Costco Rolls Out Gift Registry
Earlier this month, warehouse superstore Costco quietly rolled out a gift registry service on its website, powered by MyRegistry.com, according to Forbes. The registry allows consumers to register for any type of gifts, including wedding, baby, and new home. The registry service is completely free for couples and wedding guests, even if they don’t have a Costco membership. All items from the warehouse stores aren't available for the registry, but traditional items like bedding, cookware, furniture and gift cards are.
Total Retail’s Take: A smart move by Costco. First, Costco has long had a Weddings by Costco service that let couples buy rings, flowers, invitations and honeymoon packages at a discount, so it makes perfect sense that they can now register for wedding presents from the warehouse stores, too. Furthermore, gift registries are big business. Gift registries generate about $35 billion in sales in the United States alone. A gift registry is a growth opportunity for Costco, building upon existing business and creating incremental sales. Finally, the move underscores Costco's drive to give extra attention to its loyal customer base. A registry should continue to motivate shoppers to trust the company, its products and its services going forward.
