The Evolution Of Target's Business Model

It has recently come to my attention that Target Co. utilizes data mining to extract a wide spectrum of information about its customers by accumulating, analyzing and storing data about customer purchases. While I understand that this practice enables Target Co. to simultaneously deliver individually targeted advertisements across its diverse customer groupings, thereby increasing the potential for sales and improving customer retention, I also understand that large amounts of data unearthed by data mining can be manipulated to uncover hidden purchasing patterns to predict and shape future purchase decisions. Therefore, although there are significant benefits to using data mining, there are also serious costs associated with data mining that

This paper discusses the company history of Target, evaluates Target’s internal strengths and weaknesses, and discusses external opportunities and threats. Additionally, the authors examine how the company functions to provide product to customers, and also elaborates on how the company interacts with their customers. Lastly, the authors evaluate the needs that Target serves its customers and assesses the criticality of the products provided.

Target Corporation is an upscale discount retailer whose mission is to provide trendy merchandise to their “guests” or customers (Target Corporation, n.d.). In order to achieve its mission, Target relies on its efficient management team to execute its vision and maintain operations. To learn more about a manager's role at Target, we interviewed Lisa Novgrod, a store manager of Target, on November 3rd, 2017. One of the topics discussed in the interview was the growth of online shopping and the struggle to be competitive online against giant e-commerce companies like Amazon.com and other retail competitors like Walmart. Currently, Target is having difficulty translating their competitive advantages such as a great in-store experience and trendy

The Scenario of Target Corporation in Canada in 2013 is that there are 720 employees losing their job across its global operations in Canada. The Minneapolis, Mn.-based Company said it has told 550 workers in Minnesota they will be losing their jobs, within that 350 of those losing jobs immediately. Another 170 staff members based at its technology centers in India will be “eliminated over time,” the company added.“The majority of the remaining team members are also losing the positions by the liquidation of corporation.” Target spokeswoman Molly Snyder said Target Canada is in the middle of liquidating its 133 stores and laying off more than 17,000 staff across the country. The U.S. retailer decided to wind up the Canadian stores due

Target Corporation is a retail company that provides a wide variety of products, such as clothing, housewares, groceries, entertainment, as well as a large selection of other products. Target aims for a wide customer base, providing customers with everyday products. It seeks to attract a younger, more educated, and affluent clientele. Their suppliers include many name brands for all products, including 3-M, General Mills, Massimo, and Apple. Target has also created their own brands, such as Up and Up and Archer Farms. In July 2014, Brian Cornell was named the company’s next Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO, and his transition was effective on August 12, 2014. He has over 30 years of retail and consumer products experience in various roles at Pepsi Co, Michaels, Wal-Mart, and Safeway. Cornell said, “I will focus on our current business performance in both the U.S. and Canada and on how we accelerate our omnichannel transformation.” (Target, 2014.)

Target’s business-level strategy is one that does not strictly focus entirely on one plan to gain a competitive advantage over competition. It encompasses various strategic and meticulous planning and decision making that is implemented in order to position the company at the top of the retail industry. With competition from the likes of Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club, and Costco, Target uses several clever and “out-of-the-box” ideas to attract consumer attention and ultimately increase market share within the industry. Most of the company’s ideas centered more on the differentiation of products and services provided to customers than lowering prices. For quite some time, the company’s plan was to not compete head-to-head with Wal-Mart in terms of lowering prices but instead to provide their customers, who they identify as “guests”, with a special experience every time they visited a Target location. One idea that was implemented was to market and sell upscale, trendy clothing and unique merchandise at discounted prices.1 This strategy, known as the “cheap-chic” strategy, focused on providing good quality clothing from various well known designers and fancy products from high-profile manufacturers for prices lower than their competition. This plan was vital because it began essentially began the concept of customers referring to Target as “Tar-zhay” which according to Patrick Barwise and Sean Meehan, who are university professors, as a “connote its trendy sensibility”. Target

Target Corp. is a well-known, nation-wide corporation that will soon been expanding internationally. Target’s goal is to provide exceptional quality merchandise and fresh foods for affordable prices. Their “Expect more. Pay less.” slogan goes far beyond just purchasing in store and online. Target provides exceptional service to their customers, whom they call “guests”, and provides benefits such as quarterly dividends to their stockholders. In the fiscal year, 2010, Target opened 13 new stores and of these new stores, 10 were in new locations. It is Target’s goal to create a convenient shopping experience across the U.S. In addition, Target Corp also supports strong corporate governance.

The deal was announced to have been made for $1.8 billion. Target opened its first Canadian stores in March 2013, and at its peak, Target Canada had 133 stores. However, the expansion into Canada was beset with problems, including supply chain issues that resulted in stores with aisles of empty shelves and higher than expected retail prices. Target Canada racked up losses of $2.1 billion in its short life, and the store 's botched expansion was characterized by the Canadian and US media as a spectacular failure, an unmitigated, disaster and a gold standard case study in what retailers should not attempt to do when they enter a new market. On January 15, 2015, Target announced that all 133 of its Canadian outlets would be closed and liquidated by the end of 2015.The last Target Canada stores closed on April 12, 2015, far ahead of the initial schedule.

The current economic recession has taken a toll on corporations. Those who survive stay within their financial means, are innovative in retaining and attracting customers, and use technology to distinguish themselves from their competitors. Target Corporation is a company that possesses all of these characteristics. While some companies have cut payroll or ceased to exist, Target Corporation has survived in the economic recession and is positioned to gain further market share as economic conditions continue to improve.

Currently Target has the 2nd Largest Discount Store, 1,763 stores worldwide, and has increased revenue every year since opening. This all comes from a well-organized and determined group of people. Target’s organizational structure isn’t complicated, and as a matter-of-fact its’ pretty simple. The general manager tops the list followed by the senior group leader, then group leader, and lastly the team members. The team members were recruited and trained in order to meet the standards that Target has established over the years.

For over 50 years, Target has provided American consumers with quality products delivered with “a unique shopping experience” (“About Us”, 2015). The retailing giant, second only to Walmart Corporation, secured a Fortune 500 ranking of 36 this year making them one the Top 100 companies in the U.S. (“Target”, 2015). 2014 was a tough year for the company marked with many pivotal moments including the installment of a new chief executive officer.

Target Corp shares made solid augmentations after it upheld cash related aces that clients were starting to come back to its U.S. stores, endorsing that the effect of a gigantic information break may not be as honest to goodness as some had dreaded.

Recently Target experienced losses in many of their stores across Canada, prompting the CEO to close all of them. This has now left Target dependent solely on the macroeconomic situation within the United States. Target is located in forty-seven different states across the United States with its highest presence in California, Florida, Texas, Minnesota, and Illinois. This can be a concern for Target because it cannot be helped by any international locations if the domestic economy takes a negative turn, resulting in significant drops in production in its

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.

With the down turn in the economy, many consumers have turned to Dollar General and Dollar stores; this has caused a decrease in Target’s revenue. Another threat is Wal-Mart and their ability to offer lower prices on their products compared to Target which makes them the low cost leader. (ehow.com)