What a 40,000-Person Costco Facebook Group Taught Me About Building a Business
I never set out to build a 40,000-person community around bulk groceries.
No strategy deck. No hidden agenda. No monetization plan.
Just a simple idea: share cool finds, review fun products, spotlight local businesses, help each other out – and above all else, keep it positive.
It started with one warehouse store. A shared love of good deals. And somehow one of the most engaged, affectionate, genuinely fun communities on the internet emerged.
What happened next taught me more about business than any course, degree, or corporate role ever did. And if you're building something right now - a brand, a business, an audience - you need to hear this.
People don't join groups. They join a feeling.
It started with one thing: adding value.
The community - we call Hit The ‘Stco - didn't grow because of me. It grew because people found real value - and they stayed because it felt good to be there.
Scroll the feed on any given day and you'll see it:
"These muffins freeze well." "This deal is absolutely worth it." "This local business deserves your support." "Don't waste your money on this one. Trust me."
People came for the information. They stayed for the honesty. They stayed for the banter, the fun product reviews, the authenticity, the fact that nobody was pretending to be an expert - and nobody was trying to sell them anything.
Nothing was curated, polished, nor perfect.
Because here's the truth: if people don't get value from you quickly, they leave. No amount of branding will save that.
One decision changed everything: "Positive vibes only."
That wasn't fluff. That was leadership. That was care. Because people matter, Community matters. Kindness matters.
Negativity kills communities fast. So does ego. So does inconsistency.
If you're building a business, your vibe isn't a side detail.
Your vibe IS the business.
Keep it real. Be open. Genuinely care about the people you serve.
You don't have to be perfect - and truly, you shouldn't try to be. People don't resonate with perfect. They resonate with real. My partner's borderline-unhinged love of the cheesecake. My complete inability to walk past anything that sparkles. The goofy product reviews. The weirdness. The running bits. The laughs.
That's not filler. That's the whole reason it works.
Consistency beats perfection. Every time.
I showed up. Over and over.
Did I face criticism? Yes. Harsh feedback? Absolutely. I never responded in anger. I responded with kindness - and I kept going.
Silly posts. Heartfelt posts. "Is Costco open?" posts. All of it.
That consistency built trust. And trust is the currency of business.
You don't earn trust chasing viral moments. You earn it in the small, steady ones - the comment you reply to at 10pm, the member whose business you spotlight for no reason, the honest review you post even when it's not the popular take.
You don't need to be the expert. You need to be the connector.
I wasn't the smartest person in the room. I created the room - and I connected the people in it.
That's where the magic happened. Members helped each other. Local businesses got visibility. People found each other over the ever-popular Queso… and rotisserie chicken… and the awesome $1.50 hotdog deal, and honest reviews - and the shared relief of someone finally saying the quiet part out loud about a product.
If you're stuck thinking you need more credentials, more certifications, more "proof"…
You don't. You need to bring people together.
Community first. Everything else second.
Here's where most people get it wrong: they build something, then rush to monetize it. That kills trust overnight.
When you lead with community, revenue follows. When you lead with revenue, people feel it - and they leave.
You don't need to copy what someone else is doing. You need to get clear on who you are, and build from there.
If you're building something right now, focus on this:
Give real value - fast.
Create a space people actually want to be in.
Show up consistently, even when it's goofy.
Be you. Real and authentic. Be weird (it’s ok!).
Choose connection over perfection.
Build trust before you try to sell anything.
And most importantly?
Stop overthinking it.
I didn't build a community of tens of thousands by waiting until everything was perfect. I started. I kept showing up. And I cared - all the time, every time.
You don't need a perfect plan. You need to start, and keep showing up.
Want someone in your corner who's actually done it?
You don't need more content. You don't need another course. You need real strategy, real structure, and someone who'll tell you the truth.
That's exactly what mentorship with Biz Besties is built for - no fluff, no theory, just the straight talk and the steady support to help you build something people actually want to be part of.
Doing business better. Together.