Costco History and Business Model
Costco is a large retail company that operates membership-only warehouse stores. It was founded in 1983 and is based in Issaquah, Washington. Costco is known for offering good-quality products at low prices. The company employs over 310,000 people and has stores in many countries.
Costco’s business model involves selling items in large quantities and providing special benefits to members. This allows shoppers to buy things like food, electronics, and appliances at lower costs.
Costco’s focus on customer satisfaction, fair prices, and ethical business practices has helped it build a loyal customer base. The company continues to grow, adding more products and using new technology to stay competitive in the retail world.
BCG Matrix of Costco Corporation
The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) matrix is a tool used to assess a company’s products based on their market growth and share. For Costco, we can create a BCG matrix by looking at its different product categories and the growth of their industries.

Stars in BCG Matrix of Costco
Food and Sundries: In 2024, Costco’s food and sundries category earned about $101.5 billion in sales, making it the biggest part of the company’s revenue. The food market in U.S. e-commerce is expected to grow by 24% annually between 2017 and 2027, showing strong growth.
Cash Cows in BCG Matrix of Costco
Fresh Foods and Consumables: Grocery and consumables are a major source of steady income for Costco. This category includes fresh food, drinks, and everyday items. These products have a large market share and provide consistent revenue.
Costco’s ability to sell items in bulk at lower prices attracts both regular shoppers and businesses, helping build customer loyalty and encouraging repeat sales.
Question Marks in BCG Matrix of Costco
Electronics and Appliances: Electronics and appliances are in the “question marks” section of Costco’s BCG Matrix. These products have the chance to grow in the market but face tough competition from online stores and other retail shops.
Costco needs to closely monitor market trends, customer preferences, and new technology to take advantage of opportunities in this area. Costco can become a strong competitor in the electronics and appliances market by offering a strong range of quality products, good prices, and excellent customer service,
Dogs in BCG Matrix of Costco
Books and DVDs: Books and DVDs, once popular, now fall into the “dogs” section of the BCG Matrix for Costco. As more people turn to digital media and streaming services, the demand for physical books and DVDs has dropped.
While these products may still appeal to a small group of fans, their market share and growth potential are limited. Costco should carefully consider whether it is worth continuing to sell these products or if it would be better to gradually remove them from the store’s offerings.
Also, explore the BCG Matrix of Wells Fargo