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How to Sell Your Product to Costco

By vendorco

If you have stumbled upon our website looking for information about how to sell your product to Costco, then you have come to the right place.

We encourage you to stop now, and ask yourself how much time you have spent thus far researching answers and information regarding how to sell your product to Costco. Now imagine how much more time and effort you will put in before you are ready to actually move forward. Now think about eliminating all of that time, effort and energy spent researching a topic that is virtually inaccessible without firsthand experience.

You CAN eliminate the guesswork, by teaming up with VendorCo. With over 20 years of Costco specific expertise and experience, we have already done the research required to help you understand Costco. Whether you are interested in Manufacturer Representation, or you just want answers to your questions, VendorCo can help! We work with the Costco buyers on a daily basis, and we understand how to sell your product to Costco.

You may be able to locate general, public information about how to sell your product to Costco, but this information may not be accurate, and is certainly not tailored to your company, product, and specific department. VendorCo is your premier source for Costco help – tailored specifically to your items!

Contact us today, at [email protected] for more information about our manufacturer representation, or view our services page to sign up for a consultation.

Become A Costco Vendor

By vendorco

To become a Costco Vendor is a dream of many (if not most) manufacturers and service providers. With the potential to place your products in hundreds of stores nationwide, with millions of members to view on monthly basis, who wouldn’t want to partner with this retail/wholesale giant?

However, only a select number of manufacturers and service providers actually succeed at becoming a Costco vendor. This is partially due to Costco’s limited SKU count of approximately 4,000 items per store (compared to WalMart and Target with upwards of 100,000 SKU’s!). But for most vendors, this is because the processes and procedures required to navigate Costco Wholesale can be vastly distinct from other retail avenues. Most executives and administrative personnel, even those who are avid Costco shoppers, are unaware of the unique buying strategies utilized by Costco’s corporate contacts. Obtaining this information can prove to be exceptionally difficult, if not impossible, and the sales techniques you are accustomed to using may actually serve to undercut your potential relationship.

So how do you become a Costco vendor? How do you become a Costco.com vendor?

Fortunately, VendorCo can help you. VendorCo is a full service manufacturer representative company specializing exclusively in Costco Wholesale programs. With over a decade of Costco specific experience, our Senior Account Managers can be an invaluable asset to your Costco program. We have helped many companies become Costco vendors, and you could be next! Read just a sample of our success stories, and imagine what you can achieve when you partner with a global retailer like Costco.

Ready to get started now? Contact VendorCo to speak with a Costco expert at [email protected]

Costco Members

By vendorco

It is important to understand the demographic of your retailer of choice. Costco has millions of members all over the world, including US, UK, Canada, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, Australia, and Mexico. This membership continues to grow, and is likely to expand across the globe.

Costco’s demographic is unique to other retailers, and understanding who you are selling to can make the difference between a successful program and a failed program. Costco buyers do not have the time to educate you about the appropriate look, feel, packaging, and pack sizes that Costco members will look for. If you pitch your product to Costco without ensuring the buyers that you understand the Costco member, you may be quickly overlooked. It is up to you to assure the buyers that your product will be attractive to Costco members once it is in the warehouse or online.

Luckily, VendorCo is an invaluable resource that you may utilize for your Costco program. We understand Costco and we understand the typical Costco member. We know what the buyers look for, and we can spot items that members will enjoy. Because of this vast knowledge and understanding, we can help you coordinate your presentation to reach greater success with the Costco member.

Why take a chance, when you can partner with VendorCo – a company with Costco expertise and a history of success? Call us today at (949) 326-8909 to get started!

Costco Advertising

By vendorco

Costco Advertising – what opportunities are available for Costco vendors? What methods does Costco utilize to advertise, both internally to its members and externally for potential members?

If you are interested in learning more about Costco Advertising, follow this month’s blog posts with the following titles:

  • Costco External Advertising
  • Costco Advertising: In-store Options
  • Costco Advertising: Costco.com Options
  • Costco Advertising: General Options
  • Costco Advertising: Buyer Picks
  • Costco Advertising: Road Show Options
  • Costco Advertising: More Information

If you are interested in selling your product or service Costco, and wish to account for advertising opportunities, call VendorCo today to find out what options you have that would be specific to your product and company. VendorCo is a third party manufacturer representative that has helped countless of Costco potentials become Costco vendors.

Contact VendorCo at (949) 326-8909 or via e-mail at [email protected]

Costco Product Testing

By vendorco

Before contacting Costco, you should be aware that Costco has its own unique processes and procedures for product testing. If you already sell to retail, you have likely been required to go through product testing before. Even if your product has passed testing inspections 1 or 1,000 times, you may need to go through this process again when you start working with Costco.

This is because Costco’s requirements for passing product testing may differ from other retailers, and may even be more stringent. For this and other reasons, Costco mandates the use of a few pre-approved testing facilities for all product testing.

It is your responsibility to ensure that your products will pass testing inspections; however, VendorCo can help explain Costco’s unique processes more clearly for our clients, so you are prepared for this requirement when it arises.

To be better prepared for Costco testing procedures, partner with VendorCo today. Contact us by phone at (949) 326-8909, or via e-mail at [email protected]. We look forward to hearing from you!

Costco Delivery

By vendorco

What you should understand about delivering your product to Costco is that you are committed to the date that you propose. Late deliveries may result in penalties, or even a cancelled order. Additionally, you will need to include the time it takes for testing to be completed, all samples to be produced and approved, and many other requirements BEFORE you propose a delivery date.

So how can you plan for the unexpected and offer a timely, yet realistic delivery? Fortunately, VendorCo can help you plan for the unexpected! When you partner with VendorCo, you become part of a team of Costco experts that will help you prepare for a successful Costco program.

Contact us to get started, at [email protected]

Costco Returns

By vendorco

f you are a Costco shopper, you are likely familiar with Costco’s guaranteed return policy (with the exception of certain electronic equipment). You may read Costco’s full return policy here: http://www.costco.com/returns-replacements-refunds.html.

How does this policy affect you as a vendor, or a potential vendor? Many manufacturers and service providers find the guaranteed return policy to be intimidating; however, the percentage of sales to returns is often much lower than many vendors anticipate. If an item has a larger than expected return rate, this is likely due to an issue with the product or the instructions, rather than the member simply changing their mind.

All in all, Costco’s guaranteed return policy should not be a reason to avoid the enormous potential a Costco program has. If this is a large concern, VendorCo can help put you at ease by efficiently planning for inevitable returns, reviewing your product instructions and packaging to keep the return rate low, providing data to explain typical return rates and reasons for return, and answering any unique questions you may have.

To take advantage of our expertise and understand of Costco’s return policy, contact us today at (949) 326-8909 or [email protected].

5 Things To Understand BEFORE Selling to Costco

By vendorco

If you are not aware of the benefits of selling your product to Costco, a simple Google search or cyber stroll through our website will provide ample proof as to the seemingly never ending benefits of the Costco climate. But before you get too eager to pitch your product to Costco, there are many things that you need to know.

With the prospect of selling to Costco being so attractive, the flip side of the coin is that Costco is very selective of whom they choose to work with. At any given time, there are only around 4,000 unique items per warehouse. Compare this to Wal-Mart and Target stores with over 100,000 skus at a given time, and you realize how fierce the competition is to place your product in Costco. When your item faces name brand competition, it is even more difficult, if not impossible to succeed. However, if you have planned well, have the right support to back you, and have a Costco appropriate item, your odds may be greater than you realize! That is, if you are able to effectively pitch your product to Costco.

The importance of your product pitch cannot be overemphasized. Your presentation can be the difference between a successful program or a rejected program, a long term relationship or a short term relationship, and a positive projection of your business or a negative one, to name a few. This month, we are providing you with 5 points that you MUST know before approaching the Costco buyers. Incorporating this information may not guarantee success, but it will certainly help you be better prepared.

In no particular order, here are the 5 things you should understand before approaching Costco:

Costco Returns

Costco Product Testing

Costco Delivery

Costco Advertising

Costco Members

For an even greater chance at success, contact us directly for tailored, ongoing assistance and a proven track record of success! (949) 326-8909 or [email protected].

Costco Product Submission

By vendorco

Could your product or service be the next big item at Costco Wholesale? The best way to find out is through submitting your product for Costco review. However, navigating Costco’s product submission process is not always an easy task, and you must be sure to adequately meet Costco’s presentation standards. Doing so requires a clear understanding of Costco’s pricing structure, packaging requirements, sales expectations, shipping volume, geographic distribution, additional costs and fees, and much more. This can be exceptionally complicated, even for the most successful executives and sales representatives. If you are not specialized in Costco’s processes, it can be very easy to overlook or misunderstand many of these points, ruining your chances at a successful presentation.

Make sure that your company does not make this mistake by partnering with VendorCo. Our Executive Account Managers are experts in the Costco product submission process. With nearly 24 years of experience and daily communications with Costco’s key decision makers, we can provide you with the knowledge required to sufficiently submit your product to the Costco buyers. Contact VendorCo today to get started, and increase your chances at successful Costco product submission.

(949) 326-8909 or [email protected]

Selling to Costco

By vendorco

Selling to Costco requires patience, dedication, knowledge, and a lot of hard work in order to succeed. In addition, selling to Costco requires a very specific understanding of the demographic, market opportunities, and unique processes and procedures. Failing to understand the inner workings of Costco may result in a loss of revenue, a failed program, and damaged relationships. Don’t take the risk! Partner with VendorCo, we are experts in Costco product placement and program development, and can help you prepare and plan for a successful relationship with Costco.

You can try to do it all on your own, guessing and struggling to figure out what Costco requires, or you can come to the professionals who understand Costco. We can perfect your product presentation and mold it into what is most desirable to the Costco buyer. The choice is yours, but taking the guesswork out of a stressful situation like working with Costco is well worth the time and effort for a better chance of success.

Selling to Costco starts with a phone call! Contact VendorCo today at (949) 326-8909. We look forward to hearing from you.

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