September 2004

®

A lifestyle magazine for small business

VOLUME 19 ■ NUMBER 9

FEATURES

6COVER STORY

Rewards with every swipe BY T. FOSTER JONES The TrueEarnings^SM Cards from Costco and American Express

offer a rich reward system, including 3 percent cash back for restaurant purchases and 2 percent cash back on travel.

2The Consumer Connection

BY DAVID HOROWITZ

David Horowitz reminds us to always read the fine print in contracts to avoid ending up the loser.

4Meet the clutter-buster BY STEPHANIE E. PONDER Is work piling up—literally? Professional organizer and author Julie Morgenstern can help you dig out of your paperwork prison and give you the freedom to achieve success.

13A body of good work BY DORMAN T. SHINDLER Characters are the backbone of author and screenwriter Mark Spragg’s work. His second novel, An Unfinished Life, is this month’s Costco Book Club pick.

12In case of emergency … BY STEVEN BRILL AND SUSAN NEELY Is your business prepared for natural disasters or terrorist attacks? The authors offer tips for planning ahead in case the unthinkable occurs.

JULIE MORGENSTERN, PAGE 4

14Book Beat supplement Climber Aron Ralston’s graphic autobiography recounts his brush with death; plus, Harlequin profiles six real-life inspirational heroines.

INSIDE COSTCO

8Relief on the home front

BY WILL FIFIELD

A surprise catastrophe can destroy your home, but it doesn’t have to ruin your life. Home-owners’ insurance provided through Costco can help put the pieces back together.

9News from the Warehouses Costco employees and members raised more than $8.3 million for the 2004 Children’s Miracle Network fund-raising campaign.

9Keep an eye out for sting rays BY DAVID WIGHT Glasses with transitional lenses can help prevent overexposure to ultraviolet rays, which are linked to eye diseases such as cataracts and macular degeneration.

TRANSITIONAL LENSES, PAGE 9

10Buying Smart: Dressing up value BY PAT VOLCHOK The Kirkland Signature line of clothing compares favorably with high-end retailers—with one wrinkle: The competition can’t match Costco’s sharp value.

costco.com • 1-800-774-2678