Target Executive Summary

After the recession, Target’s value proposition shifted to simply offer affordable options in a wide array of product areas. However, now with better economic conditions and without the ability to offer lower prices than its affordable retail competitors, such as Walmart, and in order to stay relevant and refresh the company, Target needs to reposition itself as the high-quality concept and style-oriented retail store it was once known for.

In today’s world, especially in Canada, consumers generally want to satisfy all of their needs in a way that saves them the most time and energy. In order to meet this need, Target offers their customers the chance to buy different products that they would normally have to go to two or three different stores

Target has picked Toronto as a first store is astute; Toronto has the most elevated populace in Canada as per Census Canada 2011. There is an unmistakable test for Target while being contrasted with Wal-Mart yet Target can be separated by giving interesting items those are more extravagant with good quality. Dependent on US market which is currently soft. An alternate element is the ascent of the number of inhabitants in the retiree, organizations, for example, Target Corporation wherein it has various workers will have some major snags acquiring more representatives, the retirement of workers is quickly getting higher while the substitution does not increment.

Target is an upscale discounter that provides high-quality, trendy merchandise at attractive prices in clean, spacious and guest-friendly stores. In addition, Target operates an online business, Target.com. It all started in 1902, when George Dayton joined in partnership with Goodfellow’s Dry Goods Company, the fourth biggest department store that is located in Minneapolis, MN. Dayton, wanting to be more involved in the company bought out Goodfellow’s to become sole owner and President of Dayton Dry Goods Company (Target Corporation, 2014). Travel on down through the years as Daytons continues to grow, until 1962. That was the year an icon was born, its name is “Target.”

This report examines Target Corporation’s performance in a detailed strategic audit. The audit includes an external, internal and strategic analysis as well as a recommended course of action. The findings of the audit recommend a robust on-line/mobile presence to complement in-store sales, and to increase future earnings to remain competitive by building upon physical assets, brand value and logistical capabilities.

Target Corporation is a retail chain specializing in household goods, clothing, food, and accessories at discounted prices. The retail chain’s history started back in 1902 as Goodfellows and in 1910 as The Dayton Company. Initially, the chain specialized in “furnishings, fabrics and decorations for business and other public institutions” (“Target Corporation,” 2016, p. 5). Eventually, Target went public in 1967 and on to acquire Mervyn’s in the 1970s where they became the seventh largest retailer in the United States. Target operates in the United States, where it is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota and as of January 31, 2015 Target employs over 300,000 people. “The company recorded revenues of $72,618 million in the financial year ended January 2015, the operating profit of the company was $4,535 million, [and] the net profit was $2,449 million” (“Target

Target aim in keeping stores organized, clean and well-designed. Target has a great program which encourages individuals reading and getting involved in arts. Target’s environmentally conscious. They are building stores with energy efficient lighting and equipment and some stores are being built as “green stores.” The company aims for diversity and they believe “true excellence can be best achieved by focusing on areas of established strength and enhancing them rather than concentrating only on repairing areas of weakness”. I highlight a bit how Target’s financials are doing. “Net Income was unchanged at $704 million. However share repurchases including $549 million in the most recent quarter. Reduced the weighted average number of outstanding common shares by 3.2% over the last 12 months to 662.9 million, pushing earnings per share up 2.9 % to 1.06 per diluted share from $ 1.03 in the preceding year. Backing out losses related to Target’s Canadian market entry and partially offsetting tax credits in both years, adjusted earnings edged up 1.2% to 742 million or

Thus, Target operations thought that opening over 100 stores all over Canada would be a great opportunity for the company to expand its profitability. However, the exact opposite happened. Instead of reaching their profitability goal, there is an estimated loss between $800-$900 million, since the opening of stores in Canada (Austin, 2014). The cause of this failure was due to a lack of inventory in most stores; leading to empty shelves and many of the favorable brands from U.S. Target’s did not make it to the stores in Canada. Another problem was that prices were higher in Canadian stores compared to U.S. store prices due to shipping costs and tax (Austin, 2014). Target failed to think this whole process through before acting on it. Starting with the 124 stores who all had to be remodeled and up and running in less than a year due to Canada’s policy of not letting any store stay vacant for any longer than that; to having the ability to furnish and fill the stores with all of their merchandise (Nolan, 2014). Soon they came to realize they could not. Target’s lack of looking into the higher prices they would have been paying making it able to get the merchandise over the border into Canada, was another issue leading to the company’s ineffective plans. Having noticed early on that the extra costs of tax will lead to a price mark up on in store products,

Target Corporation is an American retailing company that uses various retail formats that range from low-end to high-end items. It was founded in 1902 by George Draper Dayton. It is now the fourth largest retailer in the United States and operates almost 1600 stores in 47 states (Funding Universe, 2004). Target differentiate themselves by other competitors by offering consumers fashion products and grocery at affordable prices, that drags the customers into purchasing more. A typical Target store averages from 145,000 square ft by 126,000 square ft. (Funding Universe, 2004). The stores are spacious, with a display of a grid format, which concludes in consumers shopping for items that are put on long gondolas so less space would be wasted.

After 90 years of growth, target has over three hundred stores across Australia with stores conveniently located in both metropolitan and regional areas (Wesfarmers, 2016). Target offers its customers a diverse range of products including Branded clothing, cosmetics, toys, homewares, electrical, fitness and consumer electronics. Few premium brands, mostly mid-range seasonal fashion lines (Target Australia, 2017). Target’s core marketing strategy is targeting fashion conscious shoppers by collaborating with designers like Jean Paul Gaultier and Stella McCartney (Catie Low, 2016) with a focus on quality and customer in-store shopping experience, and entering high volume brands, exiting unprofitable sales and toy sales.

In my personal opinion, Target should continue to develop a specific portfolio that is specifically targeted to its customer’s needs and likes, while focusing on maintaining the same product quality and variety for each store brand. Through its marketing strategy, the retailer has to assure the consumer they are purchasing the same quality product as if they were buying a national brand at a more affordable price; which at the end is more convenient for the consumer and does not have to sacrifice quality. Target should also expand to the South and Northeast where there are still plenty of attractive locations with no Target presence. This will attract more customers and consequently strengthen its store brands.

The Target Corporation is a general merchandise retailer that opened up in in 1962 under the parent company of Dayton Corporation. This parent company was renamed the Target Corporation in 2000 and are based out of Minneapolis. There are over 1,800 Target stores throughout the United States which includes Targets and Super Targets. In 2005 Target began expansion in India and in 2011 to Canada however this expansion into Canada did not fare well and all Target Canada stores were closed by 2015. According to Forbes in 2005 they we ranked amongst the highest cash-giving companies in America with 2.1% given and they donate about 5% of its pre-tax operating profit. In 2010 Target was ranked number 22 by Fortune magazine’s World's Most Admired Companies.

Headquartered in Minneapolis Minnesota, Target Corporation is one of the largest chains of retail stores in United States and Canada (Stone, 1995). Founded in 1902, the chain now has more than 360,000 employees worldwide. The company operates nearly 1925 stores out of which 1795 stores are in the US and 130 stores are in Canada (NASDAQ, 2014). The business prides itself in a diverse portfolio of merchandise that their outlets houses, ranging from dry groceries to electronics, furniture, apparel and much more. Its distribution networks make use of third party vendors, direct shipping as well as distribution centers. It also operates a successful e-store target.com which offers customers a virtual one-stop shop for their needs.

One of Target’s strengths is that it’s one of the largest retail outlets. Target is a one stop shop for its consumers. Target

Target Corporation has recognized itself as one of the top retailers in the United States market on the basis of excellent service quality, customer experiences, operational excellence, strong financial position, and a wide array of product offerings. Through its high degree of service orientation at physical outlets and adoption of fair business practices, Target Corporation has become the most distinctive retailer in the eyes of its potential customers. Being one of the top-notch retailers in the United States, Target Corporation has to carefully strategize on its business operations and marketing tactics so as to keep itself in the row of competitive brands of the industry.