A US Costco - overseas student experiences culture shock
My first job after graduating from college was at an airport freight terminal, where I kept tabs on cargo coming in and going out. I felt that my job, while worthwhile, was too much routine work. I wanted to do things more freely and more creatively. Also, I wanted to do something that would have some visible impact on the success of my company, so I have decided to change job.
Actually, I was a college student when I first met Costco. One day, my host family took me to a local Costco warehouse. This was the first time I’d ever been to Costco, and I must say it was quite a culture shock: a big warehouse; with big merchandise piled high on pallets and big shopping carts. Now this is America, I remember thinking to myself. After I returned to Japan, I heard that there are Costco warehouses here too. I went to check it out, and you know, it was just like what I’d seen in the US. Taking American business culture, as is, and extending it elsewhere … same policies, same approaches … and doing it successfully, too. Now there’s an interesting business model!
From inventory control on to order placement and reporting
Home office employees always go through a warehouse training to get to know the operation. I also took the warehouse training first. This was a very good opportunity for me, professionally speaking, as I got to learn all about Costco’s various activities and services through a full range of warehouse assignments, from member service to merchandising and on to inventory control. I got my start in the Tire/Automotive Department, where I handled inventory control, and then was reassigned to the Gas Station Department, where I now work as an Assistant Buyer.
Eleven Costco warehouses in Japan have a gas station. My job begins with controlling gasoline inventories and includes supplier order placement, daily sales management and preparing reports that show our margins and other accounting data. If there is any problem at one of our gas stations, we contact the people involved and get it fixed. Part of my job is forecasting daily sales and adjusting our inventory levels accordingly. I feel accomplished when my forecast turns out to be right on.
Surrounded by passionate, enthusiastic co-workers
We have many mid-career hires at Costco, and they come to us from a variety of fields. Yet, one thing that we all have in common is a shared passion for Costco. We are proud of our merchandise, and we strive for improvement with belief and passion. It is very stimulating to be around such people. My bosses are smart and flexible. They listen to what people have to say but hold true to their mottos. It’s actually exciting to see them in action. I admire them.
Costco employees do not hesitate to suggest ways to make things better for our members or the company. We do not have such a vertically structured relationship or extreme departmentalism in the workplace. Therefore, you can freely say what you have to say and exchange opinions. With such atmosphere and the employees who have various set of values, we certainly have no shortage of unique, innovative ideas here. There is an expression in Japan, “the nail that sticks out gets hammered down.” That’s not how it works at Costco, though. Good ideas go straight to upper management, and quick action follows. Regardless of your position or your age, everyone at Costco is capable of changing the company.
Making a trip to Costco “a special experience”
Right now, I’m striving to become a departmental specialist. Eventually, I would like to work as a Costco generalist, someone capable of doing well in any department. I feel that the services we provide at Costco do much to stimulate the community, the region in which we operate. We never stop thinking of new ways to make shopping at Costco enjoyable for our members. Even if just filling up the family car with gas—if there is a way we can make this more pleasant and more fun. “Costco is exciting and I can’t wait to go back” … if we can get one more member to think that way … happy members make us happy, and it’s our job to make them happy. Let me add that Costco fans are certainly welcome to come and work with us. There are things I’d like them to experience here: the fun of working as a team, and dynamism.
| 06:00 |
Wake up
Get ready to leave for work. Go by car every morning.
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| 09:00 |
Arrive at work
Create report on previous day’s gasoline sales. Read newspapers and check the Internet for news on market developments. Then, start planning gasoline orders for the next day.
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| 10:00 |
Place orders with suppliers
Place orders with domestic suppliers for next-day delivery.
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| 11:00 |
Data inputting
Input order placement data.
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| 12:00 |
Lunch
Sometimes have lunch at a restaurant near Home Office; sometimes grab a hotdog within a Costco warehouse.
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| 13:00 |
Meeting with superior
Review gas station operations; present and discuss ideas.
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| 15:00 |
Adjust order volumes
Look at sales figures for the current day; fine-tune order volumes for the next day.
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| 16:00 |
Set sales target
Set general targets for next-day and subsequent sales volumes.
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| 18:00 |
Leave work
Finish up the day’s tasks and go home.
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| 19:00 |
Arrive home
Take dog for a walk, have dinner. Check my TV recorder; surf the Internet; relax.
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