Target news 

We look at the first sales forecasts coming in for the Black Friday shopping event in the US. Ecommerce sales hit $4.2bn on Thanksgiving Day Data from Adobe Analytics revealed that ecommerce sales increased 14.5% to $4.2bn on Thanksgiving Day. This is the first time that sales through the channel have exceeded $4.0bn on this day. Large retailers, those with sales in excess of $1bn, saw the ...

We look at Target’s strong third quarter performance and how it plans to win this holiday season. Top-line results Target’s third quarter revenue increased by 4.7% to $18.7bn, with comparable store sales up 4.5%. Comparable digital sales increased 31%. Operating income increased 22.3% to $1.0bn, with the stronger than expected increase in profitability driven by an improved gross margin. Th...

With many retailers starting their Black Friday promotions and deals early, we look at how this key shopping event is evolving in the US. Fewer shopping days Black Friday shopping traditionally takes place on the Friday after Thanksgiving Day. This year, the key shopping event is scheduled for November 29. However, many retailers are already running their Black Friday promotions, a signal o...

As excitement builds for Halloween, we share three initiatives helping widen the event’s appeal, offer ease and an element of surprise to customers. Asda: appealing to all ages Asda’s online hub offers a range of Halloween promotions, targeted at adults. This includes an offer of 25% off when shoppers buy six or more bottles, widening the appeal of the event and driving basket size. Offe...

We look at the development of Target’s smaller format stores and how they’re enabling the retailer to build its presence across major US cities. On-track to operate 100 smaller format stores Launched initially as CityTarget in 2012 and Target Express in 2014, the retailer’s smaller, flexible format stores have become the main driver of Target’s physical store growth. With over 100 stores tr...

We recently visited Target’s stores to review the launch of its new private label range, Good & Gather. The first of 2,000 products landing in-store Target has started to roll-out its new private label food range, Good & Gather, with the first of 650 products introduced into its stores. The roll-out will continue over the next few months, before being ramped up to over 2,000 products by l...

Target’s chief merchandising officer, Mark Tritton, is leaving the business to take up the role of president and CEO at Bed Bath & Beyond, a leading homewares retailer. Interim leadership of merchandising organisation Tritton has had a major impact on Target’s performance, having joined the company in 2016. Over the last two years, he has overseen the introduction of over 20 private labels ...

Target is partnering with the newly launched ToysRUs.com platform to power its product offer, digital capabilities and fulfilment services. Bringing the brand back to the US Tru Kids Brands, which owns the Toys”R”Us brand, announced earlier this year that it would relaunch in the US following its exit from the market in 2018. As the first phase of this, the company has launched an online pr...

Speaking at the Groceryshop event in Las Vegas, Stephanie Lundquist, the retailer’s executive vice president of food and beverage, stated that its food strategy is centred on being ‘Target’. We look at what this means. Aiming to build a more emotional connection through food In outlining the retailer’s food strategy, Lundquist highlighted the transactional approach that had previously been ...

Following the expansion of its pilot loyalty programme, Target Circle, earlier this year, the retailer is launching it nationally next month. This will see a new simplified approach to loyalty being adopted by the company. Launching the programme in six additional cities Earlier this year, Target expanded its loyalty pilot to Charlotte, Denver, Indianapolis, Kansas City and Phoenix, followi...