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Consumer paradise The second largest wholesale club chain in the U.S. (after Wal-Mart's Sam's Clubs), Costco is to bulk packages of toilet paper what Microsoft is to software. The merger of two mammoth membership warehouse stores, Price Club and Costco Wholesale, brought about PriceCostco - which recently changed its name to Costco Companies. Originally a family business, the Price chain went public in 1980 with four stores. Costco Wholesale started its first warehouse in 1983. Today, its warehouses span the globe and it is still growing at a rapid pace - Costco plans to open 25 new warehouses in 2000. Membership has its benefits In order to gain privileges to Costco's consumer paradise, customers must first be members - currently $35 for business customers and $40 for individual members. While Costco has long embraced the notion that membership yields greater customer loyalty, stiff competition from non-membership outfits has challenged this belief. To retain its old customers and gain new ones, Costco has been busy expanding and refurbishing its stores to include food sections, photo-developing units, eyewear stations, and other service centers. Costco's core product line remains the same, however, and includes apparel, appliances, automotive supplies, computer equipment, domestic products, food and beverages, furniture, books, audio and video tapes, office supplies, jewelry, and toys, among other items. I want to be a part of it. . . Today, Costco's "members only" chain consists of more than 300 warehouse stores under the Price Club and Costco labels. These stores span the United States, and also 6 other countries. Costco now boasts 18 million members around the globe and has immediate plans to open more stores in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Scotland, Taiwan Japan, and Mexico. Anxious to be an even bigger beast, Costco plans to open 25 new warehouses this year, including two in New York City. "One store will be close to Spanish Harlem," specified a company official. "[The other one will be] in midtown Manhattan - a smaller version on two floors." New York City shoppers will undoubtedly like Costco products, none of which are marked up more than 14 percent above cost. Costco also features its own "Kirkland" line of products which account for more than 10 percent of all sales. Pump! Costco is also ambitious about the growth of its product line. In early 1999 it announced it would begin selling refrigerators, stoves, and other large home appliances. 1999 may also be the year of the biker. Costco recently organized a potential distribution agreement with Bikers Dream, a manufacturer and distributor of new and used motorcycles, accessories, and apparel. If the deal goes through, many Costco warehouses will become major dealers of Biker's Dream products. It's a good thing Costco already provides the fuel. With dozens of on-site gasoline stations already in place, the chain doubled this number by late 1999. Consumer interest has also spawned an online purchasing system. The www.costco.com site features more than 1,800 products and is also -gasp!- profitable, after less than two years of operation.
Costco lists job openings for its corporate headquarters on it Web site or www.pricecostco.com (Note: with Costco's recent name-change, the company's Web address may also change. Be on the lookout!). Those interested in retail work should contact the individual warehouses directly. Anyone interested in IS opportunities should apply to the Costco Wholesale HQ, which is located in Issaquah, Washington. Currently, the company is hiring for Application Development and Technical Services positions. Interested applicants should send their resumes to Costco Wholesale at E-mail: jobs@costco.com. Costco insiders say that interviews with the company vary in terms of difficulty and content. One offers, "I didn't find the interview stressful, but they did seem to do a thorough job."
Moving up from within Costco insiders seem pleased with the company's internal promotion system. "Costco does believe in promotion from within," confirms one. "I don't know the extent of their hiring practices outside company bloodlines." Longtime employees These promotions from within evidently suggest a satisfactory working environment. "At Costco," reveals one source, "there are many loyal long-term employees. People do move up with the right desires, work ethic, and job performance." This source adds, "it is not uncommon to go into a Costco and see hourly employees that have been with the company for 15 years making 40K a year running a cash register or driving a forklift."
Corporate Offices Human Resources PO Box 343311 Issaquah WA 98027 (206) 313-6416
Food;Automotive supplies;Household goods;Apparel;Beauty Aids;Appliances & equipment More Company Profiles For more career information, go to Vault.com ©2000, Vault.com Inc
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