Fans of Costco rejoice! The long wait is over and the retail giant is has finally opened its doors.
Prior to the opening, Costco warehouse manager Nick Weller said the introduction of the American franchise brings some much-needed life to the Ipswich retail scene.
“This brings a boost to all areas, we’re pulling from Toowoomba, from Indooroopilly… any local business that’s around here is going to benefit from Costco being here.”
Locals too, were keen to get in on the gig, with reports Costco Ipswich received over 8000 resumes for the 280 available jobs.
Sharon Birchell said she was driving past during construction and decided she had to work there.
“I was very keen. I’m one of the lucky ones.”
The warehouse stocks dry goods as well as fresh food, a wide range of fresh meat and vegetables, a bakery and a deli. Included in the membership package is access to hearing and optical services. Adjacent to the store, motorists can top up at the petrol station or have their tyres fitted while they shop.
Weller quoted the Costco petrol prices as “highly competitive” and assured shoppers that they were keen to get an edge on the market by keeping prices consistently low.
Costco manages its prices by cutting out the ‘middle man’ and adopting a ‘no frills’ approach. All produce comes on the original shipping pallets, in bulk and they stock a narrow range of brands. This keeps overhead and other costs low.
To access Costco’s merchandise and services, customers will need to sign up for a membership, which comes in at $60 a year for an individual or $55 for a business.