Costco hopes to entice customers with amped-up membership perk

July 2024 · 2 minute read

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (KUTV) — As more people are turning to the internet for purchases, Costco added a perk to help entice shoppers to renew their $60 - $120 yearly memberships.

Costco Next, which was originally launched in 2017, offers an additional 20% or more savings on select brands that supply to Costco. Late 2021, though, the membership club expanded the deal to include dozens of brands and hundreds of products like electronics, clothing, beauty, home and kitchen, home improvement, pet supplies, sports, outdoors, and toys.

Customers are able to buy items directly from the brands and use their membership cards to get the additional savings.

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Members can go to costconext.com and choose a supplier. They'll then be asked to verify their membership before being directed to the supplier's website to shop.

Costco doesn't carry the inventory sold through Costco Next, according to the company's site. All Costco Next merchandise is sold and shipped through the suppliers' sites.

The program is "designed to complement both our inventory and quality of standards," according to costconext.com, and it features a "wide range of choices, including high-end brands, exclusive and unique items, and popular products that are often in limited supply."

CNN business in December 2021 reported Costco had more than 60 million members, many of whom spend hundreds of dollars during trips to one of the company's physical locations.

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However, according to CNN, Costco's online sales have slowed over the past year, and the company hopes its expansion of Costco Next will incentivize customers to renew their memberships and purchase items online through Costco.

"This unique shopping experience allows our members to explore the full line of products offered by our suppliers, while still enjoying exclusive Costco pricing," according to costconext.com "... This innovative approach to marketplace expansion, helps us achieve our goal of bringing a larger, more diversified selection of goods to our members, while increasing the value of our Costco membership."

Currently, Costco members can purchase directly from the following brands:

Beauty

Clothing & Accessories

Electronics

Home Improvement

Pets

Sports & Outdoors

Toys

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