Main Topic: Costco Opens First Taichung Store

Hosts: Stephen Huang, James Stanworth , Clyde Warden

James and Clyde sit down for a post event analysis, and a cup of coffee at 85c, the local dominant coffee chain. Lots of consumer cam from Costco, along with observations of hits and misses in the local market and the reactions seen among Chinese consumers. Of course they couldn't leave the store without buying something, could they?

Watch The Show:

The Show (Video & Audio):

Photos:

• 1) From the back of the store toward the front. 1) From the back of the store toward the front.
• 2) Crowded, but not packed. 2) Crowded, but not packed.
• 3) Lots of very empty carts (big Xmas trees). 3) Lots of very empty carts (big Xmas trees).
• 4) Lots of interest in meats, seafood, and fresh foods. 4) Lots of interest in meats, seafood, and fresh foods.
• 5) Checkout lines went all the way to the back of the store. 5) Checkout lines went all the way to the back of the store.
• 6) Long lines for the baked chickens. 6) Long lines for the baked chickens.
• 7) The most popular section of the store was the chickens. 7) The most popular section of the store was the chickens.
• 8) HUGE. 8) HUGE.
• 9) Really HUGE. 9) Really HUGE.
• 10) James and Jane are shocked at raw American Retailing. 10) James and Jane are shocked at raw American Retailing.
• 11) The frozen sections were not being touched much. 11) The frozen sections were not being touched much.
• 12) Bags were so big, that only small businesses would be able to store them. 12) Bags were so big, that only small businesses would be able to store them.
• 13) Lots of shoppers' carts looked like this one (fresh cooked dumplings). 13) Lots of shoppers' carts looked like this one (fresh cooked dumplings).
• 14) Beef, normally hard to find, was getting a lot of attention. 14) Beef, normally hard to find, was getting a lot of attention.
• 15) Household items, especially cleaning, were moving well. 15) Household items, especially cleaning, were moving well.
• 16) These milk containers cannot fit in most local refrigerators. 16) These milk containers cannot fit in most local refrigerators.
• 17) Co-branding Kirkland and Starbucks (Uni-President in Taiwan). 17) Co-branding Kirkland and Starbucks (Uni-President in Taiwan).
• 18) NTD16,995 Dyson vacuum cleaner. 18) NTD16,995 Dyson vacuum cleaner.
• 19) Simple price signs, far up are often difficult to read. 19) Simple price signs, far up are often difficult to read.
• 20) James is familiar with the product. 20) James is familiar with the product.
• 21) Not a single Chinese character on the box. 21) Not a single Chinese character on the box.
• 22) Difficult for any local shopper to understand. 22) Difficult for any local shopper to understand.
• 23) Shelving height is just right for Western bodies, too high for Asians. 23) Shelving height is just right for Western bodies, too high for Asians.
• 24) Strange and expensive products are strategically located about the store. 24) Strange and expensive products are strategically located about the store.
• 25) Once outside, these shoppers found packing the compact car difficult. 25) Once outside, these shoppers found packing the compact car difficult.
• 26) The paper towels were just not going to fit. 26) The paper towels were just not going to fit.
• 27) The carts were left behind on the street. 27) The carts were left behind on the street.
• 28) What a day! 28) What a day!
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Show Links:

• Costco Taiwan Website
• Costco US Website
• Grace's Product Life (A Local Blog 品味生活's Grace)
• Yealing's Daily Self-Portrait (A Local Blog Yealing 的自拍日誌)
• Yorohoko's Life! (A Local Blog)