The Complete History of Sam's Club: From Founding to Global Expansion

Sam's Club: A Look at the History and Evolution of the Wholesale Giant

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Published in 04-03-2025

Sam's Club is a well-known warehouse club chain owned by Walmart Inc. Its business model is based on offering low-priced products through an annual membership. Since its founding, it has experienced significant growth and expanded internationally.

Foundation and Early Years

Founding Date: April 7, 1983
Place of Origin: Midwest City, Oklahoma
Founder: Sam Walton

Sam Walton, the creator of Walmart, decided to launch a warehouse club with the idea of offering wholesale-priced products exclusively to members. From its inception, Sam's Club focused on selling products in large volumes with reduced profit margins.

How Sam's Club Changed the Retail Industry: A Historical Overview

Expansion and Growth

In 1987, Sam's Club began its expansion process by opening new stores in different states across the U.S. To accelerate this growth, in 1993, it acquired Pace Membership Warehouse, a wholesale club chain that allowed it to increase its presence in the country.

During the 2000s, the company ventured into e-commerce, allowing its members to shop online. Additionally, in 2006, it introduced technological innovations such as mobile product scanning, making the shopping experience more convenient.

International Presence

Throughout its history, Sam's Club has expanded its operations to several countries. It currently has a presence in:

United States: Its main market, where it maintains the largest number of stores.
Mexico: One of its strongest markets outside the U.S.
China: It has successfully established itself in the Asian market.
Brazil: A key country in its growth strategy in South America.

Although it has been successful in many countries, it has also faced challenges. In markets such as Canada and Germany, it did not achieve the expected acceptance and had to shut down operations.

Photo: Eric C Productions

Changes and Adaptation in Recent Years

In 2018, Walmart closed several Sam's Club stores and converted some into distribution centers to enhance its online commerce. In the 2020s, the company has focused on implementing technologies such as artificial intelligence and contactless shopping systems to improve the customer experience.

Sam's Club vs. Costco

Although Sam's Club and Costco have similar business models, there are key differences between the two companies:

Pricing: Sam's Club generally offers slightly lower prices compared to Costco.
Brand Variety: Sam's Club provides a greater diversity of commercial brands, while Costco focuses on its private label brands, such as Kirkland.
Technology: Sam's Club has incorporated innovations such as contactless payments and mobile applications to enhance the customer experience.

Since its founding in 1983, Sam's Club has evolved into one of the most important wholesale club chains in the world. Its ability to adapt, international expansion, and focus on technology have allowed it to remain competitive in a constantly changing market. With its commitment to offering affordable products to its members, the company continues to be one of the most popular choices for bulk shopping.