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13 Stores Like Costco (Similar Stores In Us, Canada + More)
Costco’s logo since 1997
|
|
 |
|
| Type |
Public |
|---|---|
|
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
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804 [1] (2021) |
|
Area served
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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) |
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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) |
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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 may have been the most popular place to bulk shop, but you might consider other places.
Sam’s Club comes to mind when customers picture wholesale shops that remind them of Costco. Sam’s Club actually is better known than Costco in some regions.
Sam’s Club, an umbrella company of Walmart, is Costco’s primary competitor.
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.
Sam’s Club Members get numerous benefits such as:
BJ’s Wholesale Club has a reputation that is as well-known than Sam’s Club and Costco. BJ’s offers three levels of membership, The Inner Circle and Perks Rewards.
Inner Circle members pay $55/year, and get a complimentary membership to a friend or relative. BJ’s members can access groceries, electronics, furniture and other items at any of their locations.
Apart from 25% savings compared with other grocery stores members also enjoy a variety of exclusive perks including:
Outside of the US, wholesale and retail shopping is just as popular, and in South Africa, Makro is the country’s wholesale equivalent to Costco.
Makro started out as a chain or wholesalers that were part of a larger parent firm. However, the company has grown to provide online discounts over time.
Makro, Massmart discount retailer and Walmart merged in 2011, allowing the company to be more competitive on the wholesale market.
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:
Additionally, members can receive cashback by downloading and using the app when making purchases.
Lidl (the UK equivalent to Costco) is a discount food store with some of the lowest prices on grocery, household goods, health & beauty items, baby products, and pet care items.
Shoppers can enjoy exclusive Lidl Plus benefits through their rewards app.
Wholesale Club Canada, an exclusive Canadian retail outlet for owner-operators of foodservice establishments, was established in 1999. You don’t need to be a member in order to shop in the stores and visit their websites, but it is recommended.
Wholesale Club Members receive some advantages that are targeted at business owners.
PriceSmart is another popular wholesaler outside the US. PriceSmart is a wholesale retailer that offers four different membership levels.
Members can enjoy discounts on comparable bulk goods found at other stores. Members also get exclusive perks such as:
Most purchases can earn up to 2% cashback capped at $500/yr.
City Club Mexico in Mexico is an addition to our wholesale club. City Club Mexican locations were first opened in 2002. They are Mexico’s equivalent to Sam’s and Costco.
City Club has 34 branches in Mexico and offers great value for families who consume lots.
City Club offers members a reward for purchasing large quantities. Every purchase exceeding $2000 receives 2% cashback, which can be used to pay for future purchases.
Although this retailer is different from the other wholesale clubs (they do not sell food items), they have been in business for over 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.
Even though Target may not be considered a discount store to some, customers have still been able to save quite a bit at their stores over the years, savings that even rival those found at Walmart or Costco.
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.
When you use Target Circle deals, you will find savings exclusive to you based on past purchases.
For example, one customer may acquire deals full of digital coupons for baby care products, health foods, and/or pet care products.
Red Card credit/debit card holders get exclusive benefits, such as:
Trader Joe’s a specialty grocery that sells quality products for a very affordable price. 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.
You will save a lot on the special items these shops carry. These stores offer a vast array of Trader Joe products, which are much cheaper than buying expensive brands.
Stores also test products for quality and taste, before placing them into their shops.
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. Aldi’s private label products have lower prices than Trader Joe’s. This helps shoppers save money.
In addition, products that are not store-brand are constantly cycling in and out of the store. Aldi Findings is like looking for treasure in the grocery shop because you never really know what they might be.
Aldi also saves money by using certain operations such as charging carts or shopping bags. If you pay quarter for a cart in Aldi, it is encouraged that you bring the bag back to the store to receive the quarter.
Aldi won’t require you to call a staff person to return the cart. And instead of having to pay extra for plastic bags, it is possible bring a reusable bag. Aldi shops can reduce costs with both these operational procedures.
Sprouts Farmers Market has healthy food and is affordable. There are many ways you can save at Sprouts. From digital coupons to exclusive deals on apps, to sale items to buying fresh food.
The company website features a Deals of The Month Section. This section features featured monthly deals on all grocery products.
Cub Foods, a regional discount grocery chain, is also available. Cub Foods is a growing brand that offers many convenient and new benefits, including a better website and Instacart delivery.
Shoppers can enjoy the following perks with the My Cub Rewards App or discount card:
Holiday Station Stores will give you points that can be used to redeem for points
You can read our Costco posts to learn more, including Walmart vs Costco and whether Costco is owned by China.
The warehouse club membership market and the discount store market are expanding rapidly, so it is important to select the store that best suits your needs.
Warehouse clubs such as Costco are gaining popularity because of the massive discounts they offer on bulk goods.
Similarly, smaller discount stores offer lower prices on some food items that larger stores might not compete with.
Either way, shopping at a wholesale club or discount store is a great 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)