Warehouse King Costco Is Making Online Shopping Work

As recently as the middle of 2016, Costco (NASDAQ: COST) considered the internet a minor sideline. The membership-based warehouse club had a website, but it sold very few things as the company sought to protect the value of its in-store experience.

CFO Richard Galanti addressed the chain's web deficiencies in the company's Q2 2016 earnings call, making it clear that he knew that future growth would be digitally driven. But he also stated that Costco was not rushing to change its online operations.

Since then, Costco has been quietly and steadily building its website. Galanti has acknowledged that in earnings calls, generally focusing on efforts to improve user experience, and now, as the company starts FY 2018, what was once a weakness has become a strength.

Source: Fool.com