Costco has started the promotional drive for its first Queensland warehouse, with the retailer announcing that it is nearing completion on construction of the big box store and that it has begun recruiting staff.
The warehouse — located in North Lakes, roughly 30 kilometres north of the Brisbane CBD — is nearing completion, and is tentatively slated to open its doors in May of this year. The retailer has already begun taking registrations for membership at its temporary site office in North Lakes, and it has launched a public relations drive updating its database of consumers on building progress and encouraging them to sign up for membership in time for the opening.
"Construction is well underway with the roof and walls completed and the retail concrete slab almost complete," the company wrote in an email to consumers who had registered their interest in the new store. "The team is now working on the fuel station, tyre centre and refrigeration, to be followed by the Costco Fresh lines.
"Our temporary office is now open on Discovery Drive. Stop by to sign up for membership or collect a Costco brochure. You can also see some of the items we will have on offer in the warehouse, make inquiries about employment, and meet our friendly team."
Costco country manager Patrick Noone joined the marketing push, taking to Channel Nine's news broadcast last week to spruik savings of "15, 20 or 30 per cent" on groceries and thousands of dollars off hearing aids and diamond jewellery.
Noone also talked up the company's fuel offering, saying Costco would have "if not the best price in the city, certainly the best price in our competitive area on a daily basis".
Costco has spent the last few months updating consumers on the progress of the North Lakes warehouse via the official Costco Australia Facebook page, showing photos of construction and even announcing the first employee of the store.
Avid fans of the retail franchise are also turning to an unofficial Costco Australia fan page on Facebook, which features a constant stream of updates and Costco minutiae, including news clips, email updates and even crowd-sourced photo galleries of the construction sites.
While Costco's temporary Queensland office is located at 13 Discovery Drive, North Lakes, the store will open further north opposite the suburb's Bunnings store (see map below).
Under construction: Costco North Lakes.