In many people's impressions, the most romantic metropolis in the United States is Seattle. New York is the most international, but the pace is too fast, and the taste of money is stronger. The sun is brightest in Los Angeles, but it always feels bustling, lively, and commercial. San Francisco is the most open, but the high housing prices, coupled with many technological upstarts, give people a feeling of high and cold.

Only, it is mild and rainy in winter, cool and pleasant in summer, heavy rainfall throughout the year, and there are many days of light rain. Seattle is the most romantic ... In the light rain, a pair of lovers holding umbrellas, strolling along the beach, talking about love, may be love The most classic romantic scene in the movie.

It's just that Xiaoyu has a romantic feeling, but for Andy Smith, I'm afraid it's not a good thing. Who wants to go out with an umbrella? Not to mention that the sky is full of gray, dark streets?

However, whether Andy liked it or not, the light rain from Seattle got off the plane from him, and Lili went down to the next morning. In this weather, Andy came to Costco's headquarters in Seattle and met in person. Welcoming his founder, Jeffrey Brotman, who has been chairman of the company's board of directors since December 1994, and another founder, James Sineg, who has been Costco president since 1983.

That's right, Andy temporarily chose Costco's board to accept him. This is also the result of Andy's careful consideration. After all, his stall is really a bit large, and there are many profitable transactions. He cannot blindly An industry has a place, not to mention that he is still in the digestion period of his own industry, and Andy, a mature entrepreneur, currently the most important job is to complete the smooth digestion of his industry.

Therefore, even if he was very conscious of Costco's development potential, he had to make a choice. He was invited to join Costco's board of directors, and gradually made plans from the inside, which is his new strategic policy for Costco.

"The" user experience "has always been a strategic focus of Costco ...

With a smile on his face, accompanied by two of Costco's founders and several executives, Andy walked in Costco's flagship store in Seattle, while listening to Executive Clay Gegelinik's explanation.

The experience of this Cleggerjenik is also very legendary. He used to be a bottom employee of Costco to collect and organize shopping carts. For so many years, he has walked to Costco step by step through unremitting efforts. Executive management position.

And this example of climbing all the way from the grass roots to corporate executives is not an example, it is very difficult to make it valuable!

In Costco's internal management, most of the management staff stepped up from the grassroots. They used to be little-known clerks in the store, but instead of discouraging or giving up, they chose to finish their work diligently, and strive for the possibility of promotion and salary increase with their diligence and lasting professionalism. Including Costco's existing hundreds of store managers, 90% of them have worked in the field.

From here, it is not difficult to see that this Costco company has extremely terrible cohesion. As the saying goes: iron-clad enterprises, flowing soldiers. At a time when many companies have high turnover rates, Costco was able to win the support and trust of so many employees. This is by no means a one-day event.

What does this mean? This shows that the management of Costco's mainstays, their talents are real, they are exchanged down-to-earth, there is no talk on paper, no exaggeration, they are a group of people who really understand the business operation!

"... for a retailer, it means customer service, it means happy, motivated employees who think the company is relevant to them. Four out of five employees at Costco receive health care and benefits, even if they Half of them are part-time. Their average salary is $ 19 an hour, and we haven't laid off staff even during the current recession.

Although we are also affected by the financial crisis and economic downturn, our development has been slightly slower. However, on the whole, Costco has maintained a steady growth momentum. "

"Always do the right thing!" Andy looked at the full display of merchandise in Costco's flagship store, and looked at the staff who smiled and greeted them from time to time, and could not help expressing emotion.

"Ha ha……"

Hearing Andy said that since the brand was founded, Costco has been adhering to a common slogan, and everyone, including the two founders, laughed proudly.

Always do the right thing. "James Sinegg put forward this idea, and always do the right thing. To stick to it means never to deceive suppliers, customers, and even employees, and to learn to be sincere In the face of everything, it is more important to face errors and actively correct them, instead of choosing to use all skills to quibble or escape.

"" Low price "is everyone's unified evaluation of Costco, but this does not mean that we are blindly pursuing low prices and neglecting quality. In fact, quality is the basis of Costco's life, because once it is in quality, If there is a leak, consumers will be lost, and Costco's credibility will inevitably fall to the ground. This is a situation that everyone does not want to see.

Therefore, Costco's quality control can be called almost rigorous. The gross profit margin of all products does not exceed 14%. Once it exceeds this number, it needs to report to eo and then be approved by the board;

Facing external suppliers, once the price is lower than Costco elsewhere, its products will never appear on Costco's shelves again.

These two strict implementations have created low prices for our high-quality products. Our average gross profit margin is only 7%, while the gross profit margin of general supermarkets will be 15% to 25% ... "

Terrible business! Terrible corporate culture!

This is the most intuitive feeling of Andy, and he also found a more deliberate problem. Costco piled the entire hypermarket into a large maze with no labels and no street signs. What to look for Things can't be found all at once.

Costco's merchandise display is definitely well-thought-out design, that is, members do not want members to come in immediately to find what to buy and leave immediately, and there are free snacks and small samples in every corner.

Put the most popular items at the bottom, so that when people look for the products they need, they can see more items along the way, and there may be shopping along the way. The trolleys in the store are large and can hold a lot of things ...

"The goods are very knowledgeable!" Andy picked up a product and looked at it, then put it back in place, and smiled and said to everyone.

Whether Freebrotman or James Sinegg heard Andy's words, his eyes brightened. James Sin Cabinet smiled and said with emotion: "It is indeed a business genius, and you can see it all at once."

Andy just complimented the other person, just shook his head and laughed. He turned around and said with emotion: "This is a great company and it is a great honor to join this great family."

"Welcome you!"

"Your joining will add a young vitality to our board. Welcome!"

"Thank you."

Andy and Freebrotman, James Sinegg smiled and shook hands again, and looked at each other with Costco's executives and smiled.

At a subsequent press conference, the two founders of Andy and Costco and another member of the board of directors opened a business mutual blowing model. The modifiers such as greatness and most potential continued to pop out of Andy's mouth. And geniuses, legends and other adjectives have also been continuously added to Andy's body. A harmonious and perfect press conference has successfully concluded. Andy Smith has also officially joined Costco's board of directors as a sole director. Dormant.