Costco Wholesale Corporation strives to grow and expand through their competitive retail and pricing strategies in their market. As a retail firm, Costco depends on cusumer purchasing capacities (Gregory 2015). Costco offers a limited number of items that are afforadable quality services and goods to their consumers and believes it aids to their continued growing and expanding success. Costco is driven by cost leadership for their retailer store because they would rather maintain the lowest prices possible which enable customers to return. Costco largely relies on their pricing and retail strategy to continue sales and organization success.
Introduction to Business Costco Wholesale Corporation is a warehouse club retail store. Consumers should join Costco membership to enjoy their cheap price products and services. Costco was founded by Jim Sinegal and Jeffrey H. Brotman in Seattle in September 1983. Membership fees and a tiny portion of retail sales are how Costco makes money. Costco Wholesale Corporation. 2024.
In Costco’s macro-environment, a variety of factors could affect the company’s economic viability. External factors such as inflation, foreign currency exchange rates, levels of unemployment, reduced consumer confidence, and changes in tax policies could unfavorably affect the demand for Costco’s products and services. Prices of some goods and services including food products, are often variant and subject to fluctuations deriving from changes in domestic and foreign supply and demand, competition, taxes, labor costs, or delays in delivery which could significantly affect Costco’s sales. Therefore, the product’s costs and selling could also increase affecting financial results. Other important economic factors include the increasing international
Hunter Avenarius MBA 705 M4: Case Analysis 2 4/3/23 Question 1 Costco’s business model differs from other traditional discount retailers in various ways. The first way goes all the way back to the roots of the business as they were founded on a principle that they would provide the lowest prices possible for their customers by keeping their costs low. They do this by utilizing a low-price and high-volume philosophy (Neubauer, 2022). Meaning, they are not marking up their items as other stores would, rather, they are keeping their margins slim and hoping to outsell other stores drastically.
In recent years, CFCo has suffered from low consumer satisfaction, driven mainly by product in-availability/inconsistency and difficulty to shop based on some business and supply chain deficiencies. This has cost us the loss of profit and reduction of business size. In my report, I will be bringing to light our current supply chain practices and proffer solutions/strategies which will co-ordinate our supply chain system to make our business become profitable. Currently, our supply chain model adopts 1.
1.0 Introduction The company that we choose is Costco Wholesale corporation. Costco is a multinational retail corporation that operates a series of membership-only warehouse clubs (Robert, 2023). Costco aims to offer its members competitive prices on a wide range of high-quality products. With numerous locations across the world, Costco provides a diverse selection of merchandise, along with specialized departments and exclusive services tailored to enhance the shopping experience for its members (Costco Wholesale, 2023). The history of Costco: (Encyclopedia.com, 2018), (Britannica, 2023), (Costco Wholesale, 2023)
History and Background: The first store was named a Price Club store opened in 1976. The first Costco warehouse opened in Seattle, Washington in September 1983. Then, In 1993 Costco and Price Club merged under named PriceCostco. In 1997, Costco Wholesale resumed as company name.
Costco’s training program targets the sales executive. Its focus is creating customer loyalty. This assists in realizing increased sales revenue.
Organizational Structures and Levels of Authority Organizational structure dictates an organizations way of arranging roles and people. This structure is arranged in a way to get the best work as efficiently as possible. In smaller companies face to face communication is the norm and formal structure may not be necessary. In a larger company with various layers thee must be very clearly defined lines. Leaders are responsible for the ultimate outcome even if they are not performing the everyday tasks.
The last strategy is price and pricing strategy and Costco uses a market oriented pricing strategy. Market oriented happens when the company uses market conditions to help set prices. Costco’s aim to offer the lowest prices possible while for all of their items. Costco at the same time feels that promoting products needs to have value. Once when they have the proper techniques, they should share it with other private wholesalers so they wholesale industry could be the number 1 place for consumers to shop.
Key Trends – Globalisation One of the main opportunities Costco has is more global expansion to specific targeted countries. Although operating in many countries, Costco is heavily dependent on the U.S. and Canadian markets. It still has the opportunity to expand into the Asian and Australian markets where it has a limited presence. Costco has the capability to operate about 100 stores in Taiwan, Korea and Japan combined and about 20 stores in Australia. It currently has 41 stores in Taiwan, Korea and Japan combined and 6 stores in Australia.
When company provides a relatively low price to spur customer demand or want to buy product and increase market share, pricing strategy. It is one of three generic marketing strategy. When any company is adopted marketing strategy. It is usually to apply for the product has less or no competitive advantage, or economies of scale can be achieved more high production volumes. It is also called as the low-price strategy.
Costco Wholesale was founded in 1983, in Seattle, Washington by Jim Sinegal and entrepreneur, Jeff Brotman – now chairman of Costco’s board of directors. Costco is a leading brand among the wholesale retail industry. Not only is the brand amongst the three leading retailers in the United States, but it is also the leading membership-based warehouse chain in the world. Costco operates membership-based warehouses where a wide variety of consumer goods are sold wholesale. These product categories include a broad spectrum of goods such as, snack foods, dry and packaged foods, frozen food items, deli and produce goods, dairy products, cleaning supplies, paper products, electronics, health and beauty aids, office supplies and appliances.
Market Segmentation: To be of value market segments must be measurable, substantial, accessible, differentiable, and actionable (Kotler & Keller, 2012). Segmentation of demographics for Costco is vast as the current product offerings include all genders, ethnicities, incomes. age groups, and social classes. When considering demographics, it is important to consider the average or typical characteristics of the target market. As mentioned earlier the target market or focus for this company is supplying the small- to medium-sized business and targets the middle- to high-end consumer with its private label brand Kirkland Signature.
What are the two types of core competencies that drive a firm’s competitive advantage? Which firms demonstrate a clear competitive advantage because of (a) major value-creating skills/core capabilities and/or (b) superior assets or resources? Which firms have demonstrated sustainable sources of competitive advantage? The two core competencies that drive a firm’s competitive advantage are cost leadership and differentiation.
