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What’s next?

Costco Next adds more suppliers and new services

by T. FOSTER JONES

Since its inception, one of Costco’s goals has been to look for new ways to enhance the value of your Costco membership. Costco Next meets that goal by providing Costco members access to more variety from their favorite suppliers. Here’s a look.

What’s Costco Next?

Simply put, Costco Next is a program that lets Costco members buy directly from a wide range of select brands at an exclusive Costco price.

Supplier categories run from art and personal beauty products, to clothing, home goods, electronics and accessories, indoor/outdoor lighting, luggage, pet products, sporting goods, home improvement items and more. Costco Next even offers live trees and plants, fully installed studio sheds and caskets (for more about the casket and urn program, see “Honoring memories”).

“The list of suppliers continues to grow,” says Costco Next buyer Robert Poole. Some of the new suppliers include IQ Bar (allergy-friendly protein bars and drink mixes), Barebones (high-end outdoor goods) and Travelpro (a quality line of luggage).

What’s new on Costco Next?

Costco Next has also added new services: Capture and E-Z Up.

“Capture is the digital media transfer service formally under the Costco Photo umbrella,” says Poole. The service allows members to mail in media of all kinds: photos, videos, film, slides and more and have them converted to digital formats.

E-Z Up is a new service for small businesses, schools, sports teams or anyone needing to get their logo and name in front of people. “This allows customization of event shelters, banners and table covers,” says Costco Next buyer Parker Viydo.

Poole says the Costco Next program will continue to add more suppliers and services. “We encourage Costco members to check back frequently to discover what’s new and take advantage of exciting new deals.”