WILLING TO ADAPT
“ When necessary, we adapt our warehouse buildings to better serve the communities in which we operate,” says Eric Orren, vice president of Costco’ s real estate operations. For example, a warehouse in the Santa Fe neighbourhood of Mexico City is located almost entirely underground, hidden from view. It was built next to a large public park, and the warehouse was designed to function as an extension of the adjacent park. It features a soccer field, basketball courts and other recreational areas, as well as a massive green roof.
“ This warehouse allows us to operate in this community in a way that meets the community’ s needs and our needs,” Orren says.“ We look for these win-win adaptations as we analyse new markets.”
ALL IMAGES COURTESY OF COSTCO WHOLSESALE
to global success.“ We don’ t take it for granted,” he says.“ We pay good wages and benefits across the board, but beyond that, we pay attention to other needs, like how our employees are managed, developed and treated.”
“ Our perspective is that by bringing value to people with each new warehouse opening, we’ re actually doing something good for the community,” says Riel.“ Helping people make ends meet, helping business owners run their businesses … and creating new jobs and career opportunities – all this is healthy for the community.”
Will Fifield, Dan Jones and T. Foster Jones are international reporters for the Connection. They are based in the United States.
COSTCO CONNECTION
Did you know that your Costco membership works all over the world? Find your nearest warehouse at Costco. com. au.
Clockwise from top left: Jim Sinegal( left) and Jeff Brotman at the opening of the first Costco warehouse in Seattle in 1983; The Gocheok, South Korea, warehouse opened in 2022; The first Costco warehouse, located in Seattle.
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