February 4, 2025

Costco, the warehouse club famous for bulk items and cheap hot dogs, is trying to avoid what would be its first-ever employee strike. The Costco Teamsters union, which represents 18,000 workers, threatened to stop working after January 31 unless the company raised wages and benefits to reflect inflation. With only a few hours left before the strike was scheduled to start at 56 stores across six states, Costco reached a tentative agreement with the union over the weekend. Now it’s Continue reading

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Demand for gold has been rising across the globe, defying economists’ expectations and sending prices soaring to new heights. The video below looks at how the gold trade has changed in recent years as everyday consumers enter the market alongside major investors. Costco, for example, sells $200 million worth of gold bars every month to members on the lookout for what they consider to be stable investments.

Questions:

  1. Why have gold prices been rising across the globe recently?
  2. Do you Continue reading
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March 5, 2021

The wholesaler Costco is one of the most successful retailers in the country due in large part to its unique approach to doing business. This video looks at the strategies that Costco uses to keep prices low while still offering many items in bulk.

Questions:

  1. How does Costco’s membership plan drive its business? 
  2. Why are items at Costco kept on pallets rather than laid out neatly on shelves like in supermarkets?
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