Costco will stop selling popular item year-round in January in most US stores: reports

Costco Closes the Chapter on Year-Round Book Sales

Costco shoppers, brace yourselves—a favorite aisle might soon be missing! Starting in January, the retail giant plans to close the book on year-round literary offerings in most U.S. stores. While the company’s familiar book tables have long been a haven for bargain hunters, they’re about to become a seasonal affair, popping up only during the holiday shopping frenzy from September through December and on select other occasions. Costco attributes the shift to the labor-intensive nature of managing book displays, which require manual handling instead of forklifts like other goods.

The move highlights the growing dominance of online platforms like Amazon in the book market. As readers shift to digital convenience, Costco has kept its book section alive in only about 100 of its 600-plus U.S. locations throughout the year. This strategy signals an effort to test the waters where demand remains strong while minimizing operational challenges elsewhere.

But don’t count Costco out of the book game just yet! Industry watchers and publishing executives are set on the upcoming release of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour book, which debuts exclusively at Target on Black Friday. Its performance could tip the scales for Costco’s future book strategy. Costco may reconsider expanding its offerings if the buzz surrounding this release and other literary hits sparks a resurgence in physical book sales. Conversely, if demand dwindles, the seasonal approach might become the norm across all stores.

This decision is a prime example of how businesses constantly adapt to shifting consumer preferences, balancing profitability with practicality. For Costco, whether books will remain a viable part of its big-box legacy or become a niche seasonal feature. As the market turns its page, shoppers and bookworms alike must wait and see………[read more]

Rising Dough

How does Costco’s decision to scale back its book section reflect the evolving relationship between businesses, consumers, and market trends in the digital age?