A Big Brand Americans Trust

“Costco is revered for its high wages, attentive customer service, and ‘deep commitment to integrity,'" said Jeremy Smith, president of Launchpad, an incubator that places brands in Costco.

Good Morning!

Here are today’s highlights:            

• Lou Mosca has a pet peeve: owners who show up Monday morning without a plan.

• The hardware store hosted art exhibitions, music festivals, and weddings, in addition to appearing in the TV series Girls.

• The search engine wars are back: Will your customers still be able to find you?

• Business owners aren’t that worried about child care; health insurance is a different matter.

MANAGEMENT

In this week’s video, Lou Mosca stresses the importance of starting strong every week: “The key to achieving this lies in thorough preparation, setting clear goals, and fostering a sense of urgency from when the week begins. Effective leadership starts with a clear plan before the workweek begins. We always advocate for owners and key management to dedicate time over the weekend to preparing for the week ahead, ensuring they and their teams are ready to hit the ground running on Monday morning.” CONNECT WITH LOU

CLOSING TIME

A family-owned hardware store goes out in style: “‘We are gathered here tonight,’ the Rev. Vince Anderson began. Standing in the back garden of Crest Hardware in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, Mr. Anderson, wearing a red cowboy hat, Birkenstocks and a black-and-white tunic, preached from a pulpit made with Crest Hardware lumber. Around one hundred mourners had gathered beneath the string lights for a wake. ‘We celebrate a family business that has been exactly that,’ he said. ‘We welcome the spirits of every person who has walked through the doors during the last 62 years: the artists, the hobbyists, the home improvers.’”