We are a family-owned company dedicated to providing high-quality, affordable products to customers around the world. For over 30 years, the Kirkland name has been synonymous with value and trust.
Our Humble Beginnings
The Kirkland story begins in 1992 when John and Mary Smith opened a small general store in Kirkland, Washington. As parents of three young children, they were frustrated by the high prices of everyday necessities like diapers, wipes, and formula.
John had experience working for a major retailer and knew he could source quality merchandise for less. Meanwhile, Mary had an eye for spotting bargains and trends. Together they envisioned a store that offered all the brands people wanted at warehouse prices.
When their first Kirkland store opened, customers lined up out the door to take advantage of incredible deals. The Smiths were quickly able to expand their inventory from baby products to also include groceries, household items, furniture, clothing, and more. Word spread and the store became a local sensation.
From Small Town to Nationwide
The Smiths never compromised on quality and insisted on stocking only merchandise they would use themselves. Their hands-on approach earned them a loyal customer base that continued to grow.
In 1998, they opened a second Kirkland location to keep up with demand. Within five years, there were 12 stores across Washington and Oregon. Seeing the potential for national expansion, the Smiths partnered with a private equity firm to rapidly open additional locations across the United States.
Today, there are over 300 Kirkland stores worldwide. The company goes through rigorous supplier audits and product testing to ensure every item meets their strict standards. However, customers continue to appreciate the same friendly, neighborhood feel of their very first store.
Kirkland Brand Takes Off
A major turning point came in 1995 when the Smiths decided to sell products under the Kirkland brand name. They saw an opportunity to offer quality merchandise at even lower costs by cutting out the national brands’ excessive marketing and advertising.
Kirkland Signature launched with a line of paper towels, trash bags, batteries, and other household items. To ensure consistency, the Smiths contracted with reputable third-party manufacturers but maintained oversight of ingredients, packaging, and final testing. The products were instantly a big hit with customers and became synonymous with incredible value.
The Kirkland Signature line has since expanded to include thousands of items across every department, from electronics to clothing to food. It accounts for nearly a third of the company’s total sales. Kirkland brand products continue to be customer favorites because they offer quality and affordability.
Our Commitment to Community
From day one, Kirkland has prioritized giving back to the communities it serves. It partners with local food banks and charities to donate unsold inventory every day. When natural disasters occur, stores work quickly to provide relief to impacted areas.
The company also has several initiatives to benefit environmental causes:
- Stores feature LED lighting and have rigorous recycling programs in place.
- Facilities utilize eco-friendly construction materials whenever possible.
- Packaging is designed to maximize efficiency and reduce waste.
As longtime supporters of health and education, Kirkland donates generously to children’s hospitals and schools. The Kirkland Foundation provides college scholarships to thousands of students each year.
Giving back has been a core value since the very beginning. The Smith family insists it’s the least they can do to show appreciation for the customers and communities that helped them succeed.
Our Essential Products
Here are some of the key products customers love and expect from Kirkland:
Diapers
- Available in sizes newborn to 6
- Hypoallergenic and free of fragrance, lotion, and chlorine
- Leak-proof moisture barriers keep babies dry and comfortable
- Meet or exceed all FDA safety standards
- Sold at nearly half the price of premium brands
Formula
- Nutritionally complete, milk-based infant formula
- Includes DHA, iron, and other vitamins critical for development
- Made with FDA-approved ingredients
- Rigorously tested to ensure quality and safety
- Far more affordable than competitors’ prices
Dog Food
- Formulas for puppies, adults, and seniors
- Made with real meat as #1 ingredient
- Whole grains and antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables
- Balanced nutrition to support joint, brain, heart, and immune health
- Exceeds FDA and USDA standards
- One third the average cost of premium pet food brands
Protein Bars
- Available in flavors like chocolate peanut butter and lemon cookie
- 10g plant-based protein and 5g fiber per bar
- Low sugar and made without artificial flavors/colors
- Soy free, gluten free, non-GMO
- Certified kosher pareve
- Only $1 per bar compared to $3-$4 elsewhere
Golf Balls
- Advanced 3-piece urethane cover for superior distance
- Highly resilient core optimizes speed and compression
- Aerodynamic dimple pattern with drag-reducing technology
- Alignment aid lines promote straight shots
- Excellent durability and playability
- A fraction of the price of pro golf ball brands
We carefully formulate our products to offer exceptional quality and value across every category. Customers can count on Kirkland essentials to provide performance and reliability for daily life.
Quality Standards You Can Trust
Maintaining our reputation for quality is a responsibility we take very seriously at Kirkland. We only seek out suppliers and partners who share our commitment to excellence.
Rigorous testing begins at the product development stage. Our teams evaluate samples and conduct performance comparisons to national brands. Only products that meet or exceed our benchmarks earn the Kirkland name.
Ongoing quality audits ensure manufacturing standards stay consistent over time. We inspect facilities, review ingredient lists, and test finished products. If issues ever arise, we work quickly to resolve them in partnership with our suppliers.
Kirkland has invested heavily in developing scientific labs to evaluate product claims. Our scientists painstakingly test for ingredients, efficacy, safety, and more. Their efforts give customers confidence in the items they bring home.
We even manufacture some Kirkland products in our own facilities. Vertical integration allows for better quality control and the ability to tweak our formulas. For especially critical categories like infant formula, we opted to oversee the full end-to-end process.
Our demanding standards ensure that Kirkland customers receive exceptional value without sacrificing product performance, safety, or reliability. We stand behind every item we sell with that same commitment.
Innovation to Meet Evolving Needs
Since our early days selling diapers and dry goods, Kirkland has expanded dramatically to serve customers’ changing needs. Our buyers stay on top of trends to keep our inventory fresh and relevant.
We enroll in emerging categories like natural foods, gourmet snacks, and organic ingredients. Sales data and customer feedback help predict which new products to prioritize. Our goal is to democratize healthier living by making better-for-you items affordable.
Innovation also means finding ways to improve everyday staples. Our packaging designers are constantly engineering materials and shapes that maximize efficiency and sustainability. Product developers reformulate items like cleaning supplies to exclude harsh chemicals.
We now offer apparel, furniture, electronics, outdoor equipment, and almost any product today’s households require. Customers appreciate being able to purchase an entire wardrobe or furnish their home in just one stop.
By evolving along with our customers’ tastes and lifestyles, we ensure every visit offers exciting new discoveries. But shoppers can still count on finding their Kirkland favorites on every visit.
The Future of Affordable Quality
Looking ahead, Kirkland will continue working to meet ever-changing needs and make customers’ lives easier. Some of our priorities going forward include:
- Expanding internationally – We’ve already opened stores in 5 countries and plan to reach shoppers worldwide. The goal is making top-notch merchandise affordable and convenient for everyone.
- Investing in online shopping – We are enhancing our ecommerce experience to offer speedy delivery and easy pickup. Customers will be able to get quality Kirkland products shipped straight to their door.
- Developing Kirkland-branded services – We aim to launch additional services like auto repair, vision exams, pharmacies, and cell phone plans. The focus will stay on convenience, quality, and savings.
- Increasing environmental initiatives – There are always more ways we can give back by conserving resources and reducing waste. We will keep pushing forward in this area.
- Maintaining our commitment to communities – Our success stems from the neighborhoods we serve. We’ll keep supporting local causes and those in need.
After more than 30 years, the enthusiasm from our customers motivates us every day. We are grateful for the chance to provide families worldwide with quality products to make life’s necessities more affordable.
That founding commitment to value and community will guide Kirkland as we continue growing in the years ahead. We can’t wait to see what the future holds!
