Business idea · E-commerce
Costco Roadshow Success
Costco Roadshow Success: This business idea revolves around participating in Costco's roadshow events, where products are sold on consignment for a limited time. It was pitched on My First Million in the episode "3 strangers showed us how they made $8M, $10M, & $40M/year" (aired August 17, 2026).
At a glance
| Podcast | My First Million |
|---|---|
| Hosted by | Sam Parr and Shaan Puri |
| Episode | 3 strangers showed us how they made $8M, $10M, & $40M/year |
| Aired | August 17, 2026 |
| Category | E-commerce |
| Real companies on the episode | Midday Squares, Daydream, Apsist Go, Pasha |
The problem it solves
Many small brands struggle to gain visibility in large retail environments and often lack the resources to effectively market their products. The roadshow model allows them to showcase their products directly to consumers, generating immediate sales and brand recognition.
How it makes money
Revenue is generated through direct sales during the roadshow events, with payment based on the number of products sold.
Skills you need
Strong sales and marketing skills, product knowledge, customer engagement, and the ability to analyze market trends.
The market, and why this works now
E-commerce brands selling specialty food items often face challenges in gaining visibility. Participating in Costco's roadshows allows these brands to showcase products directly to consumers and make immediate sales. A viable first-revenue move is to promote products through the Specialty Food Association's Fancy Food Show, attracting attention from potential buyers. A significant constraint will be the initial capital required for inventory and logistics, which can strain cash flow before sales are realized.
Our analysis, written after the episode. Not a quote from the show.
Real companies discussed on this episode
- Midday Squares
Midday Squares produces a refrigerated chocolate bar that aims to fill the afternoon snack gap for adults, combining chocolate with healthy ingredients.
- Daydream
A technology company that automates back-office tasks for dental practices, improving revenue collection and reducing administrative burdens.
- Apsist Go
Apsist Go is a company that helps dental practices improve their collections by increasing claims and reducing the time to payment.
- Pasha
Pasha is a robotics company that develops cooking robots for homes, aiming to provide a private chef experience by utilizing AI and computer vision technology.
Where this idea came from
Podcast: My First Million, hosted by Sam Parr and Shaan Puri
Episode: 3 strangers showed us how they made $8M, $10M, & $40M/year
Aired:
Summarized from the episode transcript. The show does not say which speaker raised each idea, so we credit the show, not a person.