Costco vs. Sam's Club vs. Bj's Wholesale Case Study
Section 3 – SWOT Analysis
Costco vs. Sam’s Club & BJ’s Wholesale
Strengths
1. Costco sells top-quality merchandise at prices consistently below what other wholesalers or retailers charge 2. Substantially lower operating and costs than most retailers because they purchase full truckloads of merchandise directly from manufacturers and display items on pallets or inexpensive shelving/kept extra inventory on high shelving directly on the sales floor rather than in central warehouses 3. Comparatively low costs for store décor and fixtures as well as labor costs since they are open fewer hours than conventional retailers, and therefore require fewer people to operate relative to the sales volume that a store generates 4. Costco caps the margins on brand-name merchandise at 14% and their private-label items at 15%, about 20% below comparable name-brand items
Weaknesses
1. Memberships are more expensive ($50 vs. $35 at Sam’s and $45 at BJ’s) 2. Costco has fewer stores in the United States and worldwide than Sam’s Club, making their name less known 3. Without revenues from membership fees, Costco’s profits would be miniscule due to its strategy of capping the margins on branded goods 4. Criticized for going all out to please customers at the expense of charging prices that would increase profits for shareholders
Opportunities 1. Implement aisle markers, express checkout lanes, self-checkout lanes, and low-cost video-based sales aids as BJ’s does 2. Differentiate products in price categories – good, deluxe, and luxury (BJ’s method) 3. Begin accepting manufacturer’s coupons (BJ’s method) 4. Stock a broader product assortment to appeal to larger clientele
Threats
1. BJ’s Wholesale Club locations are clustered in order to benefit from greater name recognition and maximize the efficiencies of management support, distribution, and marketing activities; therefore, it is harder for Costco to market itself in areas where
Costco vs. Sam’s Club & BJ’s Wholesale
Strengths
1. Costco sells top-quality merchandise at prices consistently below what other wholesalers or retailers charge 2. Substantially lower operating and costs than most retailers because they purchase full truckloads of merchandise directly from manufacturers and display items on pallets or inexpensive shelving/kept extra inventory on high shelving directly on the sales floor rather than in central warehouses 3. Comparatively low costs for store décor and fixtures as well as labor costs since they are open fewer hours than conventional retailers, and therefore require fewer people to operate relative to the sales volume that a store generates 4. Costco caps the margins on brand-name merchandise at 14% and their private-label items at 15%, about 20% below comparable name-brand items
Weaknesses
1. Memberships are more expensive ($50 vs. $35 at Sam’s and $45 at BJ’s) 2. Costco has fewer stores in the United States and worldwide than Sam’s Club, making their name less known 3. Without revenues from membership fees, Costco’s profits would be miniscule due to its strategy of capping the margins on branded goods 4. Criticized for going all out to please customers at the expense of charging prices that would increase profits for shareholders
Opportunities 1. Implement aisle markers, express checkout lanes, self-checkout lanes, and low-cost video-based sales aids as BJ’s does 2. Differentiate products in price categories – good, deluxe, and luxury (BJ’s method) 3. Begin accepting manufacturer’s coupons (BJ’s method) 4. Stock a broader product assortment to appeal to larger clientele
Threats
1. BJ’s Wholesale Club locations are clustered in order to benefit from greater name recognition and maximize the efficiencies of management support, distribution, and marketing activities; therefore, it is harder for Costco to market itself in areas where