The Brian Lehrer Show Costco's Changing Culture
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Nov 7, 2025 Molly Fischer, a staff writer at The New Yorker, explores the complexities of Costco's company culture amid its expansion. She shares insights on how childhood experiences with Costco shaped community ties. Fischer discusses the appeal of Costco's value-driven shopping, contrasting it with online convenience. She addresses the challenges of maintaining Costco’s founding ideals in the face of growth pressures, evolving employee sentiments, and recent unionization efforts. The conversation also touches on the significance of the iconic hot dog price as a reflection of the brand's identity.
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Shopping Hassle Builds Loyalty
- Costco's cumbersome in-person shopping creates a communal, accomplishment-driven experience that fuels loyalty.
- The shared ritual of navigating warehouses and chatting about deals reinforces Costco's cultural mythos.
Membership Fees Are The Profit Engine
- Costco's membership fees act as a stable profit cushion that lets the company keep low retail margins.
- That model encourages repeat shopping because members feel compelled to recoup their annual fee.
Founding Ethos Tied To Profitability
- Costco's founding ethos linked good employee treatment with long-term business success and customer loyalty.
- That ethic shapes policies like DEI commitments but faces limits on politically fraught issues like drug access.
