Costco, Case Study Example

Shopping at retailers such as Costco, Nordstrom, and Whole Foods provides a more pleasant experience than shopping at retailers such as Walmart, Sears, and Kroger.  While the price and the quality of merchandise is comparable, the customer service and attitude of the employees are much more positive in Costco, Nordstrom, and Whole Foods.  These retailers, especially Costco, treat their employees with greater respect, provide good benefits packages, and pay them a livable wage.

While it is highly unlikely that Costco will pay their workers less, it still may happen at some point in the future.  Costco may have to pay their workers less under the following circumstances: a different CEO takes control, the state of health insurance gets worse, or if the company suffers extreme decrease in business.

Having employees start at the bottom and work their way their way up is a great way to ensure that leaders and people in power will have a deep appreciation for the company.  Workers who show loyalty to a company throughout the years are a major asset.  Leaders from this type of system have a strong knowledge and foundation of the company’s mission, vision, and product.  In addition, they have a better understanding and appreciate for the different jobs performed by the employees who work under them.  The only downside is that companies like Costco may miss valuable opportunities by not giving an “outsider” a chance.  Candidates who have just obtained their degrees in business, marketing, or other related fields are likely to have been exposed to the most recent information and are looking for a chance to prove their loyalty.