THE top boss of Sam’s Club has shared his goal for the chain to secure the spot as the best club retailer in the world, outlining the company’s future expansion plans.
As part of the strategy, Sam’s Club aims to gain a leg up on rivals Costco and BJ’s by reworking its roughly 600 existing locations and establishing new ones.
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Sam’s Club, Costco, and BJ’s Wholesale Club are the top household names when it comes to club retailers.
The three chains are heavily competing for the biggest share of consumers’ wallets, especially during times of economic uncertainty brought about by the trade war and back-and-forth tariffs.
The bulk goods stores are each working to stretch their influence on shoppers, plotting ambitious expansion plans.
Sam’s Club, for example, announced it would open 30 new locations across the next five years in 2023.
The company also recently shared its intentions to open 15 new stores each year “for the foreseeable future,” CEO Chris Nicholas said at Walmart’s 2025 Investment Community Meeting last week.
In addition to its expansion goals, shoppers can expect to see a remodeling of all of Sam’s Club’s roughly 600 existing stores.
They will be modeled after the newly opened Sam’s Club store in Grapevine, Texas, which features a “dance floor” – an omnichannel showroom to “reimagine the member shopping experience and give members a new way to interact with items.”
The company ditched its registers in favor of an area where shoppers can shop online exclusives and even ship items directly to their doorstep.
The renovated Sam’s Club also boasts a sushi island, as well as full-service pharmacy, optical, and hearing centers.
The company has predicted that remodeling its entire store fleet will result in strong returns in sales and membership revenue, according to Nicholas.
“This is one of the fastest, most scalable transformations happening in retail today,” said the CEO.
“We’re investing with intention – in our fleet, our associates and the member experience – to become the world’s best club retailer.”
The retail giant aims to double its membership count and more than double its sales and profit across the next decade or so.
CLUB COMPETITION
Sam’s Club detailed its growth strategy following similar announcements by competitor club retailers BJ’s Wholesale Club and Costco.
The former chain plans to establish between 25 and 30 new BJ’s stores across the next two fiscal years, the company shared early last month.
BJ’s also plans to expand its operations to Texas and open several locations in the Dallas-Fort Worth area beginning in early 2026.
“We are eager to continue our expansion by bringing unbeatable value, convenience and assortment to the Dallas-Fort Worth community,” said CEO Bob Eddy.
BJ’s Wholesale Club Expansion
BJ’s plans to open up to 30 new stores across the next two fiscal years.
The company announced several new locations to open this year, including:
- Delray Beach, Florida
- Warner Robins, Georgia
- Sevierville, Tennessee
- Casselberry, Florida
The company’s plans to open 25 to 30 clubs include previously announced club openings in early fiscal 2025:
- Brooksville, Florida (opened February)
- Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (opened February)
- Southern Pines, North Carolina (opening March 7)
- Whippany, New Jersey
- Staten Island, New York
Source: BJ’s Wholesale Club
“We believe our unique club model, which delivers savings of up to 25% off grocery store prices every day, will resonate with the families in this area. We look forward to living our purpose of ‘taking care of the families who depend on us’ in Texas.”
Alongside Sam’s Club and BJ’s, rival Costco has also tipped shoppers in on its expansion plans in the works.
The retailer, currently standing as the largest club retailer in the US by revenue, is planning to establish 29 new stores this year, although the company did not specify how many would be in the US.
Shoppers can expect other retail giants to open new locations throughout 2025.
For example, a popular retail giant “better than Target” plans to open another 10 locations in 2025.
Plus, a grocery store chain that’s “cheaper than Publix” will open over 225 locations this year.
Membership and store cards on offer from major retailers
Here is a breakdown of the store cards on offer to customers from various retailers and their benefits
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Costco:
- Gold Star Membership: $65 per year, shop all Costco stores and online with two additional cards for your household.
- Executive Membership: $130 per year, annual 2% reward, additional discounts and benefits on Costco services, shop online and in-store, and get two additional cards for household use.
- Sign up for a Costco Membership here
Sam’s Club:
- Club Membership: $50 per year, bonus offers, same-day delivery, instant savings, Sam’s Club Mastercard, members-only fuel savings, tire and battery center, complimentary membership, and add-on memberships.
- Plus Membership: $110 per year, all benefits of Club membership plus Sam’s Cash, free shipping, free curbside pickup, early shopping, and pharmacy and optical savings.
- Sign up for Sam’s Club Membership here
Target:
- Target Circle: A free-to-join reward program allowing users to earn 1% in Target Circle earnings rewards when an eligible purchase is made, access deals and personalized offers, get a birthday gift, and earn a vote to help direct how Target helps out your community.
- Target Circle Card: A credit, debit, or reloadable account card that gives users 5% off in-store and online as well as exclusive offers, free two-day shipping, and an additional 30-day returns window. Formerly Target RedCard.
- Sign up for Target Circle here
Walmart:
- Walmart+: $12.95 per month or $98 per year with a free 30-day trial. Offers members free delivery, free shipping with no minimum spend, fuel savings, Paramount+ subscription, auto car, Walmart+ travel, returns from home, mobile scan and go in-store, and early access to deals and product releases.
- Sign up for Walmart+ here
