Costco's membership model is proving a hit with cost-conscious Chinese consumers.
People shop at Costco in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, January 12, 2024. Credit: Liang Xu/Xinhua via Getty Images
Crowds of bargain hunters converged on a new warehouse retailer in Shenzhen in January, undeterred by the early morning queues and the fact they were effectively supporting a U.S. cultural import. For this warehouse was the sixth opened by U.S. icon Costco in China, and wasn’t the first opening met with crowds of eager shoppers.
This week, The Wire assesses Costco’s competitive position in China and examines whether its membership warehouse model can gain a lasting foothold in the country
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