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Expanding
on a
theme
Costco.com reaches
new heights beyond the
warehouse walls
THESE DAYS, you can find just about
anything online.
So how, in the ever-expanding,
hyper-competitive internet world of
product availability, does Costco.com
stay ahead?
Let’s start with the brick-and-mortar
locations. With every square inch of
physical space a precious commodity, Costco warehouses hone their
selection to carry what the greatest percentage of Costco members
are gravitating toward, be it certain sizes of clothing, the two favorite
blenders, or the most popular brand of toothpaste. Providing the best
value on a product members can load into a cart and wheel to their
cars has helped Costco become one of the top retailers in the world.
But even those giant Costco warehouses run out of room. This is
where Costco.com comes in. Costco.com allows Costco to expand
beyond the physical limitations and offer a greater depth and breadth
of items in every department (as well as departments not found in the
warehouse), often year-round. Do you need smaller- or bigger-than-average clothing sizes? Looking for an expanded selection of big-screen TVs that can be delivered right to your door? Want to peruse
beautiful one-of-a-kind jewelry items, available in multiple sizes?
Costco.com also provides a platform for buyers to get a little
more experimental, seeking out niche beauty
products, high-end clothing lines, hard-to-
find gourmet foods and more.
What makes Costco.com really stand
out from other retail sites, however, is the
philosophy that has been baked into the
company’s DNA since its inception: offer-
ing the highest-quality product for the
best possible value, minimal markups
over cost and Costco’s risk-free guaran-
tee of satisfaction.
With this in mind, Connection
reporters sought out buyers for more
information about how Costco.com
takes the company’s philosophy and
expands it into the internet uni-
verse. The following products are
just a few examples.
—T. Foster Jones
BUYINGSMART
Costco Connection staff
reporters provided this
behind-the-scenes look at
a Costco program. Email
questions about this
article to buyingsmart@
costco.com.
KEEP IN TOUCH!
IF YOU’VE CHANGED your email
address or haven’t given it to us yet,
we’d love to have it. You have the
option of receiving notices about the
latest offers on Costco.com, including
hot buys and unique items available
only for a short time.
To add your email address, go to
Costco.com, select “Get Email Offers”
and enter your email address. Or,
stop by the membership counter at
your local Costco. Costco does not
share email addresses with third
parties. Don’t miss out on the latest
from Costco.com!
INSIDECOSTCO
