Can someone answer my question about the minimum-wage hike?

[eniwetok]

112. Yes... how does Costco do it?

You're assuming that if one chain excels in the high wage dept then every business can do it. Not very logical there, Spock.

Costco may be able to pull it off for some very simple reasons that can't be applied to other chains. They cherrypick locations. There's only one store here in western Mass... and the other 6 are out closer to Boston. With fewer stores consumers are willing to travel further while regular retail stores are a dime a dozen. The lots are always full at Costco. So they move enough merchandise at lower margins and do it with way fewer employees than other retail chains that feel compelled to have stores in every town. They also have no ad budget that I know of. I've never seen any flyers or TV ads for Costco. Add to that an ultra low turnover.

Please explain how EVERY retail employer can replicate this formula. It's simply not labor intensive.