Walmart Vs Costco In 2022 (Prices, Products, Services + More)
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Walmart’s current logo since 2008
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Walmart Home Office (headquarters) in December 2012
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Formerly |
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Type |
Public |
ISIN |
US9311421039 |
Industry |
Retail |
Founded |
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Founder |
Sam Walton |
Headquarters |
,
U.S.
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Number of locations
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![]() 10,593 stores worldwide (January 31, 2022) [2] [3] |
Area served
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Worldwide |
Key people
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Products |
Supermarket , Hypermarket , Superstore , Convenience shop |
Services | |
Revenue |
![]() US$ 559.2 billion (2020) [4] |
![]() US$22.55 billion (2020) [4] |
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![]() US$13.70 billion (2020) [4] |
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Total assets |
![]() US$252.5 billion (2020) [4] |
Total equity |
![]() US$87.53 billion (2020) [4] |
Owner |
Walton family (50.85%) [5] |
Number of employees
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2,300,000 (Jan. 2021) [4] U.S.: 1,600,000 |
Divisions |
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Subsidiaries |
List of subsidiaries |
Website |
walmart.com |
Footnotes / references [6] [7] [8] |
It has been an era of greater competition in retail. This is resulting in customers enjoying lower prices, as well as more selection.
However, it is difficult to determine where to shop for the perfect products and services.
It might seem difficult to decide which of the two stores you should shop at if there is a choice between Costco and Walmart.
Here is a Walmart Vs Costco breakdown, with everything from company background, to products, to prices and even customer service and investment thoughts.
Walmart, with its 11,000 stores in 27 different countries, is a fairly well-known entity by now.
It was established in Arkansas in 1960 by Sam Walton. However, its roots have been far more southern than that.
Walmart has been a publicly traded company since 1997, now operates warehouses called Sam’s Club, and is eyeing the financial sector next.
Costco Wholesale Corporation, also known simply as Costco, was formed in 1976. But, until 1983 it was named Price Club.
Although the company has over 800 outlets in 13 countries, they still call Issaquah their home.
Costco’s stores follow the model of a discount-pricing warehouse and are more competitive with Walmart’s Sam’s Club or BJ’s Warehouse.
As one of the largest retailers in the U.S., Costco’s net worth is currently about $80 billion.
First off, the biggest difference between Walmart and Costco stores is who can enter.
Costco requires a membership fee to be eligible for it. The annual cost is $60, or $120 if you are enrolled in the Gold Star Executive program.
Walmart doesn’t have membership fees. Everyone can go in and start shopping.
One feels familiar once you enter a Costco or Walmart.
The first is that both Costco and Walmart have incredible square footage.
You can have wide aisles or carts to hold a lot of stuff. It feels impossible to see the ceilings.
However, from here, the layouts diverge greatly.
Walmart stores follow at most one or two different layouts. However, Supercenters have grocery and other goods on their own sides.
Costco stores use all of that vertical space to stack stock high, but the layout was also examined by retail experts.
Costco worked with designers to develop an anti-anxiety environment which guides customers through their store.
The gentle herding encourages shoppers to purchase as many products as they can.
Costco’s warehouse model, which allows for product to be purchased in large quantities at discounted prices, is what I have already mentioned.
For as big as Costco stores are, it might surprise you to learn that they typically only carry about 4,000 items.
Walmart sells individual items, though some products come in bulk packaging. Walmart may sell up to 142,000 different items at a single store.
Given these reasons, it can be difficult to choose which store you should visit if you’re only going to make one trip.
Are you a big family? Do you need more stock or less? Costco has it all. Are you a fan of fewer brands or prefer more variety? Walmart might be your best choice.
Here are some of the identical departments found within both stores.
Departments:
Walmart has a crafting department that can still offer fabric bolts at a few stores.
Costco has a range of pre-made gift hampers available in their florist department.
Walmart offers more prepared foods, such as fried chicken or sides. These can all be delivered to your home for delivery.
Costco offers a food court that serves hot dogs, pizzas as well as smoothies and ice cream at low prices.
Without private brands or labels, it is impossible to have a big retailer without a few exclusive brands.
This is part of the business model which keeps prices low.
Here are some of Walmart’s most popular and recognizable store brands:
Kirkland, Costco’s largest private label product is available.
Kirkland was actually named for the Washington town where an early store was situated.
For most people, price is a motivator. This applies especially to the need for well-stocked kitchens and pantry.
Walmart Vs Costco In 2022 (Prices, Products, Services + More)