Costco Wholesale Corporation is a membership-only warehouse club that

2. Costco Wholesale Corporation is a membership-only warehouse club that • provides a wide selection of merchandise. As of July 2012[update], it is the second • largest retailer in the United States, the seventh largest retailer in the world and the largest membership warehouse club chain in the United States.[ • Founded by James (Jim) Sinegal and Jeffrey H. Brotman, Costco opened its first warehouse in Seattle, Washington, on September 15, 1983.

3. Over the years, Costco has gradually expanded its range of products • andservices. Initially it preferred to sell only boxed products that could • be dispensed by simply tearing the stretch wrap off a pallet. It now sells • many other products that are more difficult to handle, such as fresh produce, • meat, dairy, seafood, fresh baked goods, flowers, clothing, books, computer • software, vacuums, home appliances, home electronics, solar panels, jewelry, • tires, art, fine wine, hot tubs, furniture and caskets. Many warehouses have • tire garages, pharmacies, hearing aid centers, optometrists,photoprocessors, and gas stations.

4. Costco introduced Kirkland Signature as its house brand in 1995. The idea was to identify categories in which a private label product could provide brand name quality at discounted prices. • To counteract the consumer confidence problem common in store branding, Kirkland Signature sometimes relies on co-branding. According to Costco, while consumers may be wary of same-store-branding, they are less likely to be wary of brands that they are familiar with and trust.