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just a news story. no subtext. honest.
It gives a whole new meaning to the term "big box." Costco in London may have caskets on its shelves within six months if a test marketing of coffins in Chicago by its U.S. parent is successful, the vice-president of the Canadian operations said yesterday.
"I think we will have it here," said Louise Wendling, senior vice-president and general manager for Costco Canada. "It all depends on its success in the U.S. and I think it will be successful. They are very, very similar markets."
The test marketing of casket sales at two Chicago-area stores will be watched closely for about two months and if sales are good, all Costco has to do is line up a supplier and build kiosks in its stores.
"It won't be cash and carry but a special order item, and we would not do it here for about six months," Wendling said.
Funeral homes have significant mark-up on their caskets, inflating the price, and Costco can drive down the cost of funerals for families, she said. In the U.S., Costco is selling caskets for $800 US that retail elsewhere for $2,800 US, Wendling said.
"We feel we can offer tremendous value when they purchase such an item and that's why we decided to go into it," she said.
Paul Mullen, owner of A. Millard George Funeral Home on Ridout Street, denied funeral home mark-ups are high and doesn't see Costco as a threat.
"I don't see many people comfortable buying a casket at a big box store," he said. "I think people will realize they are better served buying a casket at a funeral home."
The price of funeral home caskets in London can range from $700 to $10,000, but stories of great mark-ups are "exaggerations," he added.
"For me, funerals are an intimate arrangement and this makes it pretty commercialized," he said.
Costco could also supply funeral homes the way they now sell pop and snacks to variety stores, Wendling said.
"We are not in competition with funeral homes, we would be a service for them," she said. "We are there to provide service to business members."
Costco, which has stores in London's north and south ends, is the city's largest big- box retailer. Its 63 stores in Canada do about $8 billion a year in sales, averaging about $130 million in sales a year for each store.
About four years ago, London had two outlets for the storefront retailer, The Casket Store, but they are now closed.
"We have had casket stores before in the city and they didn't go over very well," said Jim Squires, director at Logan Funeral Home on Dundas Street.
For buyers at Costco, be warned his funeral home will not cover any problems with the casket, Squires said.
http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/LondonFreePress/Business/2004/08/19/589889.html
"I think we will have it here," said Louise Wendling, senior vice-president and general manager for Costco Canada. "It all depends on its success in the U.S. and I think it will be successful. They are very, very similar markets."
The test marketing of casket sales at two Chicago-area stores will be watched closely for about two months and if sales are good, all Costco has to do is line up a supplier and build kiosks in its stores.
"It won't be cash and carry but a special order item, and we would not do it here for about six months," Wendling said.
Funeral homes have significant mark-up on their caskets, inflating the price, and Costco can drive down the cost of funerals for families, she said. In the U.S., Costco is selling caskets for $800 US that retail elsewhere for $2,800 US, Wendling said.
"We feel we can offer tremendous value when they purchase such an item and that's why we decided to go into it," she said.
Paul Mullen, owner of A. Millard George Funeral Home on Ridout Street, denied funeral home mark-ups are high and doesn't see Costco as a threat.
"I don't see many people comfortable buying a casket at a big box store," he said. "I think people will realize they are better served buying a casket at a funeral home."
The price of funeral home caskets in London can range from $700 to $10,000, but stories of great mark-ups are "exaggerations," he added.
"For me, funerals are an intimate arrangement and this makes it pretty commercialized," he said.
Costco could also supply funeral homes the way they now sell pop and snacks to variety stores, Wendling said.
"We are not in competition with funeral homes, we would be a service for them," she said. "We are there to provide service to business members."
Costco, which has stores in London's north and south ends, is the city's largest big- box retailer. Its 63 stores in Canada do about $8 billion a year in sales, averaging about $130 million in sales a year for each store.
About four years ago, London had two outlets for the storefront retailer, The Casket Store, but they are now closed.
"We have had casket stores before in the city and they didn't go over very well," said Jim Squires, director at Logan Funeral Home on Dundas Street.
For buyers at Costco, be warned his funeral home will not cover any problems with the casket, Squires said.
http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/LondonFreePress/Business/2004/08/19/589889.html