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September blogs have been all about helping you determine whether or not your product/company is ready for Costco placement. After reading through the past few blogs, you may be feeling quite confident in your product/company, or you may be feeling more wary than ever. Regardless, we strongly recommend that you partner with an expert manufacturer representative before pursuing placement.

First, it’s important to know that while we have provided insights into our review process, this is by no means a comprehensive list. Additional points should be considered, and each point varies based on the product, company, department, etc. So even if you feel you have met all of the requirements listed, it is not a guarantee for Costco success.

Additionally, understanding your audience is extremely important when making a sale. With 25 years of experience from each of our Executive Account Managers, VendorCo understands Costco and can be considered Costco “experts”. Having the right expert team members by your side can help you compensate for areas where you are lacking, plan for the unexpected, and feel confident that you are proceeding according to Costco’s preferences, specifications, and requirements.

Contact us today for help with your Costco program at [email protected] or (949) 326-8909.

Does your product appeal to the majority of Costco’s demographic and the general public? Does your company offer several products that could lead to a long term vendor relationship? And does your product fit within Costco’s business model?

If you answered “yes” to all of these questions, your product may be a viable option for at least one avenue of Costco placement. However, if you answered “no”, or  “I don’t know” to one or more of these questions, it is extremely important that you seek advice from an expert. Some requirements are non-negotiable, while others may be flexible with a strong presentation coupled with vast experience and knowledge of Costco’s industry.

To determine if your product may be an option for Costco, contact us today at [email protected] or (949) 326-8909.

The subject of your product’s price is typically the most difficult for potential vendors to address, because it is one of Costco’s most well kept secrets. Though Costco does not release their pricing strategy and requirements, most companies rightly assume that Costco prefers to work with vendors that can offer a lower than MSRP price. But how much lower?

This is something that only an expert with inside knowledge can help you with. At VendorCo, we can help review your product pricing and provide suggestions as to what you should offer based on what is already at retail. We help all of our clients craft a price point that we believe will be conducive to Costco’s requirements and specifications.

If you would like to partner with VendorCo and take advantage of our inside knowledge, contact us today at [email protected] or (949) 326-8909.

As part of our review process, we may ask for a sample of your top products to assess the quality of the item. Having a high quality item is extremely important for Costco, for a number of reasons. First, Costco has a reputation for selling great products at great prices, and buyers are only interested in placing items that meet this standard.

Secondly, Costco guarantees the quality and satisfaction of all member purchases through the form of no hassle returns. If your product is mid level to low quality, you would likely experience higher than usually returns by the members. Returns are costly, and the best way to avoid them is by delivering a high quality, dependable item.

If your product has a high propensity to break, or does not last as long as the industry standard, we recommend revising the contents, materials, or even the factory BEFORE proceeding with Costco. It is in your best interest, as well as Costco’s, to ensure that your product will deliver member satisfaction.

If you have a high quality item that you believe is ready for Costco, contact VendorCo to discuss how we can help you with your Costco program. Contact us at [email protected] or (949) 326-8909.

You MUST have established distribution BEFORE proceeding with Costco. Strong distribution of your product(s) is non-negotiable, as Costco will not work with your company if they are, or would become a majority of your business sales.

So how much is enough? This will depend on which avenue of Costco you are approaching (ie: Costco In-Store, Costco.com, Costco Road Shows, etc.). Obviously, your distribution backing should match the avenue that you are pursing. In other words, if your company only has ecommerce sales, you are not likely to land an in-store account.

If you believe your distribution is sufficient for Costco, and would like more information about HOW to approach Costco, contact VendorCo at [email protected] or (949) 326-8909.

Reviewing a company’s brand is part of our analysis when deciding if they are ready for Costco placement. If the brand is recognizable on a regional, national, or international scale, it’s usually a positive sign that your company could be ready for placement.

However, having a recognized brand is not necessarily a deal maker OR a deal breaker. Though it is extremely difficult for smaller companies to compete with large, name brand products, there are opportunities within Costco for brands that are not especially well known. Additionally, name brand products have on occasion been refused, or kicked out of Costco for not adhering to their vendor requirements. It’s important to note that there are many other aspects of your product/company that are considered. Keep reading our blog posts for more information about what we look for in a potential product.

If you believe your brand is ready for Costco, and would like more information about HOW to approach Costco, contact VendorCo at [email protected] or (949) 326-8909.

This month VendorCo is giving away our secrets to reviewing your product and company for Costco readiness. By reviewing this month’s blog posts, you will gain a clearer understanding of whether or not your company and products are a viable fit for Costco placement.

Stay tuned throughout the month of September, where we will touch upon the following areas of your company and product that we review as part of our qualification process.

Brand

Distribution

Quality

Pricing

Fulfillment/Shipping Capabilities

Product Offering

Costco Resources

Stay tuned throughout the month of September for a sneak peak into our review process

If you are looking for assistance with your potential or current Costco.com program, VendorCo can help! Our representation services will help you understand Costco.com’s requirements, how to offer your product to the appropriate buyers, and how to manage an ongoing program. If you are a manufacturer with established eCommerce sales, contact VendorCo today to find out how we can help you sell your product to Costco.com at [email protected] or (949) 326-8909.

If you are already selling to Costco.com, or are not interested in partnering with a long term representative, no problem! VendorCo offers consultation services purchased by the session, without a long term commitment. By participating in a consultation session, you will have the opportunity to speak with an expert outside sales representative specializing exclusively in Costco and Costco.com programs. To purchase a session, visit our services page at https://vendorco.com/internet-consulting-products or contact us for more information.

We look forward to helping you achieve success with your Costco.com program!

When it comes to fulfilling orders for Costco, potential vendors should plan on taking care of this themselves. Costco.com only fulfills a limited number of items (varying by department), and has a limited amount of space in their warehouses devoted to Costco.com business. Because of this, most vendors end up fulfilling themselves or partnering with a fulfillment center.

Before you proceed with a Costco.com program, you will need to understand Costco’s specifications, terms, and carrier requirements for shipping and packaging, especially if you hope to establish a long term relationship with Costco.com. Much of this information is not readily available for non-vendors. If you are wisely hoping to plan ahead for your Costco.com program, VendorCo can help!

With over 25 years of experience from each of our dedicated Executive Account Managers, we understand Costco.com’s requirements and specifications. Contact us today for more information at [email protected] or (949) 326-8909.