Ekono
Ekono is a Costa Rican omnichannel department store retailer selling clothing, footwear, home goods, electronics, and general merchandise across 20+ categories. It operates physical stores, a Magento e-commerce platform, iOS/Android mobile apps, and a corporate sales division serving families, individuals, and B2B customers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1998
- HeadquartersLa Lima, Honduras
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Ekono does
Ekono is a Costa Rican omnichannel department store retailer operated by Importadora Almacema S.A., selling clothing, footwear, home goods, consumer electronics, appliances, beauty, toys, pet supplies, automotive, and general merchandise across 20+ product categories. It serves individual consumers and families through its primary B2C motion, with a secondary B2B motion via a dedicated corporate sales division that supplies uniforms, hospitality goods, cleaning products, and office equipment to hotels, restaurants, and offices. Distribution is through multiple physical retail stores across Costa Rica, a full e-commerce platform at tiendasekono.com, dedicated iOS and Android mobile applications, and a store pickup service.
The technology stack is a Magento-based e-commerce storefront (Omnipro/Ekono_Theme) built with implementation partner Kalicr, integrated with a visual search module (Búsqueda Visual) developed by partner Cocobolo that allows customers to upload screenshots or social media photos to find similar products. The company layers on customer-facing financial and loyalty products — Credi-E installment credit financing, Ekono Plus rewards, and Ekono Prime premium membership — accessible through the website and mobile apps. No public APIs, SDKs, or partner integrations are documented.
The revenue model is predominantly one-time retail product sales through physical and digital channels, supplemented by recurring financing income from Credi-E installments and corporate/bulk sales revenue. Pricing is in Costa Rican colón at mid-market price points (e.g., T-shirts ₡2,500–6,800, men's shirts ₡4,000–10,800, men's sportswear ₡6,500–17,500). Marketing runs through organic social (Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, YouTube), email newsletters, the e-commerce platform, and mobile apps. The company operates exclusively within Costa Rica and is privately held with no disclosed funding history.
Ekono firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ekono
- Legal name
- Importadora Almacema S.A.
- Website
- https://tiendasekono.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1998
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- Ekono is a Costa Rican omnichannel department store retailer selling clothing, footwear, home goods, electronics, and general merchandise across 20+ categories. It operates physical stores, a Magento e-commerce platform, iOS/Android mobile apps, and a corporate sales division serving families, individuals, and B2B customers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Ekono is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- La Lima
- HQ country
- Honduras
- HQ region
- Latin America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Ekono business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Retail Product Sales: Ekono generates revenue primarily through direct sales of consumer goods across diverse categories including clothing, footwear, home goods, electronics, appliances, beauty, health, toys, pets, and more. Sales occur through physical retail stores, e-commerce website, and mobile applications. Revenue is predominantly one-time transaction-based with standard retail margins.
- Financing Income (Credi-E): Ekono offers proprietary financing program Credi-E allowing customers to purchase on credit. This creates recurring financing income stream from interest/fees on installment purchases.
- Corporate/Bulk Sales: Ekono operates a dedicated corporate sales division serving businesses for bulk purchases of uniforms, hospitality supplies, cleaning products, office equipment, and other commercial needs. This B2B channel provides volume-based revenue.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Men's Sportswear: Shorts ₡6,500-₡7,500, T-shirts ₡4,000-₡8,000, Sweaters from ₡11,000, Jackets ₡12,000 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Men's Shirts: Casual shirts ₡4,000-₡10,800 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Men's T-shirts: ₡2,500-₡6,800 |
| Subscription | Monthly | Ekono Plus Loyalty Program |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels4 records
Ekono product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ekono operates an omnichannel department store business in Costa Rica, selling a broad assortment of consumer goods — clothing, footwear, home goods, furniture, appliances, electronics, beauty, toys, pet supplies, and groceries — through physical retail stores, an e-commerce website (tiendasekono.com), and iOS/Android mobile applications. The retail offering is complemented by the Ekono Prime membership and Ekono Plus loyalty programs, the Credi-E in-store credit financing service, a corporate/B2B sales division for bulk commercial orders, and an image-based visual search feature for online product discovery.
Product overview
Ekono is a Costa Rican omnichannel retail department store operated by Importadora Almacema S.A. The business operates a physical and digital retail platform offering an extensive product portfolio spanning multiple categories: apparel for men, women, youth, children, and babies; home furnishings including furniture, kitchenware, bedding, and decor; consumer electronics and smart home devices; small and major home appliances; sports and fitness equipment; beauty and personal care products; health items; fragrances and perfumes; toys and collectibles; pet supplies; automotive and hardware products; groceries; and seasonal/entertainment items. The company complements its retail operations with loyalty programs (Ekono Prime), credit financing (Credi-E), corporate sales services, and a visual search feature for product discovery. The e-commerce platform is built on Magento and lacks public API access for third-party integrations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Ekono Prime: Premium membership program
- Ekono Plus
- Credi-E
Products and services
- Ekono Retail Department Store (Physical Stores and Online Storefront) General-merchandise department store selling a broad assortment of consumer goods across 20+ categories for Costa Rican individuals, families, and households, fulfilled through physical stores, the e-commerce website, and mobile apps.
- Ekono Prime Premium membership program offering exclusive benefits, promotions, and discounts to enrolled customers shopping at Ekono.
- Ekono Plus Loyalty/rewards program providing exclusive deals, promotions, and rewards to enrolled Ekono customers, with mobile app integration.
- Credi-E Proprietary in-store credit financing service that allows Ekono customers to purchase products on installment credit terms.
- Corporate / B2B Sales Division Dedicated B2B sales division supplying uniforms, hospitality supplies, cleaning products, office equipment, and other commercial items in bulk to hotels, restaurants, offices, and other businesses in Costa Rica.
Companies that use Ekono
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Ekono technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Ekono partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- KalicrminorKalicr is credited as the development partner that built Ekono's e-commerce platform and website (Magento-based Omnipro/Ekono_Theme). The company designed and developed the online store infrastructure.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Ekono competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- La Curacao: Central American department store and electronics retailer with presence across the region — directly comparable to Ekono's electronics, appliance, and home goods categories.
- Grupo Monge: Costa Rican retail group operating multiple store banners covering appliances, electronics, furniture, and general merchandise — overlapping significantly with Ekono's broad assortment strategy in the same domestic market.
- Tiendas Universal: Costa Rican variety/department store chain offering apparel, footwear, home goods, and general merchandise — closely comparable to Ekono in assortment breadth and Costa Rican market positioning.
- Gollo: Costa Rican appliance and home goods retailer — directly overlaps with Ekono's major and small appliance assortment in the same domestic market.
- Almacenes Siman: Central American department store chain operating across Costa Rica, Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Panama — offering apparel, home goods, and electronics in a similar multi-category department store format directly competing with Ekono's core model.
Broad incumbents
- PriceSmart: US-headquartered membership warehouse club operating in Costa Rica and Central America — competes with Ekono on broad multi-category assortment at competitive price points, especially for household and consumer goods.
Regional players
- EPA: Central American home improvement and home goods retailer with stores across the region — comparable to Ekono's home furnishings, kitchenware, and household merchandise segments.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Ekono social profiles
Digital presenceEkono financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ekono leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Ekono funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ekono M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Ekono
What does Ekono do?
Ekono operates an omnichannel department store business in Costa Rica, selling a broad assortment of consumer goods — clothing, footwear, home goods, furniture, appliances, electronics, beauty, toys, pet supplies, and groceries — through physical retail stores, an e-commerce website (tiendasekono.com), and iOS/Android mobile applications. The retail offering is complemented by the Ekono Prime membership and Ekono Plus loyalty programs, the Credi-E in-store credit financing service, a corporate/B2B sales division for bulk commercial orders, and an image-based visual search feature for online product discovery.
Is Ekono a public or private company?
Ekono is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Ekono founded?
Ekono was founded in 1998. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is Ekono based?
Ekono is headquartered in La Lima, Honduras, in the Latin America region.
How does Ekono make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Retail Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are financing Income (Credi-E) and corporate/Bulk Sales.
Who are Ekono's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are La Curacao, Grupo Monge, Tiendas Universal, Gollo and Almacenes Siman. PriceSmart is listed as a broad incumbent. EPA is listed as a regional player.
Does Ekono have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ekono.