Company history: how we keep the page

Aquiba Benarroch · 3 October 2026 · For Allan and William Barnes

Agents have been excellent at finding pages and unreliable at keeping them. A subagent found a page, sent a summary, and the summary became the source. An image that held the fact could be missed. Will's Perimeter Solutions pieces needed every quote checked again. The fix is to save the page first, the way we save a filing, and let an agent read the file.

1. What a terminal skill does

flowchart LR
  q["Question"]
  find["Skill finds a page"]
  sum["Summary comes back"]
  src["Summary is treated as the source"]
  q --> find --> sum --> src

A link can be wrong, and a page can be skipped.
An image that holds the fact can be missed.
You cannot trust the summary as the page.

2. The script

flowchart LR
  q["Question: founding, ownership, milestones"]
  fetch["Firecrawl fetches the page"]
  file["File saved"]
  row["A row for every URL found, including ones not opened"]
  q --> fetch --> file --> row

Company History asks three questions: founding, ownership, and milestones.
Firecrawl saves the pages we open. We do not open every URL we find.
Costco, 3 October 2026: 38 URLs found, 12 opened and saved, 26 written down and not opened. Two of the twelve were not company history, so they refused.

3. The agent sits on the files

flowchart LR
  files["Saved files"]
  agent["Agent queries them"]
  quote["Quote points at the file"]
  files --> agent --> quote

Unit economics is the same script with a new question and a new schema. The questions might be gross margin, cost per unit, and revenue drivers. The fields might be the metric, the period, the quote, and the URL. That is the pattern, not a Costco result.
Company industry is the same swap: a new question, a new schema, the same saved files.
A company list is a later pass over sources we have already saved. It is not a trust list we build first.

Numbers read 3 October 2026 from ~/Code/company-history-capture/captures/costco/20261003T093324/manifest.jsonl. Allan's note is in InvestOS plan / priorities.

Appendix

Fetched (12). Under each link: history yes or no, and the one quote we kept.

https://www.costco.com/f/-/about

yes · “In 1983, the first Costco warehouse location was opened in Seattle.”

Extract

{
  "founders": [
    "Sol Price",
    "Jim Sinegal",
    "Jeff Brotman"
  ],
  "milestones": [
    {
      "year": "1976",
      "event": "First location under the Price Club name opened",
      "quote": "The company's first location, opened in 1976 under the Price Club name, was in a converted airplane hangar on Morena Boulevard in San Diego."
    },
    {
      "year": "1983",
      "event": "First Costco warehouse location opened in Seattle",
      "quote": "In 1983, the first Costco warehouse location was opened in Seattle."
    },
    {
      "year": "1993",
      "event": "Merger with Price Club",
      "quote": "When Costco and Price Club merged in 1993, the combined company, operating under the name PriceCostco, had 206 locations generating $16 billion in annual sales."
    },
    {
      "year": "1997",
      "event": "Resumed the Costco name",
      "quote": "Since resuming the Costco name in 1997, the company has grown worldwide with total sales in recent fiscal years exceeding $64 billion."
    }
  ],
  "founded_year": "1983",
  "ownership_changes": [
    {
      "year": "1993",
      "event": "Merger with Price Club",
      "quote": "When Costco and Price Club merged in 1993, the combined company, operating under the name PriceCostco, had 206 locations generating $16 billion in annual sales.",
      "parties": "Costco, Price Club"
    }
  ],
  "name_or_legal_changes": [
    "Price Club to Costco",
    "PriceCostco to Costco"
  ],
  "page_is_about_company_history": true
}

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Costco

yes · “In December 1985, Costco went public, opening on the NASDAQ at $10 per share.”

Extract

{
  "founders": [
    "James Sinegal",
    "Jeffrey Brotman"
  ],
  "milestones": [
    {
      "year": "1983-09-15",
      "event": "First Costco warehouse opened in Seattle",
      "quote": "Sinegal had started in wholesale distribution by working for Sol Price at FedMart; Brotman, an attorney from an old Seattle retailing family, had also been involved in retail distribution from an early age."
    },
    {
      "year": "1985-12",
      "event": "Costco went public",
      "quote": "In December 1985, Costco went public, opening on the NASDAQ at $10 per share."
    },
    {
      "year": "1993-00",
      "event": "Merger with Price Club to become PriceCostco",
      "quote": "In 1993, Costco and Price Club agreed to merge operations."
    },
    {
      "year": "1996-00",
      "event": "Headquarters moved to Issaquah, WA",
      "quote": "Costco moved its headquarters from Kirkland to Issaquah in 1996."
    },
    {
      "year": "1997-00",
      "event": "Reverted to using the Costco name and stock symbol",
      "quote": "PriceCostco officially reverted to using the Costco name and stock symbol in February 1997."
    },
    {
      "year": "2020-03-00",
      "event": "Acquisition of Innovel",
      "quote": "In March 2020, Costco announced the acquisition of Innovel, a logistics company, for one billion dollars."
    }
  ],
  "founded_year": "1983-09-15",
  "ownership_changes": [
    {
      "year": "1995-12",
      "event": "Initial public offering",
      "quote": "In December 1985, Costco went public, opening on the NASDAQ at $10 per share.",
      "parties": "Costco"
    },
    {
      "year": "1993-00",
      "event": "Merger with Price Club",
      "quote": "In 1993, Costco and Price Club agreed to merge operations.",
      "parties": "Price Club"
    },
    {
      "year": "1996-00",
      "event": "Headquarters moved to Issaquah, WA",
      "quote": "Costco moved its headquarters from Kirkland to Issaquah in 1996.",
      "parties": "Costco"
    }
  ],
  "name_or_legal_changes": [
    "PriceCostco to Costco in February 1997"
  ],
  "page_is_about_company_history": true
}

https://www.businessinsider.com/founding-history-of-costco

yes · “The company was founded in 1983 by Jim Sinegal and Jeff Brotman, who opened the first Costco warehouse in Seattle, Washington.”

Extract

{
  "founders": [
    "Jim Sinegal",
    "Jeff Brotman"
  ],
  "milestones": [
    {
      "year": "1983",
      "event": "Company founded and opened first warehouse in Seattle, Washington",
      "quote": "The company was founded in 1983 by Jim Sinegal and Jeff Brotman, who opened the first Costco warehouse in Seattle, Washington."
    },
    {
      "year": "1985",
      "event": "Costco became a publicly traded company",
      "quote": "Costco became a publicly traded company in 1985, initially offering shares for $10."
    },
    {
      "year": "1993",
      "event": "Price Club and Costco joined forces and began operating as PriceCostco",
      "quote": "In 1993, Price Club and Costco joined forces and began operating as PriceCostco with 206 locations and $16 billion in annual sales."
    },
    {
      "year": "1997",
      "event": "The company reverted to the Costco branding",
      "quote": "The company dropped the awkward PriceCostco branding in 1997 and reverted to Costco."
    },
    {
      "year": "2012",
      "event": "Jim Sinegal retired as CEO",
      "quote": "Sinegal retired as CEO on January 1, 2012, handing the leadership of the company to its head of merchandising, Craig Jelinek."
    },
    {
      "year": "2014",
      "event": "Costco became the third-largest retailer in the world",
      "quote": "Costco became the third-largest retailer in the world in 2014, a ranking it still holds today behind Walmart and Amazon."
    },
    {
      "year": "2023",
      "event": "Costco turned 40 years old",
      "quote": "Costco turned 40 in September 2023 with 838 locations around the world and nearly 129 million membership cardholders."
    },
    {
      "year": "2024",
      "event": "Ron Vachris took over as Costco CEO",
      "quote": "Ron Vachris took over as Costco CEO on January 1, 2024, becoming the third person ever to hold the top job."
    }
  ],
  "founded_year": "1983",
  "ownership_changes": [
    {
      "year": "1993",
      "event": "Costco and Price Club merged into PriceCostco",
      "quote": "In 1993, Price Club and Costco joined forces and began operating as PriceCostco with 206 locations and $16 billion in annual sales.",
      "parties": "Costco and Price Club"
    },
    {
      "year": "1997",
      "event": "Reverted to Costco branding after Price Club merger",
      "quote": "The company dropped the awkward PriceCostco branding in 1997 and reverted to Costco.",
      "parties": null
    },
    {
      "year": "1985",
      "event": "Initial public offering",
      "quote": "Costco became a publicly traded company in 1985, initially offering shares for $10.",
      "parties": null
    }
  ],
  "name_or_legal_changes": [
    "PriceCostco",
    "Costco"
  ],
  "page_is_about_company_history": true
}

https://www.costco.com/f/-/company-information

yes · “In 1983, the first Costco warehouse location was opened in Seattle.”

Extract

{
  "founders": [
    "Sol Price",
    "Jim Sinegal",
    "Jeff Brotman"
  ],
  "milestones": [
    {
      "year": "1976",
      "event": "First location opened under Price Club name in San Diego",
      "quote": "The company's first location, opened in 1976 under the Price Club name, was in a converted airplane hangar on Morena Boulevard in San Diego."
    },
    {
      "year": "1983",
      "event": "First Costco warehouse opened in Seattle",
      "quote": "In 1983, the first Costco warehouse location was opened in Seattle."
    },
    {
      "year": "1993",
      "event": "Merger between Costco and Price Club",
      "quote": "When Costco and Price Club merged in 1993, the combined company, operating under the name PriceCostco, had 206 locations generating $16 billion in annual sales."
    },
    {
      "year": "1997",
      "event": "Company resumed the Costco name",
      "quote": "Since resuming the Costco name in 1997, the company has grown worldwide with total sales in recent fiscal years exceeding $192 billion."
    }
  ],
  "founded_year": "1983",
  "ownership_changes": [
    {
      "year": "1993",
      "event": "Merger with Price Club",
      "quote": "When Costco and Price Club merged in 1993, the combined company, operating under the name PriceCostco, had 206 locations generating $16 billion in annual sales.",
      "parties": "Costco, Price Club"
    }
  ],
  "name_or_legal_changes": [
    "Price Club to PriceCostco",
    "PriceCostco to Costco"
  ],
  "page_is_about_company_history": true
}

https://www.britannica.com/money/Costco

yes · “In 1997 the corporate name was changed to Costco Companies, Inc.”

Extract

{
  "founders": [
    "Sol Price",
    "James D. Sinegal",
    "Jeffrey H. Brotman"
  ],
  "milestones": [
    {
      "year": "1983",
      "event": "First Costco Wholesale opened in Seattle",
      "quote": "In 1983, Sinegal joined with Jeffrey H. Brotman to open the first Costco Wholesale in Seattle."
    },
    {
      "year": "1993",
      "event": "Merger with Price Company",
      "quote": "In 1993 the Price Company (corporate parent of Price Club) and Costco merged to become PriceCostco."
    },
    {
      "year": "1997",
      "event": "Change to Costco Companies, Inc.",
      "quote": "In 1997 the corporate name was changed to Costco Companies, Inc."
    },
    {
      "year": "1999",
      "event": "Adoption of current name Costco Wholesale Corporation",
      "quote": "In 1999 the present corporate name–Costco Wholesale Corporation—was adopted."
    }
  ],
  "founded_year": "1983",
  "ownership_changes": [
    {
      "year": "1993",
      "event": "Merger with Price Company to become PriceCostco",
      "quote": "In 1993 the Price Company (corporate parent of Price Club) and Costco merged to become PriceCostco.",
      "parties": "Costco, Price Company"
    }
  ],
  "name_or_legal_changes": [
    "PriceCostco (1993)",
    "Costco Companies, Inc. (1997)",
    "Costco Wholesale Corporation (1999)"
  ],
  "page_is_about_company_history": true
}

https://investor.costco.com/resources/investor-faqs/default.aspx

yes · “The Company went public on December 5, 1985 at $10.00 per share (before stock splits).”

Extract

{
  "founders": [],
  "milestones": [
    {
      "year": "1985",
      "event": "Initial Public Offering",
      "quote": "The Company went public on December 5, 1985 at $10.00 per share (before stock splits)."
    },
    {
      "year": "1993",
      "event": "Merger with The Price Company",
      "quote": "The ex-dividend date for the merger was October 21, 1993. At that time, a new company was created called PriceCostco, Inc. (ticker symbol PCCW)."
    },
    {
      "year": "1997",
      "event": "Name change to Costco Companies, Inc.",
      "quote": "In February 1997, the Company changed its name from PriceCostco, Inc. to Costco Companies, Inc."
    },
    {
      "year": "1999",
      "event": "Reincorporation and name change to Costco Wholesale Corporation",
      "quote": "Effective August 30, 1999, Costco Companies, Inc. changed its name to Costco Wholesale Corporation and reincorporated from Delaware to Washington."
    }
  ],
  "founded_year": null,
  "ownership_changes": [],
  "name_or_legal_changes": [
    "PriceCostco, Inc. to Costco Companies, Inc.",
    "Costco Companies, Inc. to Costco Wholesale Corporation"
  ],
  "page_is_about_company_history": true
}

https://investor.costco.com/stock-info/dividend-history/default.aspx

no · refused

Extract

{
  "founders": [],
  "milestones": [],
  "founded_year": null,
  "ownership_changes": [],
  "name_or_legal_changes": [],
  "page_is_about_company_history": false
}

https://thebrandhopper.com/brand/who-owns-costco-ownership-business-model/

yes · “Costco was founded by Jim Sinegal and Jeffrey Brotman, who opened the first Costco warehouse in Seattle on September 15, 1983.”

Extract

{
  "founders": [
    "Jim Sinegal",
    "Jeffrey Brotman"
  ],
  "milestones": [
    {
      "year": "1983-09-15",
      "event": "Opened the first Costco warehouse in Seattle, Washington",
      "quote": "Costco was founded by Jim Sinegal and Jeffrey Brotman, who opened the first Costco warehouse in Seattle on September 15, 1983."
    },
    {
      "year": "1993",
      "event": "Merged with Price Club to form PriceCostco",
      "quote": "In 1993, Costco merged with Price Club — the company that had originally invented the membership-warehouse retail format."
    }
  ],
  "founded_year": "1983",
  "ownership_changes": [
    {
      "year": "1993",
      "event": "Merger with Price Club",
      "quote": "The resulting company, initially named PriceCostco, immediately became the largest operator of its kind in the country.",
      "parties": "Costco and Price Club"
    }
  ],
  "name_or_legal_changes": [
    "PriceCostco (initially after merger)",
    "Costco Wholesale Corporation (later named)"
  ],
  "page_is_about_company_history": true
}

https://www.supermarketnews.com/grocery-operations/costco-changing-name-of-price-costco-units

yes · “changed to Price/Costco after being acquired by Costco three years ago.”

Extract

{
  "founders": [],
  "milestones": [
    {
      "year": "1997-03-10",
      "event": "Costco begins changing names of Price/Costco stores to Costco.",
      "quote": "When Price and Costco merged, we continued to maintain separate names on the buildings, although we recognized that at some point we would want to operate under a single name."
    }
  ],
  "founded_year": null,
  "ownership_changes": [
    {
      "year": "1997",
      "event": "Merger with Price Club",
      "quote": "changed to Price/Costco after being acquired by Costco three years ago.",
      "parties": "Costco and Price Club"
    }
  ],
  "name_or_legal_changes": [
    "changed its corporate name from Price/Costco to Costco Cos."
  ],
  "page_is_about_company_history": true
}

https://www.thestreet.com/retail/costco-history-timeline

yes · “Costco buys a logistics supplier, Innovel.”

Extract

{
  "founders": [
    "James Sinegal",
    "Jeff Brotman"
  ],
  "milestones": [
    {
      "year": "1983",
      "event": "Costco's first warehouse location opens in Seattle.",
      "quote": "Costco’s first warehouse location opens in Seattle."
    },
    {
      "year": "1993",
      "event": "Costco and Price Club merge, forming PriceCostco.",
      "quote": "Costco and Price Club merge, and the combined company is named PriceCostco."
    },
    {
      "year": "1996",
      "event": "PriceCostco moves its headquarters from Seattle to Issaquah, Washington.",
      "quote": "PriceCostco moves its headquarters from Seattle to present-day Issaquah, Washington."
    },
    {
      "year": "1997",
      "event": "PriceCostco stores begin operating under the shortened Costco name.",
      "quote": "PriceCostco stores begin operating under the shortened Costco name."
    },
    {
      "year": "2009",
      "event": "Costco acquires a logistics supplier, Innovel.",
      "quote": "Costco buys a logistics supplier, Innovel."
    },
    {
      "year": "2024",
      "event": "Ron Vachris becomes Costco's third CEO.",
      "quote": "Ron Vachris, who started as a warehouse forklift operator and rose through the ranks, becomes Costco’s third CEO."
    }
  ],
  "founded_year": "1983",
  "ownership_changes": [
    {
      "year": "1993",
      "event": "Merger with Price Club",
      "quote": "Costco and Price Club merge, and the combined company is named PriceCostco.",
      "parties": "Costco and Price Club"
    }
  ],
  "name_or_legal_changes": [
    "PriceCostco",
    "Costco Companies",
    "Costco Wholesale"
  ],
  "page_is_about_company_history": true
}

https://www.foxbusiness.com/retail/history-costco

yes · “The first store operated under the Costco label was opened in Seattle on Sept. 15, 1983, by Sinegal and another career retailer, Jeff Brotman.”

Extract

{
  "founders": [
    "Jim Sinegal",
    "Jeff Brotman"
  ],
  "milestones": [
    {
      "year": "1983",
      "event": "First Costco store opened in Seattle.",
      "quote": "The first store operated under the Costco label was opened in Seattle on Sept. 15, 1983, by Sinegal and another career retailer, Jeff Brotman."
    },
    {
      "year": "1985",
      "event": "Company became publicly traded.",
      "quote": "By 1985, Costco was already being publicly traded - at which point the company was overseeing some 17 warehouses nationwide."
    },
    {
      "year": "1993",
      "event": "Merger with Price Company.",
      "quote": "After the Price Company declined an offer to merge with Sam's Club ... it instead opted to join forces with Costco."
    },
    {
      "year": "1997",
      "event": "Official name change to Costco.",
      "quote": "After testing a simple rebrand to Costco in late 1996, the company officially changed its name the following year."
    }
  ],
  "founded_year": "1983",
  "ownership_changes": [
    {
      "year": "1993",
      "event": "Merger with Price Company to form PriceCostco.",
      "quote": "After the Price Company declined an offer to merge with Sam's Club ... it instead opted to join forces with Costco.",
      "parties": "Costco and Price Company"
    }
  ],
  "name_or_legal_changes": [
    "Price Club to PriceCostco in 1993",
    "PriceCostco to Costco in 1997"
  ],
  "page_is_about_company_history": true
}

https://www.costco.com/f/-/connection-fye-history-repeating-august-2022

no · refused

Extract

{
  "founders": [],
  "milestones": [],
  "founded_year": null,
  "ownership_changes": [],
  "name_or_legal_changes": [],
  "page_is_about_company_history": false
}

Schema we asked Firecrawl to fill

On each opened page, one JSON object. Required field: page_is_about_company_history. If that is false, the arrays stay empty. Other fields: founded_year, founders, ownership_changes (year, event, parties, quote), milestones (year, event, quote), name_or_legal_changes. The prompt asked only for founding, founders, headquarters origin, ownership changes, name or legal-entity changes, and dated operating milestones. Every fact needs a quote from that page.

Not fetched (26). Same manifest. Not opened.