How Costco became the king of bulk buying starting out selling only to businesses out of an old airplane hangar

• Costco is a wholesale club that sells a wide range of products and services to fee-paying members.
• Founded in 1983 in Seattle, Washington, the company built off a concept pioneered by earlier stores.
• Costco made $237.7 billion in revenue last year and is the third-largest retailer in the world.

Costco is a members-only wholesale club that offers a variety of products and services at extremely competitive prices.

The company was founded in 1983 by Jim Sinegal and Jeff Brotman, who opened the first Costco warehouse in Seattle, Washington.

Now, more than 40 years later, Costco is the third largest retailer in the world with 879 locations, nearly 134 million cardholders, and more than $237.7 billion in annual revenue.