Upon learning Target had hired me, I immediately wondered, "How much of a discount will I get?" I had previously worked at Dunkin' Donuts, where employees got 50-percent-off everything, and free coffee, bagels, and donuts while working. My short time as a salesgirl at Express got me a 20-percent-off discount, except on my first purchase of up to $300, which was 50-percent-off. (I spent more than I earned while I worked there.)
So, I eagerly anticipated some kind of glorious Target discount. It disappointed me, then, to learn that employees receive only a 10-percent discount there. This shaves off sales tax, but not much else.
However, the discount came in handy when I spent about $100 on odds and ends for my first apartment. Also, the discount could be combined with other discounts. A coworker of mine opened a Target card before a big purchase - which gets you 15-percent-off - then used his employee discount to secure 25-percent off an expensive item. That's pretty good!
The moral of the story: Don't work at Target for the discount. Work at Target because there's no place else you'd rather be.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Not as good as Improv Everywhere...
Some high-school students tried to play an Improv-Everywhere-style prank at Target:
The videographer really needed to use a different method. It appears that the camera filmed everything from within a handbag, which makes some sense since Target prohibits the use of cameras.
However, the prank lacks humor because the camera never captured the reactions of other customers. For all this video shows, no one even noticed the 35 non-Target-employees wearing red shirts and khaki pants.
But, I must say...Taking Care of Business fits the video nicely. Kudos for that.
The videographer really needed to use a different method. It appears that the camera filmed everything from within a handbag, which makes some sense since Target prohibits the use of cameras.
However, the prank lacks humor because the camera never captured the reactions of other customers. For all this video shows, no one even noticed the 35 non-Target-employees wearing red shirts and khaki pants.
But, I must say...Taking Care of Business fits the video nicely. Kudos for that.
In the News: November 20, 2007
Target Disappoints
Carl Gutierrez, 11.20.07, 8:08 PM ET
Target has seen better days. The discount retailer's shares fell 4.1% after it reported
third-quarter earnings that fell short of Wall Street's expectations, and its
announcement of a $10 billion buyback program inspired Moody's to review the company's
debt ratings.
Read more...
Report: Target 'testing' market for used electronics
Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal - by Marie Connor Staff Writer
Target Corp. said Tuesday it has begun selling used electronics on its Web site, Reuters
reported.
The Minneapolis-based retail giant said in a call with investors that it is still
deciding whether it will continue with the initiative, which it launched about 30 days
ago. Customers can now purchase "pre-owned" Apple Inc. iPods, video game consoles and
televisions on the company's Web site.
Read more...
Carl Gutierrez, 11.20.07, 8:08 PM ET
Target has seen better days. The discount retailer's shares fell 4.1% after it reported
third-quarter earnings that fell short of Wall Street's expectations, and its
announcement of a $10 billion buyback program inspired Moody's to review the company's
debt ratings.
Read more...
Report: Target 'testing' market for used electronics
Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal - by Marie Connor Staff Writer
Target Corp. said Tuesday it has begun selling used electronics on its Web site, Reuters
reported.
The Minneapolis-based retail giant said in a call with investors that it is still
deciding whether it will continue with the initiative, which it launched about 30 days
ago. Customers can now purchase "pre-owned" Apple Inc. iPods, video game consoles and
televisions on the company's Web site.
Read more...
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Store Review: Camillus, N.Y.
This evening, I went shopping at the Target in Camillus, N.Y. (I've been there only twice now; it just opened last month.) For a map, click here.
Just like last time, I'll be rating the store as follows: Green means satisfactory, yellow means decent but needs work, and red means unacceptable.
Parking Lot: Brand new, so it was freshly paved and painted. The woman who pulled in next to me almost ran over my foot, but that says nothing about the Target itself.
Dollar Spot: Items were organized into separate bins. None of the items particularly intrigued me, but at least employees kept them neat.
Hardlines (sections of the store that offer non-clothes/shoes/accessories): Immaculate! Even in the baby food aisle, one of the most difficult aisles to zone, all items sat neatly on the shelves.
Softlines (sections of the store that offer clothes/shoes/accessories): Absolutely beautiful, even the clearance racks. The store didn't have clearance racks at all the first time I was there - on Friday, November 2 - because it was still too new to have clearance items. Today, there were three racks of clearance, and the clothes hung perfectly on all of them.
Fitting Room: Very neat and tidy. Also, unlike the Fayetteville Target, the Camillus store has one fitting room instead of separate ones for men and women. This comes in handy when shopping with people of the opposite sex, because you don't have to walk out into the store to get an opinion. Sometimes, like when you're trying on a bathing suit, you don't feel like parading around in it, but you still want to know what someone else thinks.
Bathroom: WOW! This bathroom had stainless steel sinks, stainless steel Xcelerator hand dryers, automatic sinks, several scents of soap, and it actually smelled fine! Two thumbs up.
Food Court: Starbucks AND Pizza Hut Express. 'Nuff said. Check out my dinner. It tasted better than it looks.
Employees: No one bothered me. The cashier didn't break anything, like the one in Fayetteville, so that was an improvement.
Overall: No complaints! This Target rocks.
Parking Lot: Brand new, so it was freshly paved and painted. The woman who pulled in next to me almost ran over my foot, but that says nothing about the Target itself.
Dollar Spot: Items were organized into separate bins. None of the items particularly intrigued me, but at least employees kept them neat.
Hardlines (sections of the store that offer non-clothes/shoes/accessories): Immaculate! Even in the baby food aisle, one of the most difficult aisles to zone, all items sat neatly on the shelves.
Softlines (sections of the store that offer clothes/shoes/accessories): Absolutely beautiful, even the clearance racks. The store didn't have clearance racks at all the first time I was there - on Friday, November 2 - because it was still too new to have clearance items. Today, there were three racks of clearance, and the clothes hung perfectly on all of them.
Fitting Room: Very neat and tidy. Also, unlike the Fayetteville Target, the Camillus store has one fitting room instead of separate ones for men and women. This comes in handy when shopping with people of the opposite sex, because you don't have to walk out into the store to get an opinion. Sometimes, like when you're trying on a bathing suit, you don't feel like parading around in it, but you still want to know what someone else thinks.
Bathroom: WOW! This bathroom had stainless steel sinks, stainless steel Xcelerator hand dryers, automatic sinks, several scents of soap, and it actually smelled fine! Two thumbs up.
Food Court: Starbucks AND Pizza Hut Express. 'Nuff said. Check out my dinner. It tasted better than it looks.
Overall: No complaints! This Target rocks.
Apparently, bunny patterns are hot right now.
For Target's latest GO International line, they've brought in designer Erin Fetherston to create ugly and overpriced "fashions."
(For the uninformed, Target has a different designer every few months design its GO International line. In my opinion, the clothes tend to be repulsive. Maybe I just don't understand fashion. To make matters worse, this line always costs far more than Target's regular brands.)
Fetherston created a dress, four different styles of shirts, and a pair of thermal pants that incorporate this pattern:
(For the uninformed, Target has a different designer every few months design its GO International line. In my opinion, the clothes tend to be repulsive. Maybe I just don't understand fashion. To make matters worse, this line always costs far more than Target's regular brands.)
Fetherston created a dress, four different styles of shirts, and a pair of thermal pants that incorporate this pattern:
Yes. Those are bunnies. Bunnies of various sizes and colors. And Fetherston used this pattern on six different items in her clothing line.
This disappoints me. In particular, the dress disappoints me. The shape looks flattering, and from a distance, the bunnies appear more like polka dots than small animals. But choosing to view the larger image just ruins the whole dress for me. I haven't worn clothes with woodland creatures on them since elementary school, and I intend to keep it that way.
This disappoints me. In particular, the dress disappoints me. The shape looks flattering, and from a distance, the bunnies appear more like polka dots than small animals. But choosing to view the larger image just ruins the whole dress for me. I haven't worn clothes with woodland creatures on them since elementary school, and I intend to keep it that way.
Monday, November 19, 2007
Target's tired of rumors startin'...
All those rumors you've heard about Target? (I know you've heard a ton.) They're all false...except for the one that says Target prohibits Salvation Army bellringers from soliciting in front of its stores.
The Urban Legends Reference Pages tackles six different Target-related rumors here. Among the lies (taken directly from the site):
1) The Target Corporation does not contribute to veterans' causes.
2) The Target Corporation is French-owned.
3) The Target Corporation provides corporate grants only for "gay and lesbian causes."
4) The Target Corporation does not contribute to the U.S. Marines "Toys for Tots" program.
5) The Target Corporation does not allow reservists called to active duty to continue their health benefits.
The 2nd rumor intrigues me the most. The Urban Legends site claims the rumor came about as a reaction to an e-mail that said Target doesn't help veterans. Its patriotic readers began telling others Target was French-owned to "make Target look bad."
I disagree with this theory of origin. A friend told me her elderly relative thought the French owned Target because some people pronounce its name "Tar-jhay." This elderly woman thought the name was actually supposed to be pronounced that way.
Perhaps I should send that anecdote in to the Urban Legends site. It makes a whole lot more sense to me. Thoughts? Leave a comment.
The Urban Legends Reference Pages tackles six different Target-related rumors here. Among the lies (taken directly from the site):
1) The Target Corporation does not contribute to veterans' causes.
2) The Target Corporation is French-owned.
3) The Target Corporation provides corporate grants only for "gay and lesbian causes."
4) The Target Corporation does not contribute to the U.S. Marines "Toys for Tots" program.
5) The Target Corporation does not allow reservists called to active duty to continue their health benefits.
The 2nd rumor intrigues me the most. The Urban Legends site claims the rumor came about as a reaction to an e-mail that said Target doesn't help veterans. Its patriotic readers began telling others Target was French-owned to "make Target look bad."
I disagree with this theory of origin. A friend told me her elderly relative thought the French owned Target because some people pronounce its name "Tar-jhay." This elderly woman thought the name was actually supposed to be pronounced that way.
Perhaps I should send that anecdote in to the Urban Legends site. It makes a whole lot more sense to me. Thoughts? Leave a comment.
This Target commercial is older than I am.
Somehow, a YouTube user located a Target television commercial from 1979 and posted it on YouTube. Check it out:
I'm sorry, but none of these bargains seem terribly exciting to me. (Except for the eight candy bars for $1. I might buy some of those.) And the metal shopping carts? I never realized how much the red plastic carts meant to me until I watched this video. They do so much for the Target brand.
It amazes me how much advertising has changed since 1979. Check out this Target ad from 2007. It's not nearly as direct with its message, but it's a whole lot more stylish. (And the song makes me tap my feet!)
I'm sorry, but none of these bargains seem terribly exciting to me. (Except for the eight candy bars for $1. I might buy some of those.) And the metal shopping carts? I never realized how much the red plastic carts meant to me until I watched this video. They do so much for the Target brand.
It amazes me how much advertising has changed since 1979. Check out this Target ad from 2007. It's not nearly as direct with its message, but it's a whole lot more stylish. (And the song makes me tap my feet!)
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