One of the beautiful things about living in a developed country in the 21st century is our ever-increasing access to things we didn't even know we needed.
Retail giants like amazon, Walmart and Costco (COST) I have made sure of that.
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These large corporations have the resources, time and human capacity to anticipate consumer trends before they take hold. Take, for example, amazon’s ultra-fast shipping. That wasn’t something many of us knew we needed – or would soon demand – in the early 2010s. In fact, it seemed impossible.
However, most amazon Prime members now expect their packages to arrive at their doorstep within a day, and in some cases, even within hours. This expectation has forced many of amazon’s big competitors to adopt a similar model, and now consumer expectations are already set.
The same is true for a host of other consumer touchpoints we’ve come to expect in our everyday lives. Our cola machines come with dozens of flavor combinations, we search online for coupons and discounts for just about everything, and we expect any membership we pay for to include extra perks, like free music, photo storage, gas savings, meal deliveries, or streaming services.
Costco continues to delight customers with surprises
While many of our expectations stem from our new online shopping habits, Costco continues to surprise and delight its customers from within its physical walls.
Costco members pay an annual fee of between $60 and $120, depending on their membership level. But by paying that flat amount, customers have access to discounted bulk items such as toilet paper, shampoo, pet food, organic produce, snacks and meat.
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It's not just the staples that keep them coming back, though. Many customers visit Costco religiously to see what kind of new inventory the store has in stock. There are entire social media accounts dedicated to uncovering some of Costco's best deals and most creative finds, and much of the store's limited-edition inventory regularly sells out.
Costco introduces a new product for the food court
Others view Costco more as a luxury dining experience than a place to pick up essentials.
Costco's hot dog, for example, has something of a cult following. Always fresh, hot and to order during regular business hours, the hot dog has always been a point of pride for the wholesaler, which proudly reminds customers that the hot dog and soda combo has cost $1.50 since its inception in the mid-1980s.
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Now, Costco is introducing a new product to its food court that it hopes will delight just as many customers.
The new item is a chicken and bacon sandwich, which was first introduced in early August.
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It's a little more expensive than the hot dog ($6.99) and comes with the following topping options:
- Oven-roasted chicken breast
- Cheddar cheese
- Bacon jam
- Mayonnaise and mustard mix
The entire sandwich contains approximately 920 calories, so it's definitely meant for a day of indulgence.
“Bring back the combo pizza (not the take-out and bake kind with mild sauce),” wrote one commenter on instagram. “Bring back the churros.”
“People are going to complain because they literally complain every time Costco does something new, but their sandwiches are delicious. I don't know how many calories they have,” wrote another.
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