Costco May Restrict Book Sales to the Holidays.

The article focuses on Costco's significant reduction in its book inventory, with the retailer reportedly limiting book sales primarily to the holiday season from September to December starting in January 2025. This decision is attributed to the labor-intensive nature of selling books, including manual stocking and frequent returns due to new releases every Tuesday. Costco, once a major book retailer in North America and especially in Canada, has seen declining trade sales alongside other mass merchandisers like Walmart. Historically, Costco's book selection, curated under buyer Pennie Clark Ianniciello, included bestselling fiction, nonfiction, cookbooks, and popular children's series, often offered at steep discounts to reach less avid readers. Currently, Costco's online and in-store book offerings are minimal, reflecting this strategic pullback.