Kirkland Signature is Costco's store brand, otherwise known in the retail industry as an "own-brand" or "house brand". It is found exclusively at Costco stores and is trademarked by the company. The name derives from the fact that Costco's corporate headquarters were located in the city of Kirkland, Washington, between 1987 and 1996.
Costco introduced Kirkland Signature as its house brand in 1995. The idea was to identify categories in which a private label product could provide brand name quality at discounted prices.
To counteract the consumer confidence problem common in store branding, Kirkland Signature sometimes relies on co-branding. According to Costco, while consumers may be wary of same-store-branding, they are less likely to be wary of brands that they are familiar with and trust.
Kirkland Signature products are generally rated highly. Consumer reports have given high ratings for several products including batteries and laundry detergent. A number one rating was given to Kirkland Signature anodized cookware which sells for significantly less than some comparable products.
