Passion is key
One of the pleasures of working for Costco is doing business with our innovative and creative suppliers. Their backstories are often inspirational. They are, almost without exception, hardworking and passionate about the products they create and services they provide. Our suppliers are entrepreneurs who meet people’s needs, solve problems and sometimes make life more fun.
Jazwares, the company behind Squishmallows, the popular line of plush toys, is making life fun for millions, and not just children. Our cover story details the genesis and growth of this company, whose founder Judd Zebersky left his job at a law office in 1997 to follow his dream of building a toy company.
You’ll also find a story about the robotic vacuum company iRobot. The company’s products feature sophisticated technology that was developed for NASA and other high-profile agencies.
Love advanced science? Turn to our story on the Embr Wave wristband. Developed by Embr Labs, this product uses cutting-edge science to help provide relief for women and men who suffer from hot flashes (yes, men can get them too).
Working with passionate, innovative suppliers enables us to offer you, our members, high-quality products (and services)that fit your lifestyles. I sincerely hope you enjoy this issue and find gift ideas as we head toward the holiday season.
Coming next month
PUBLISHER
Sandy Torrey storrey@costco.com
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
Stephanie E. Ponder 425-427-7134 sponder@costco.com
Editors
U.S. Will Fifield wfifield@costco.com
Canada Christina Guerrero cguerrero2@costco.com
Reporters
Shelley Crenshaw screnshaw@costco.com
Dan Jones daniel.jones@costco.com
Jen Madera jjmadera@costco.com
COPY EDITOR
Cindy Hutchinson, Shana McNally, Whitney Seneker, Alexandra van Ingen
CONTRIBUTORS
Mark Cardwell, Chrissy Edrozo, Sheri Flies, Hope Katz Gibbs, Peter Greenberg, Erik J. Martin, Shana McNally, Andy Penfold, Owen Roberts, Erin Silver, Rosie Wolf Williams, Michele Wojciechowski
ART DIRECTOR
Lory Williams lwilliams@costco.com
ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTORS
David Schneider, dschneider@costco.com
Brenda Shecter bshecter@costco.com
GRAPHIC DESIGNERS
Ken Broman, Steven Lait, Megan Lees, Chris Rusnak
EDITORIAL PRODUCTION MANAGER
Antolin Matsuda amatsuda@costco.com
PRINT, PAPER AND PREPRESS MANAGER
MaryAnne Robbers mrobbers@costco.com
PRINT PRODUCTION SPECIALIST
Grace Clark graceclark@costco.com
PUBLISHING ADVERTISING MANAGER
Kathi Tipper-Holgersen 425-313-6581 ktipper@costco.com
ASSISTANT ADVERTISING MANAGER
Susan Detlor 425-313-6916 sdetlor@costco.com
ADVERTISING SPECIALISTS
Raven Stackhouse 425-416-1632 rlstackhouse@costco.com
ADVERTISING COORDINATOR
Aliw Moral 425-313-2558 mmoral@costco.com
ADVERTISING COPYWRITER
Bill Urlevich
ADVERTISING PRODUCTION SPECIALIST
Josh Livingston
ADVERTISING GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Christina Muñoz-Moye
NATIONAL ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE
Michael Colonno 973-664-7797 michael.colonno@mediapartnersgroupllc.net
BUSINESS MANAGER
Jane Johnson
CIRCULATION MANAGER
Rossie Cruz rcruz@costco.com
CIRCULATION COORDINATOR
Luke Okada
ONLINE PRODUCTION COORDINATOR
Dorothy Strakele connection@costco.com
COSTCO WHOLESALE
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