOU HAVE a note, photo or story to share (it should
be about Costco or Costco members in some way), you
can send it to “The Member Connection,” The Costco
Connection, P.O. Box 34088, Seattle, WA 98124-1088, or
e-mail to connection@costco.com with “The Member
Connection” in the subject line. Submissions cannot be
acknowledged or returned.
