and, with a ;ne eye for detail and style, selected 20
;nal designs.
Costco pet beds are constructed of two or three
fabrics: chenille, plush and jacquard. ;e chenille
is carefully fabricated to ensure its so;ness and
signature look. ;e ;bers in the plush fabric are
densely interwoven, which allows the bed to better
hold its shape, and the material’s backing reduces
stretching. Costco doubled the gauge of the jacquard,
which is created on special looms that allow for
complex patterns. ;e fabrics are nevertheless easy
to maintain. Emily informs me, “Washability is
extremely important, so we selected fabrics that can
be ;nished appropriately to allow for that.” In fact,
all of the pet beds have removable covers that are
machine washable.
;e team developed two seasonal lines of beds.
;e fall/winter group went on sale in Costco warehouses in mid-December, and the spring/summer
line will be at most warehouses by mid-April.
A ;nal stylish creation was the pet throw, which
will be available all year. Adam explains, “;ese are
made of the same beautiful fabrics to complement
the pet beds, and have a so; polyester ba;ed interior
to retain heat.” ;e spring/summer materials are also
protected with a water-repellent ;nish, so they can
be used during outdoor activities as well as serve as
furniture toppers or covers for snuggling.
Rectangular Quilted Pet Throw
A variety of pet beds and a beautiful
throw provide attractive and comfy
sleeping spots for pets of all sizes.
Pet food
& treats
“THE FOOD OUR
pets consume has
to be flavorful, highly
nutritious and safe,”
maintains buyer
Teresa Noonan.
To that end,
Costco conducts
annual audits and collaborates
with North America–based manufacturers to guarantee that the
ingredient content is exceptional
in all product lines. In fact, these
manufacturers conduct flavor preference and digestibility tests pitting Kirkland Signature pet foods
against high-priced competitors,
and an overwhelming percentage
of both cats and dogs prefer
Kirkland Signature.
Safety is paramount, and
Costco buyers frequently tour the
manufacturing plants to evaluate
production processes. They note
that microbiologists oversee the
safety measures, which are continuously upgraded as new technology and methods become available. These procedures include
environmental monitoring during
the production process, segregated areas for raw ingredients
and finished products, and stringent employee practices. Testing
is conducted at every stage of the
process, and the final product is
tested again by a lab staffed by
scientists and veterinarians.
All of this ensures that pets
reap the benefits of the most
sophisticated food production in
the industry. There’s no doubt that
Kirkland Signature products are
always created to be most affordable and best in class.—SN
Ranging in price from $21.99 to $45.99,
Costco’s pet beds and throws rival those
that are more than double the cost.
Great construction
A drawback with some pet beds is that the loose
interior ;lling moves around and bunches up over
time. Costco addressed this by constructing ba;es
to contain the ;lling, and in an innovative move also
stitched the center of the new Donut style to secure
the ;lling in both the middle and the sides. ;e Sofa
style’s bolsters have double stitching to a;x them
;rmly to the surface of the bed, and the bed itself has
a tall rigid back to resist tipping. All of these features
ensure that your pet has a comfortable and stable
sleep experience.
;ere is an obvious amount of detail work
undertaken to complete the beds. Costco insisted
on using sturdy YKK zippers, the best in the market,
then covered them with a ;ap for a ;nished look.
Complementary piping adds polish.
Finally, Costco conducts rigorous tests during
production. A third-party facility uses universal
standards to check the beds for density, durability,
washability, shrinkage, colorfastness and seam
strength to make sure they meet Costco’s high
standards. In fact, even a;er the ;nal product is in
Costco warehouses, samples are pulled and retested.
One supplier tells me, “Not all customers are as
exacting in their standards as Costco.”
Simply the best
;e quality of Costco’s pet beds rivals that of
pet beds that are more than double the cost. One
pet-bed designer emphasized that “the Kirkland
Signature beds are the highest-quality product for
the best price value in the pet industry, no question.”
Treat your treasured pets to a dinner of
Kirkland Signature pet food, let them nestle into
one of these new beds and wrap them with a cuddly
pet throw. ;ey’ll feel as pampered as every other
important member of your family! C
Fill it up
An integral component of these beds is the ;lling.
Costco increased the amount in each bed by 10
percent to ensure that all corners are ;rm. ;ere are
two types of ;lling: recycled ;ber and memory foam.
Missi tells me, “In researching ;llers we discovered a spun-polyester ;ber constructed from
recycled plastics, which is so;, ;u;y and provides a
lo;ier sleeping surface.” It is so strong that it springs
back more quickly from a compressed state than
previous versions. ;e team opted for this ;lling in
the new line because it is durable; it was also regarded
as the right thing to do for the environment.
Memory foam in a pet bed is a natural since it
provides health and comfort bene;ts. ;e pacesetter
in this arena is Sleep Innovations, which pioneered a
new gel system that maintains a cooler sleep surface
than earlier gel memory foam. ;e team selected this
product because it uses the same technology
found in human-grade mattresses and
provides a ;rm foundation of orthopedic
support. Dennis Guches, senior director
of sales for Sleep Innovations, says,
“Whether you’re indulging your pet or
providing extra comfort due to its age or
special needs, pets deserve quality surfaces
for a restful sleep, and our product provides
just that.”
Sherrie Newman ( sn.firstpoint@gmail.com) is a
marketing and communications consultant who lives
in the Seattle area with her family and two adorable
Shih Tzus.
