13 Stores Like Costco (Similar Stores In Us, Canada + More)
Costco’s logo since 1997
|
|
 |
|
| Type |
Public |
|---|---|
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Nasdaq : COST NASDAQ-100 Component S&P 100 Component S&P 500 Component |
|
| Industry |
Retail |
| Predecessor |
Price Club |
| Founded |
July 12, 1976 ( 1976-07-12 ) (as Price Club) San Diego, California , U.S. September 15, 1983 ( 1983-09-15 ) (as Costco) Seattle, Washington , U.S. |
| Founders |
James Sinegal Jeffrey Brotman Sol Price Robert Price |
| Headquarters |
,
U.S.
|
|
Number of locations
|
804 [1] (2021) |
|
Area served
|
Australia Canada China France Iceland Japan Mexico New Zealand South Korea Spain Taiwan United Kingdom United States |
|
Key people
|
Hamilton E. James (Chairman) W. Craig Jelinek (President and CEO) |
| Brands | Kirkland Signature |
| Services |
Merchandise Cash & Carry Warehouse club Filling stations |
| Revenue |
 US$166.76 billion [2] (2020) |
|
US$6.023 billion [2] (2020) |
|
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US$4.002 billion [2] (2020) |
|
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Total assets |
US$45.40 billion [2] (2019) |
|
Total equity |
US$15.24 billion [2] (2019) |
| Members |
105.5 million [3] (2020) |
|
Number of employees
|
273,000 [3] (2020) |
| Website |
www .costco .com  |
Costco remains a favorite option for bulk-shopping, but other alternatives may be more appealing.
When customers think of wholesale stores that remind them of Costco, the first to pop into their mind is probably Sam’s Club. Sam’s Club might actually be better-known in some places than Costco.
Sam’s Club operates under Walmart and is the main competitor to Costco.
Sam’s Club Shoppers can access a large selection of clothing and food at a lower price than the other shops (except Costco) for an annual $45.
In addition to the yummy free samples Sam’s Club offers on weekends, there are many members-only advantages such as the following:
Nearly as well-known as Costco and Sam’s Club is BJ’s Wholesale Club. There are three levels of membership at BJ’s: the Inner Circle, Perks Rewards and Business Memberships.
Inner Circle Members can enjoy a $55/year membership, as well as a complimentary friend or family member membership. Members have free access to electronics and furniture at BJ’s stores.
Members enjoy exclusive perks such as the following:
Wholesale and retail are very popular outside the US. South Africa has Makro as the country’s wholesale equivalent for Costco.
Makro was initially a wholesale chain that belonged to a parent company. Makro’s operations expanded to allow for online savings over time.
Makro was able to lower wholesale prices by combining with Massmart, Walmart and other discount retailers in 2011.
Customers who shop at Makro have access to the mCard and mRewards program, which allows them to earn exclusive rewards and discounts on the following:
Members can also receive cashback for downloading the app and using it when they make purchases.
Lidl is the UK equivalent of Costco. It offers some of the best prices for grocery, home goods and household products.
Lidl Plus offers exclusive benefits to customers who download their Lidl Plus rewards app.
Wholesale Club in Canada is an exclusive retailer for foodservice owners. It is possible to join the Wholesale Club and shop online or at one of their locations, although it is not required.
For members of Wholesale Club, some benefits are specifically targeted towards business owners, such as the following:
Another wholesale retailer popular outside of the US is PriceSmart. PriceSmart is a wholesale retailer that offers four different membership levels.
Members can enjoy discounts on comparable bulk goods found at other stores. You can also enjoy exclusive benefits as a member like:
Purchases can be eligible for up to 2% cashback, with a cap of $500/year
City Club Mexico has recently been added to its roster as a wholesale club. City Club Mexican is the Mexican equivalent to Sam’s or Costco.
City Club Mexico has 34 locations throughout Mexico. It offers great prices on quality products for both businesses and families who consume a lot.
City Club offers members a reward for purchasing large quantities. For each purchase over $2000, members receive 2% cashback in their e-wallet to use on future purchases.
This retailer, which does not sell foods items, is different than other wholesale clubs. However they’ve been in the business for more than 20 years.
Africa Imports has wholesale and resale prices. Retail prices are available for individual use.
Wholesale pricing is not available to members of other wholesale clubs. A minimum $100 purchase is required in order for wholesale pricing to be offered. Africa import offers African soaps, incenses, clothing and other ethnocentric products.
Africa Imports not only helps wholesalers but also offers training on how to establish your own company selling products from the catalog.
Target might not be considered to be a discount shop to many, however, Target customers have managed to save quite an amount at their stores over the years. These savings are comparable to those available at Costco and Walmart.
Target does not just offer weekly deals. You can also find them on their website under “Deals”, and there are exclusive rewards for Target Circle holders.
Target Circle offers will allow you to save on your past purchases by offering you savings.
A customer could, for example, receive digital coupons to purchase baby and pet care products or other health food products.
Red Card debit/credit cards members get the following benefits:
Trader Joe’s a specialty supermarket that sells high-quality, affordable products. They have a wide range of products from cookware to foodstuffs that will make your meals tastier and more enjoyable.
When you think of Trader Joe’s, you may not really see them as a discount store because they are of such high quality.
However, for the specialty items that these stores carry, you receive extreme savings. This is because you don’t see many expensive brand names but mainly Trader Joe private labels.
Additionally, store personnel taste test the product before they place it in their store.
In addition to not charging suppliers shelf fees (which raises prices), Trader Joe’s promptly removes the underperforming product from their shelves.
Aldi is a popular place to shop for specialty and inexpensive fruits, vegetables, and other foods. Much like Trader Joe’s, most of the store items at Aldi are private label items, which helps translate to lower costs and savings for shoppers.
Products that aren’t store-brand also frequently cycle in and out the shop. Aldi Finds is like finding hidden treasure at the grocery store because you never know what they will feature next.
Additionally, Aldi saves money because of certain operational features like charging for carts and shopping bags. To get your quarter back, pay a quarter to purchase a cart.
Aldi will accept your return cart without the need for staff members. Instead of paying extra to buy a bag, bring your own. Both of these operations help Aldi store keep costs down.
Sprouts Farmers Market sells healthy and fresh produce at a very affordable price. You have many choices when it comes to saving at Sprouts. There are digital coupons as well as sales and apps that offer exclusive offers.
The website offers a Deals of The Month section. There are featured monthly offers on all categories of groceries.
Another regional discount grocery store is Cub Foods. The brand is growing and they now offer many benefits including an updated website and Instacart delivery.
Shoppers can enjoy the following perks with the My Cub Rewards App or discount card:
Spend at Holiday Station Stores to earn points
If you want to know more about Costco please visit our post Costco’s Target Market, Walmart and Costco.
As the warehouse club membership and discount store market is expanding, it’s essential to find the right store for your needs.
Costco warehouse clubs are becoming a very popular option for those who wish to save money due to their huge discount on bulk products.
Similarly, smaller discount stores offer lower prices on some food items that larger stores might not compete with.
Shopping in a discount or wholesale store can be a smart choice. There is no need to hunt for the best deals when you can find them in one place.
.13 Stores Like Costco (Similar Stores In Us, Canada + More)
