Dec 2, 2008

Jim Sinegal returns to PMC as featured guest speaker

(SEATTLE) – Pacific Market Center, the leading permanent wholesale market on the west coast, announces Jim Sinegal, co-founder and chief executive officer of retail giant Costco Wholesale Corporation, as part of the speaker line-up at the 2009 Winter Gift & Home Accessories Show. On Friday January 23rd, 2009 Sinegal’s educational seminar titled ‘Inside Costco and the New World of Retail’, will discuss how Costco has changed the face of retail and exceeded sales expectations while keeping employees and customers satisfied.

Jim Sinegal will provide an incredible amount of insight and business acumen on growing a business both nationally and internationally and the value of building a loyal customer base,” said Larry Benaroya, principal of The Benaroya Company, owner of the Pacific Market Center. “We are excited to have Jim on board as one of our featured speakers and further our continued efforts to offer educational opportunites and insights on business development to the participants and attendees of the January show.”

Founded in Seattle, Washington in 1983, with 71 billion in revenue last year, Costco is the seventh largest retailer in the world with 543 warehouse club operations in eight countries with 142,000 employees worldwide and 51.8 million cardholders. Costco is a recognized leader in the industry dedicated to quality in every area of their business and respected for their outstanding business ethics. Despite their large size and explosive international expansion, they continue to provide a family atmosphere in which their employees thrive and succeed.

Sinegal has more than 40 years of merchandising and operations experience in the retail mass merchandising field and is the president and chief executive officer and director of Costco Wholesale Corporation.

Jim Sinegal’s seminar will take place on Friday, January 23, 2009 at Pacific Market Center on the second floor in the Learning Forum from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., with coffee, pastries and networking opportunities taking place beforehand from 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.

To register for this free seminar, email info@pacmarket.com or call 800-433-1014. The Winter Gift & Home Accessories Show will take place at Pacific Market Center between Wednesday January 21 and Tuesday January 27, 2009. For more information about the show please visit www.pacificmarketcenter.com or call (800) 433-1014.

About Pacific Market Center
Pacific Market Center is the leading permanent wholesale market on the west coast, featuring the latest in home furnishings, accessories and gift products. The industry destination for buyers in the Western United States, Canada and beyond, Pacific Market Center offers permanent showrooms on five floors featuring thousands of product lines for a wide selection of merchandise to help buyers keep up with every trend affecting their consumers. Pacific Market Center draws thousands of buyers from more than 30 channels of distribution including high-end department stores, corporate, specialty retailers, home furnishings, kitchenware, events, gourmet food, hospitality, garden/outdoor living, salons & spas, wineries, Internet, and regional chain outlets. Located in Seattle’s Design District, Pacific Market Center is open to the trade only. For more information, visit www.pacificmarketcenter.com. Pacific Market Center is owned and managed by The Benaroya Companies.