Target refers to itself as a "discount department store" instead of just a discount store. Target stores do not play ambient music, commonly known as elevator music and often distributed by Muzak. However, several Target stores feature a Starbucks, and those that do play music only in the Starbucks centers. It also does not promote items or services through its public address system. Target designs its stores to be more attractive than Wal-Mart by having wider aisles, drop ceilings, a more attractive presentation of merchandise and generally cleaner fixtures. In addition, special attention is given to the design of the store environment: graphics reinforce Target's advertising imagery and shelves are dressed with contemporary signage, backdrops and liners, often printed on inexpensive material such as paper, corrugated and foam boards. One side effect of Target's store designs is that it may cost Target more to build its stores than its competitors, which in many cases, is passed along to the consumer in the form of higher prices than competitor Wal-Mart. Target stores do not sell firearms or tobacco. Unlike Wal-Mart, however, it does sell "explicit" CDs and "racy" magazines such as Maxim and FHM.

Target has many exclusive deals with various designers, including Isaac Mizrahi, Michael Graves, Mossimo, Fiorucci, Liz Lange, and Luella Bartley, among others. Target introduced its first designer line of products, the Michael Graves collection, in 1999. Wal-Mart and Kmart have followed Target's lead by signing exclusive designers to their stores as well. Target also partners with well-established national brands to create exclusive collections for its stores. Recently, Sony created a line of electronics under the Sony LIV name geared towards women. The collection included a CD player that resembled a purse, and a CD player that was equipped to be mounted under the kitchen counter. Another example of this is Target having an exclusive deal with Food Network for selling DVDs of TV shows featuring popular chefs such as Rachael Ray, Alton Brown, and Paula Deen. In July 2006, Target started selling exclusive two-tone pink edition Apple iPods. Sometimes manufacturers will create red-colored items, exclusively for Target. In 2002, Nintendo produced a red special edition variant of the Game Boy Advance, which featured the Target logo below the screen.

Target calls its customers "guests", its employees "team members", and its supervisors "team leaders." It derived this practice in the early-1990s from The Walt Disney Company.

Many of Target's biggest fans jokingly refer to a Target store as "Tar-zhay" or Targé (Tar-jé) (IPA: ), as though it were a French word, a reference to its more upscale image compared to its competitors. This trend is incorrectly believed to have been started by Oprah Winfrey, when she used the French pronunciation to refer to the store on her television show. This contradicts with Laura Rowley's book, On Target, which traces the pronunciation back to 1962, the year the first Target opened. This pronunciation has also led some people to incorrectly believe that the company is French-owned.

GiftCards

Many of these design ideas are not used by any other retailer in the United States other than by Target Corporation. It is noted that some of these unique design ideas are patented, and these patents are assigned to the Target Brands subsidiary. For example, some such Target GiftCard designs feature a wooden front side. The United States Patent and Trademark Office has granted for the "ornamental design for a credit or stored value card with wood layer" to the inventors Amy L. Lauer and John D. Mayhew. for the "stored-value card assembly including a stored-value card, an edible product, and a wrapper" has also been granted to Michael R. Francis and Barry C. Brooks. Both of these patents have been assigned to Target Brands, Inc.

ClearRx

Philanthropy

Further evidence of Target's philanthropy can be found in Memphis, Tennessee's Target House complex, a long-term housing solution for families of patients at the city's St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The corporation led the way for more $27 million in donation which made the 96 fully-furnished apartments possible for families needing to be at St. Jude for 90 days to three years or more.

Target has a standard no-solicitation rule at its properties, as it wishes to provide a "distraction-free shopping experience for its guests." Exemptions to this policy were previously made for the Salvation Army to station its traditional red kettles and bell-ringers outside Target stores during the Christmas season. However, the company decided that it would no longer allow the Salvation Army to solicit on Target Stores' properties in 2004 because they believed it was a distraction to their guests and because an increasing number of other nonprofit groups also wanted to be granted exceptions to the "no solicitation" policy to support charity.News Article detailing the Target/Salvation Army Wish List Many religious organizations objected to this decision, and called for boycotts of Target; however, this has failed as Target's financials over the last year have been setting company records and Target's same-store sales have been outperforming Wal-Mart. Additionally, when Target ousted the Salvation Army bell ringers, Target Corporation said that they planned on seeking an alternate method to donate to the organization. For example, Target donates annually to the United Way (the Salvation Army is a member of the United Way coalition).

On November 14, 2005, Target Corporation and the Salvation Army announced Salvation Army announces partnership with Target Corporation a partnership called "The Target/Salvation Army Wish List," where online shoppers could donate goods to the organization by buying them directly from Target.com Target.com's Salvation Army donation page. Note: Viewable between November 25, 2005 and January 25, 2006 between November 25, 2005 and January 25, 2006. With this partnership, Target guaranteed a minimum of $1 million of merchandise to the Salvation Army, making up the difference if the customers couldn't reach this goal, although the Salvation Army claimed that they typically raised $9 million with the red kettle program in front of Target stores. Annette Bauer, a spokeswoman for the Salvation Army's northern division, said "It is not going to make up the financial difference...but it is a great opportunity to partner with Target that might lead to other opportunities."

During disasters, Target Corporation is a major benefactor for relief efforts. Target provided monetary and product donations during the September 11th terrorist attacks on the U.S.; it also donated money for relief efforts for the tsunami in South Asia. Most recently, Target donated $1.5 million (U.S.) to the American Red Cross in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. It also allowed its store properties in the affected area to be used as command centers for relief organizations. It also donated supplies such as water and bug spray. Besides these major disasters, Target also regularly lends its support to disasters that are not as well known or only affect a regional area.

Target Forensic Services

The lab is reported to be sophisticated, and in one case, Target was able to successfully repair a tape that not even NASA could repair.http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/28/AR2006012801268.html "Retailer Target Branches Out Into Police Work". Washington Post. January 29, 2006.

Criticism

Target allegedly engages in many practices that rival Wal-Mart faces criticism for engaging in; however, because of Target's smaller size in comparison to Wal-Mart, Target often escapes criticism. In addition, many people may overlook Target's practices because of its successful marketing to differentiate itself as being more upscale. Practices that some might deem as questionable include: low hourly wages (lack of a so-called living wage), opposition to labor unions, and its contribution to urban sprawl.CNN/Money: Can't touch "Teflon" Target Liza Featherstone, author of Selling Women Short: The Landmark Battle for Workers' Rights at Wal-Mart, stated in an interview, "Aesthetically, we all like Target better, but their wages are in many places low or just as low, and they all represent the Wal-Martization of our economy, which is the exchange of low prices for poor work conditions." Interview with Liza Featherstone

In 2002, the company came under criticism for carrying clothing with the number "88" embroidered on the clothing, which is known to be a white supremacist symbol. Target came under fire not necessarily for carrying the merchandise, but for their response. A customer informed the company of the offensive merchandise, but Target only responded with form letters and seemed to dismiss the customer's concerns. Only after the Southern Poverty Law Center and the media got involved, did Target pull the merchandise from its stores.News Article detailing "88" controversy

A 26-year-old Missouri woman was refused emergency contraception when she handed her prescription to a pharmacist at a Target store in Fenton, Missouri, on September 30, 2005. The woman was told by the pharmacist, “I won’t fill it. It’s my right not to fill it.” She was told that she could go to a local Walgreens instead. Target holds a conscience clause that allows employees to refuse to dispense emergency contraceptives based on religious beliefs; however, the employee must ensure that the prescription is filled by another pharmacist in a timely manner. Some defending Target would applaud the company for upholding the employee's freedom of conscience, while others feel this policy fails to uphold the pharmacist's duty of care.

Target has recently come under fire for firing 39-year-old pharmacist Heather Williams, who based on her religious beliefs could not in good conscience refer a customer to one of the other Target Stores that would dispense the Emergency Contraceptives as stated in their conscience clause.News article detailing former Target pharmacist being fired after refusing to dispense abortion pillNews article detailing the Missouri House of Representative's proposed Health Care Rights of Conscience Act

Target Australia

There is also a Target operating as a department store under a nearly identical logo and a similar style in Australia with over 250 stores. The brand in Australia is owned by Coles Myer, which holds the rights from Target Corporation to use the Target name in Australia. Target Corporation has never operated stores outside of the United States.Overview of Coles Myer Ltd.

The Target Australia logo is nearly identical to the U.S. Target logo, the difference being the lack of capitalization of the letters and a period at the end. They may also add their slogan "100% Happy" below it.

Diversity

It is has long extended domestic partner benefits to straight, gay, and lesbian employees. It has received an 86 on the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index Score. Human Rights Campaign Target page In addition, Target Corporation was named one of the "100 Best Companies for Working Mothers" in 2004 by Working Mother magazine.

Despite Target's stated commitment to diversity, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People has repeatedly given Target failing grades on its annual Economic Reciprocity Initiative report card, a measure of the company's "commitment to the African-American citizenry". In 2003 and 2005, the NAACP has rated Target an "F" on this report; in 2004, Target was rated a "D-". In contrast, Wal-Mart, which scored higher than all of the other retailers on the report for 2003 and 2004, was given a "C+" for both of those years.NAACP General Merchandising Industry Report Card for 2004 and 2005

Major sponsorships

Target owns the naming rights to the Target Center in Minneapolis. It also sponsors the NASCAR and IndyCar racing teams of Chip Ganassi Racing. In the 2005 NASCAR season, the #41 Chip Gnassi Target car was driven by Casey Mears; for the 2006 season, rookie Reed Sorensen took over the #41 when Mears moved to a different Chip-Gnassi car on the same team.

Target Corporation is also a major sponsor of the annual Minneapolis Aquatennial. It hosts the Target Fireworks Show, which is the largest annual fireworks show west of the Mississippi River, and the fourth largest annual fireworks show in the United States.

Target also sponsors the Museum of Modern Art in Manhattan, New York. It hosts Target Free Friday Nights, providing to all visitors free admission to the museum during Fridays after 4 p.m. A similar Target-sponsored program at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art called "Free after Five" provides free admission in the evening throughout the week.

Trivia

• Some Target stores have a bullseye painted on the roof as can be seen by using a program such as Google Earth or Microsoft Live Local.

• The film Career Opportunities prominently features a Target store. A Target janitor Frank Whaley is locked overnight in the store with a shoplifter played by Jennifer Connelly. In many respects the film shows many of the aspects of the store. Also one of the many criticisms of the store is prominently shown -- locking flow employees and janitors overnight in the store. The film however does not show the overnight flow team.

See also

• Bullseye

Notes and references

External links

• Target Corporation Official Website
• Target e-commerce Website

1962 establishments | Companies based in Minnesota | Companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange | Fortune 1000 | Retail companies of the United States | Discount stores | NASCAR sponsors

Target Corporation | Target | Target (tienda)