From head to toe

Costco’s buying team proves that savings and quality are always in fashion

With more than 100 Costco warehouses in Canada, Costco’s apparel team is tasked with dressing Canadians of all ages, from St. John’s, Newfoundland, all the way to Courtenay, British Columbia.

“We are an apparel family here,” says Mike Konstantinakos, assistant general merchandising manager (AGMM) of apparel at Costco. “We work together as much as possible to bring the best-quality merchandise to the Costco member, at the best price we can.”

On trend

Konstantinakos describes it as an exciting and very collaborative process, one that begins over a year before a particular clothing item is delivered to the warehouse.

Apparel buyers are responsible not only for assessing the trends and working with suppliers, but also for following items all the way through the process, right up to the point where they land in a member’s cart.

I’ve often thought buyers must have a crystal ball to forecast fashion trends, but it really comes down to in-depth research and good listening skills. Buyers attend trade shows around the world and tap into close relationships with their suppliers to see what’s around the corner. One surprising source of fashion intel is the warehouses themselves. In Ottawa, the warehouses near Costco’s Canadian headquarters are a fountain of information about what’s hot and what’s not.

“Our buyers are in the warehouse talking to the members to get a feel for what they’re looking for or what we’re missing out on,” says Konstantinakos. “What’s more, some of the best information we get is from the staff at the warehouse, because they speak with everyone all the time. We get great feedback from them.”

Form and function

While Costco’s buying power ensures value for members, it doesn’t require sacrificing quality. Quality assurance is a significant part of the buying process, and it is rigorous and multifaceted.

An important member of the apparel team is the quality assurance (QA) coordinator, who oversees tests with third-party labs to ensure products are safe and meet the standards set by the Canadian government. (For example, there are strict regulations for children’s sleepwear in regard to flammability and other attributes such as drawstrings.) The QA coordinator also measures samples to ensure the fit and sizing are accurate.

And consistency is a crucial aspect of the process. That pair of yoga pants sold in Newfoundland needs to be the same as the ones sold in British Columbia.

Each item is put through the wringer in terms of laundering. Costco QA runs tests to make sure each clothing item holds up in the washer and dryer, evaluating durability, colourfastness and other characteristics such as pilling and abrasion resistance.

According to Konstantinakos, just as an item goes through testing, so does the factory that’s associated with it. Factories are strictly audited for their ability to manufacture goods for Costco —their capability, their cleanliness, their machinery, as well as their people. It’s critical that Costco’s suppliers adhere to Costco’s standards and Canadian government regulations, as well as the local laws where that factory is located.

For the family

One thing the buying team does well, says Konstantinakos, is maintain its focus on outfitting the entire family, from newborns to grandparents.

There’s always a denim option, athletic wear, casual wear and a selection of items that can be worn in the office. This is in addition to sleepwear and seasonal items such as swimsuits and snowsuits, and basics such as socks and underwear.

You can’t beat the convenience factor of picking up a few additions to your wardrobe at Costco. Busy members can certainly appreciate the advantage that comes with adding a twin-pack of Lolë joggers to the cart while stocking up on groceries, along with new socks and underwear for the kids.

Konstantinakos continues, “We’re outfitting the whole family; we’re a one-stop shop.”

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