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!)
Target + Facebook = Glorious
Today, I discovered that my other true love, Facebook, has a group sponsored by Target. (I doubt that link will work if you're not a Facebook member. So, sign up for Facebook!) Originally enough, it's called "Target."
Lame name aside, the group offers plenty of cool things to its 16, 731 members. It provides information about exclusive clothing lines and music offered only at Target. It includes a horoscope application - you enter your birth year, it tells you a little blurb about yourself, and it recommends a few products that might fit your personality. The discussion board houses conversations about Target-related topics, some specific to Target employees (like, "What is your favorite place to zone?").
The most exciting part of all: Each week, Target draws the name of one of its Facebook group members to win a $250 Target gift card. As the most recent winner so eloquently puts it, "That's a lot of flip flops."
Lame name aside, the group offers plenty of cool things to its 16, 731 members. It provides information about exclusive clothing lines and music offered only at Target. It includes a horoscope application - you enter your birth year, it tells you a little blurb about yourself, and it recommends a few products that might fit your personality. The discussion board houses conversations about Target-related topics, some specific to Target employees (like, "What is your favorite place to zone?").
The most exciting part of all: Each week, Target draws the name of one of its Facebook group members to win a $250 Target gift card. As the most recent winner so eloquently puts it, "That's a lot of flip flops."
In the News: November 19, 2007
Converse and Target to Launch 'One Star' Exclusive Sportswear and Footwear Beginning Spring 2008
Target Stores Nationwide Will Feature Iconic Lifestyle and Vintage-Inspired Line
November 19, 2007: 04:00 PM EST
N. ANDOVER, Mass., Nov. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Converse Inc. and Target Corporation have reached an innovative partnership agreement to offer One Star vintage inspired sport lifestyle apparel and footwear exclusively at Target stores nationwide beginning in February 2008. The One Star collection will be supported by an integrated marketing campaign. Select sportswear and footwear styles will also be available at Target.com.
Read more…
Earnings Preview: Target
Retailer Target Corp. reports its fiscal third quarter results Tuesday. The following is a summary of key developments and analyst comment for the period ended Nov. 3.
OVERVIEW:
Warm weather hurt Target's clothing sales in September, which led the company to cut its full-year profit outlook. It lowered its September and October same-store sales forecasts, saying sales had been unpredictable, and shopping was weak in the Northeast and Florida.
Read more…
Target Stores Nationwide Will Feature Iconic Lifestyle and Vintage-Inspired Line
November 19, 2007: 04:00 PM EST
N. ANDOVER, Mass., Nov. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Converse Inc. and Target Corporation have reached an innovative partnership agreement to offer One Star vintage inspired sport lifestyle apparel and footwear exclusively at Target stores nationwide beginning in February 2008. The One Star collection will be supported by an integrated marketing campaign. Select sportswear and footwear styles will also be available at Target.com.
Read more…
Earnings Preview: Target
Retailer Target Corp. reports its fiscal third quarter results Tuesday. The following is a summary of key developments and analyst comment for the period ended Nov. 3.
OVERVIEW:
Warm weather hurt Target's clothing sales in September, which led the company to cut its full-year profit outlook. It lowered its September and October same-store sales forecasts, saying sales had been unpredictable, and shopping was weak in the Northeast and Florida.
Read more…
Buy Me This: Re-record your records
I am just old enough to remember a time when people listened to records. Cassette tapes took over during my toddler years, but my mother kept our record player to listen to Bing Crosby and Burl Ives at Christmas. Since then, we've bought those albums on CD, but there's still a mystique to vinyl that merits its continued use.
I received this record player for my 20th birthday, and I love it. I've been to a few record sales, and I've accumulated a collection of cheap, used records. I've bought some indie rock on vinyl from The Sound Garden just for the sake of owning the records, but they're expensive and the music won't transfer to my iPod. Sometimes I want to listen to my records in the car or while I'm walking around campus. Despite the fact that I have a portable record player, it's not quitethat portable. 
This turntable allows you to burn music from vinyl to CDs, the perfect solution to my dilemma. I could play the CDs in my car, or I could convert them to MP3 format to put on my iPod.
Unfortunately, as a broke college student, I don't have $400 lying around at the moment. Perhaps Santa will feel extra generous this year.
I received this record player for my 20th birthday, and I love it. I've been to a few record sales, and I've accumulated a collection of cheap, used records. I've bought some indie rock on vinyl from The Sound Garden just for the sake of owning the records, but they're expensive and the music won't transfer to my iPod. Sometimes I want to listen to my records in the car or while I'm walking around campus. Despite the fact that I have a portable record player, it's not quite
This turntable allows you to burn music from vinyl to CDs, the perfect solution to my dilemma. I could play the CDs in my car, or I could convert them to MP3 format to put on my iPod.
Insider Information: Clearance capers
If, for some reason, you really liked the $7.48 outfit, you better buy it now. Both the T-shirt and the mini-skirt came from the 75-percent-off rack, and Target never discounts its clothes past that point.
Softlines (clothing, shoes, and accessories) begin their journey through clearancehood on the 30-percent-off rack. Items that don't sell are eventually reduced to 50-percent-off, and finally, 75-percent-off.
In hardlines, however, clearance reductions work differently. There, items can be reduced as little as 15 percent or as much as 90 percent. (A friend purchased this Friends SceneIt board game for about $3 at the Fayetteville, N.Y. Target over the summer. Apparently, it continues to be regular-priced on Target.com.)
Clearances vary by store, so an item that's 75-percent-off at one location may be only 50- or 30-percent-off at another.
Softlines (clothing, shoes, and accessories) begin their journey through clearancehood on the 30-percent-off rack. Items that don't sell are eventually reduced to 50-percent-off, and finally, 75-percent-off.
In hardlines, however, clearance reductions work differently. There, items can be reduced as little as 15 percent or as much as 90 percent. (A friend purchased this Friends SceneIt board game for about $3 at the Fayetteville, N.Y. Target over the summer. Apparently, it continues to be regular-priced on Target.com.)
Clearances vary by store, so an item that's 75-percent-off at one location may be only 50- or 30-percent-off at another.
2-Day Sale Site
Target.com created an entire separate Web page to promote their 2-day Black Friday sale. You can view the page here.
Highlights include:
- A clock that counts down the days, hours, minutes, and seconds until doors open at 6 a.m. on Friday.
- The option to sign up to receive an early preview e-mail of the 2-day sale circular. This is great for people like me who would prefer not to wait until Thanksgiving to plan what to buy.
- A Web game that enters you for a chance to win one of thousands of $25 Target gift cards.
I'll be posting again once I receive the preview e-mail. However, if you'd like access to the same information, you can sign up to receive it as well.
Highlights include:
- A clock that counts down the days, hours, minutes, and seconds until doors open at 6 a.m. on Friday.
- The option to sign up to receive an early preview e-mail of the 2-day sale circular. This is great for people like me who would prefer not to wait until Thanksgiving to plan what to buy.
- A Web game that enters you for a chance to win one of thousands of $25 Target gift cards.
I'll be posting again once I receive the preview e-mail. However, if you'd like access to the same information, you can sign up to receive it as well.
Sunday, November 18, 2007
The most bizarre Target-related video on YouTube.
I searched YouTube in the hopes of finding another brilliant Target clip, like the one with the cart escalator or the one with the deer loose in the store. I found this:
I am not posting this because it is funny or fascinating. In fact, it lacks any redeeming qualities. I post it because I'm hoping someone can explain to me why on earth someone made this video.
The creator spent about two minutes wandering around the Bed & Bath section of Target with his video camera running. Then, he edited in an obnoxious song and added a bunch of photos of more-than-half-naked women after the video. (And a random image of a fully-clothed Winona Ryder pointing a gun. Doesn't seem to fit in. And is that Jack Bauer at the end?)
Upon further research, I learned that the video's creator, sandman858585, has several videos like this. He wanders around a store or shopping mall, then he posts a bunch of bikini pictures at the end.
Why put these two completely unrelated things together? Actually, why make a wandering-around video at all? I can understand the bikini picture slideshow - I'm sure plenty of creepy guys would love to see that - but no one wants to see a video of wandering. I'm just saying.
I am not posting this because it is funny or fascinating. In fact, it lacks any redeeming qualities. I post it because I'm hoping someone can explain to me why on earth someone made this video.
The creator spent about two minutes wandering around the Bed & Bath section of Target with his video camera running. Then, he edited in an obnoxious song and added a bunch of photos of more-than-half-naked women after the video. (And a random image of a fully-clothed Winona Ryder pointing a gun. Doesn't seem to fit in. And is that Jack Bauer at the end?)
Upon further research, I learned that the video's creator, sandman858585, has several videos like this. He wanders around a store or shopping mall, then he posts a bunch of bikini pictures at the end.
Why put these two completely unrelated things together? Actually, why make a wandering-around video at all? I can understand the bikini picture slideshow - I'm sure plenty of creepy guys would love to see that - but no one wants to see a video of wandering. I'm just saying.
Ad Roundup: November 18, 2007
Read this week's ad here. Since Black Friday happens later this week, this sale only lasts through Wednesday.
Here's a few sale items that caught my eye:
1. Rockband Special Edition - $169.99
This game comes out on Tuesday, and it should be fantastic. It resembles the wildly popular Guitar Hero, but it adds drum and vocal components. This kit comes with the game, a guitar, a drum set, and a microphone. I predict that quite a few of my peers will be playing this game with old friends while they're home for Thanksgiving Break.
2. 25-Ct. C7 or C9 Ceramic Lights - $5.99
I love big Christmas tree lights. You don't see them too much anymore. They might cost a little more than the little ones, but they look so much more interesting.
3. Fleece Hoodie - $12.99
This upsets me a bit, since I just bought one of these for the full price ($19.99). However, I've worn it almost every day since then, so I wouldn't mind getting another in a different color! The insides of these are incredibly soft, and they fit well. Sometimes sweatshirts look sloppy, but these definitely do not.
Here's a few sale items that caught my eye:
1. Rockband Special Edition - $169.99
This game comes out on Tuesday, and it should be fantastic. It resembles the wildly popular Guitar Hero, but it adds drum and vocal components. This kit comes with the game, a guitar, a drum set, and a microphone. I predict that quite a few of my peers will be playing this game with old friends while they're home for Thanksgiving Break.
2. 25-Ct. C7 or C9 Ceramic Lights - $5.99
I love big Christmas tree lights. You don't see them too much anymore. They might cost a little more than the little ones, but they look so much more interesting.
3. Fleece Hoodie - $12.99
This upsets me a bit, since I just bought one of these for the full price ($19.99). However, I've worn it almost every day since then, so I wouldn't mind getting another in a different color! The insides of these are incredibly soft, and they fit well. Sometimes sweatshirts look sloppy, but these definitely do not.
Check Out What I Bought: Santa cat
Sure, manufacturers make plenty of clothes for dogs, but what about cats? I had never seen any garb intended for cats, until my visit to Target yesterday:
I could choose between this Santa outfit, a penguin costume, and an elf costume. They cost $4.99 each. After much deliberation, I settled for the Santa outfit.
My cat, Nermal, ran away as soon as he noticed me approaching him with the red and white hat and the red ruff trimmed with white fur. He somehow sensed he was about to look and feel ridiculous:
This photo would fit well on ICanHasCheezburger.com, if I put words on it. His expression just screams, "DO NOT WANT!"
Needless to say, he barely stood still long enough for me to take a picture. He wanted the outfit gone, fast. Maybe he's just not in the Christmas spirit yet. Maybe after Thanksgiving, he'll be more receptive.
I could choose between this Santa outfit, a penguin costume, and an elf costume. They cost $4.99 each. After much deliberation, I settled for the Santa outfit.My cat, Nermal, ran away as soon as he noticed me approaching him with the red and white hat and the red ruff trimmed with white fur. He somehow sensed he was about to look and feel ridiculous:
This photo would fit well on ICanHasCheezburger.com, if I put words on it. His expression just screams, "DO NOT WANT!"Needless to say, he barely stood still long enough for me to take a picture. He wanted the outfit gone, fast. Maybe he's just not in the Christmas spirit yet. Maybe after Thanksgiving, he'll be more receptive.
Insider Information: Why there are no 24-hour Targets
Sometimes, I get urges to go shopping at strange times. Like 2 a.m. But I always have to settle for Wal-Mart or go nowhere at all, because, as far as I know, 24-hour Targets do not exist.
During training, the human resources director said that one of the ways Target distinguishes itself from its competitors - namely, Wal-Mart and Kmart - is by its overall cleanliness. So when Target closes its doors at night, an overnight cleaning crew comes in to make everything spotless before the next day's guests arrive.
Wal-Mart cleans overnight as well, but the crew needs to operate around the customers, who can mess things up again right after they're cleaned. Target avoids this problem by closing for the night, which makes for a much more attractive store.
During training, the human resources director said that one of the ways Target distinguishes itself from its competitors - namely, Wal-Mart and Kmart - is by its overall cleanliness. So when Target closes its doors at night, an overnight cleaning crew comes in to make everything spotless before the next day's guests arrive.
Wal-Mart cleans overnight as well, but the crew needs to operate around the customers, who can mess things up again right after they're cleaned. Target avoids this problem by closing for the night, which makes for a much more attractive store.
No Wonder It's on Clearance: The $7.48 (plus tax) outfit
I found these two articles of clothing on the 75-percent-off rack in the Target in Fayetteville yesterday. Let's start with the shirt:
It looks like a typewriter threw up on this top. The photo fails to capture this, but the fabric is so thin, it's see-through. Some parts are thinner than others, so the shirt appears splotchy.
And the mini-skirt:
The tag lists "squash" as the color of this skirt. I personally think "mustard" would be a more accurate food word to use. The dark buttons serve only to emphasize the inappropriateness of the skirt's color. And why does a mini-skirt need belt loops at all? (I think the buttoned flaps are supposed to be belt loops, at least. Who knows.)
Put them together, and you've got a complete outfit for just $7.48 plus tax! (Each item had been reduced to $3.24.) What a deal!
It looks like a typewriter threw up on this top. The photo fails to capture this, but the fabric is so thin, it's see-through. Some parts are thinner than others, so the shirt appears splotchy.And the mini-skirt:
The tag lists "squash" as the color of this skirt. I personally think "mustard" would be a more accurate food word to use. The dark buttons serve only to emphasize the inappropriateness of the skirt's color. And why does a mini-skirt need belt loops at all? (I think the buttoned flaps are supposed to be belt loops, at least. Who knows.)Put them together, and you've got a complete outfit for just $7.48 plus tax! (Each item had been reduced to $3.24.) What a deal!
In the News: November 18, 2007
Target to remove certain plastics from its stores
By KATIE FOUTZ
Local activists celebrated the announcement this month that retail giant Target is the latest company going PVC-free.
The Center for Health, Environment and Justice announced the decision Nov. 6. Earlier this year, the group organized protests of Target stores because the retailer sold infant bathtubs, children's toys, shower curtains, curling irons, MP3 players and other products made or packaged with polyvinyl chloride, a soft plastic that can contain chemicals linked to reproductive health problems.
Read more...
For even more information about potentially dangerous plastics, ones that will continue to be on Target's shelves, see an article I wrote in October here.
By KATIE FOUTZ
Local activists celebrated the announcement this month that retail giant Target is the latest company going PVC-free.
The Center for Health, Environment and Justice announced the decision Nov. 6. Earlier this year, the group organized protests of Target stores because the retailer sold infant bathtubs, children's toys, shower curtains, curling irons, MP3 players and other products made or packaged with polyvinyl chloride, a soft plastic that can contain chemicals linked to reproductive health problems.
Read more...
For even more information about potentially dangerous plastics, ones that will continue to be on Target's shelves, see an article I wrote in October here.
Store Review: Fayetteville, N.Y.
Last night, I went shopping at the Target in Fayetteville, N.Y. (Click here for a map.)
I took detailed notes on all aspects of my experience and rated them on the same scale Target uses when corporate people come to assess the condition of each store. Green means satisfactory, yellow means decent but needs work, and red means unacceptable.
Parking Lot: Only a few carts escaped the cart corral areas, we encountered no potholes, and the lines between the spaces were bright and clear. (And, we managed to park right near the entrance!)
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/accesories): Everything seemed fairly organized, and shelves looked fully stocked.
Softlines (sections of the store that offer clothes/shoes/accessories): With the exception of the clearance racks, the clothes hung neatly. (And clearance racks are nearly impossible to keep tidy.) Whoever worked in shoes kept them in their boxes and off the floor, an impressive feat.
Fitting Room: It smelled like someone had changed a diaper in there. Please, take that to the bathroom. Hangers littered the floor, as you can see here:
Bathroom: It smelled like someone had changed a diaper in here, too, but that's to be expected in a bathroom. The faucets and the sinks gleamed, and toilet paper and paper towels were readily available.
Food Court: This Target only has a Food Avenue area, so no Starbucks or Pizza Hut. It would be unfair to hold that against it, though. It was clean, so I rated it green.
Employees: No one asked if they could help me find something, but I didn't need help, so that was fine. The worker in the fitting room was friendly and helpful, but the cashier failed to impress me. The people ahead of me bought glass candle holders, and he broke one of them. When he finished cashing me out, he kept pushing the bags toward me as I tried to put my credit card and receipt away. I felt rushed.
Overall: For the most part, I had a successful shopping trip.
I took detailed notes on all aspects of my experience and rated them on the same scale Target uses when corporate people come to assess the condition of each store. Green means satisfactory, yellow means decent but needs work, and red means unacceptable.Parking Lot: Only a few carts escaped the cart corral areas, we encountered no potholes, and the lines between the spaces were bright and clear. (And, we managed to park right near the entrance!)
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/accesories): Everything seemed fairly organized, and shelves looked fully stocked.
Softlines (sections of the store that offer clothes/shoes/accessories): With the exception of the clearance racks, the clothes hung neatly. (And clearance racks are nearly impossible to keep tidy.) Whoever worked in shoes kept them in their boxes and off the floor, an impressive feat.
Fitting Room: It smelled like someone had changed a diaper in there. Please, take that to the bathroom. Hangers littered the floor, as you can see here:
Bathroom: It smelled like someone had changed a diaper in here, too, but that's to be expected in a bathroom. The faucets and the sinks gleamed, and toilet paper and paper towels were readily available.Food Court: This Target only has a Food Avenue area, so no Starbucks or Pizza Hut. It would be unfair to hold that against it, though. It was clean, so I rated it green.
Employees: No one asked if they could help me find something, but I didn't need help, so that was fine. The worker in the fitting room was friendly and helpful, but the cashier failed to impress me. The people ahead of me bought glass candle holders, and he broke one of them. When he finished cashing me out, he kept pushing the bags toward me as I tried to put my credit card and receipt away. I felt rushed.
Overall: For the most part, I had a successful shopping trip.
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Animals love Target too.
In November of last year, a deer entered a Target in Iowa (through its automatic doors) and took a lap of the entire store. A news broadcast tells the story here:
I particularly enjoy the male employee who notes, "We're not really trained in deer herding." I thought Target prepared its employees for everything. Apparently, I overestimated it.
However, Katie Johnson really steps up to the plate in this video. She's the one who reaches out toward the deer after he slips on the gleaming white tile floor near electronics. She says, "I don't know what I was thinking. I was trying to help, maybe? Be guest-friendly?" (Yes, Target calls their customers "guests." She even uses the correct term!)
Be sure to watch this video all the way through the end for a lesson in crummy broadcast journalism.
I particularly enjoy the male employee who notes, "We're not really trained in deer herding." I thought Target prepared its employees for everything. Apparently, I overestimated it.
However, Katie Johnson really steps up to the plate in this video. She's the one who reaches out toward the deer after he slips on the gleaming white tile floor near electronics. She says, "I don't know what I was thinking. I was trying to help, maybe? Be guest-friendly?" (Yes, Target calls their customers "guests." She even uses the correct term!)
Be sure to watch this video all the way through the end for a lesson in crummy broadcast journalism.
Insider Information: Popping the question
At any respectable Target store, "sales floor team members" (Target employees who wander the store, tidying up and helping customers) come across as cheerful, helpful individuals. But next time you shop there, pay close attention to how these red-and-khaki clad folks greet you.
If they're doing their jobs properly, each and every one of them will be asking, "Can I help you find something?"
Target loves this line. They drill it into the heads of their employees from day one. I learned this phrase during training, but I never expected to actually use it. I figured any kind of greeting would work: "Are you finding everything OK?" or "Do you need help finding something?" or "Can I help you?"
I soon learned that my co-workers never used any of these variations - it was always, "Can I help you find something?" I picked up the habit, and used the phrase whenever I greeted a customer.
Now, I always notice when I'm asked this question. I've heard it a few times in the stores around Syracuse and in the one in Vestal. Once, I called a Target, and the woman answering the phone used the line on me.
I understand the idea behind this scripted customer service - Target wants its employees to have something to say without having to think too hard - but it feels kind of impersonal. If an employee wants to ask me, "Can I help you find what you're looking for?" or "Do you need any help today?, I say they should go for it.
If they're doing their jobs properly, each and every one of them will be asking, "Can I help you find something?"
Target loves this line. They drill it into the heads of their employees from day one. I learned this phrase during training, but I never expected to actually use it. I figured any kind of greeting would work: "Are you finding everything OK?" or "Do you need help finding something?" or "Can I help you?"
I soon learned that my co-workers never used any of these variations - it was always, "Can I help you find something?" I picked up the habit, and used the phrase whenever I greeted a customer.
Now, I always notice when I'm asked this question. I've heard it a few times in the stores around Syracuse and in the one in Vestal. Once, I called a Target, and the woman answering the phone used the line on me.
I understand the idea behind this scripted customer service - Target wants its employees to have something to say without having to think too hard - but it feels kind of impersonal. If an employee wants to ask me, "Can I help you find what you're looking for?" or "Do you need any help today?, I say they should go for it.
Friday, November 16, 2007
Buy Me This: Cheaper than Uggs, and probably more resilient
I noticed these black boots during a trip to Target last month, and I thought they were cute. However, I thought, "Eh. It's October. I don't need these."I looked out my window this morning and saw this:
I do have a pair of warm boots that I bought last winter. Ugg boots. (Please refrain from judging me.) I had owned a few pairs of fake Uggs, and none survived more than one snowy, slushy Syracuse winter without salt stains, holes, and general ruin. Last year, I asked for real ones for Christmas, thinking they might hold up better.
They didn't.
I could buy between five and seven pairs of these boots (on sale for just $22.49!) for the price of one pair of Uggs. And they would probably last me five to seven winters...instead of just one.
In the News: November 16, 2007
Target plans new Broadway store
Target Corp. is planning to tear down its high-volume Broadway store and replace it with a larger two-story, urban-style building that puts parking on one floor and shopping on another.
The demolition of the old store and construction of the new one will take 15 months -- a period during which current employees will be offered positions at other local Targets, officials say.
"This is going to be one of their flagship stores," says City Councilman Rob Fong, who has been working with Target for a year on its plans. "We see it as a huge piece of the revitalization of Broadway."
Read more...
Target debuts towel designs by four big-name artists
Holidaying in the Riviera Maya? Be the chicest bather on the beach with a limited- edition towel by a big-name artist: Jeff Koons, Cindy Sherman, Elizabeth Peyton or Kehinde Wiley. Target enlisted the four for its Artists Towel Series, a collaboration with the nonprofit Art Production Fund.
Read more...
Target Corp. is planning to tear down its high-volume Broadway store and replace it with a larger two-story, urban-style building that puts parking on one floor and shopping on another.
The demolition of the old store and construction of the new one will take 15 months -- a period during which current employees will be offered positions at other local Targets, officials say.
"This is going to be one of their flagship stores," says City Councilman Rob Fong, who has been working with Target for a year on its plans. "We see it as a huge piece of the revitalization of Broadway."
Read more...
Target debuts towel designs by four big-name artists
Holidaying in the Riviera Maya? Be the chicest bather on the beach with a limited- edition towel by a big-name artist: Jeff Koons, Cindy Sherman, Elizabeth Peyton or Kehinde Wiley. Target enlisted the four for its Artists Towel Series, a collaboration with the nonprofit Art Production Fund.
Read more...
Black Friday: Target (The Untold True Story)
I have never braved the opening crowds at any store on Black Friday. After watching this video, I can say with authority that I never will. (Beware: It includes some foul language and some annoying teenagers.)
Basically, a bunch of high-school kids decided to arrive at a Target around 11 p.m. on Thanksgiving to await the sales of the next day. They videotaped their experience, edited it together complete with dramatic music, and posted it on YouTube as a "documentary."
The video, despite its low quality and the obnoxious teenage antics it captures, effectively shows the chaos that overtakes the store when its doors open in the wee hours of the morning. Check out the length of the line around the halfway point of the video, about an hour before the store opens. So many people! And the rush to get in when the doors open - I expected to see trampled bodies strewn across the floors.
I'm sure I will be at Target at some point next Friday, but definitely not with all these crazy early birds.
Basically, a bunch of high-school kids decided to arrive at a Target around 11 p.m. on Thanksgiving to await the sales of the next day. They videotaped their experience, edited it together complete with dramatic music, and posted it on YouTube as a "documentary."
The video, despite its low quality and the obnoxious teenage antics it captures, effectively shows the chaos that overtakes the store when its doors open in the wee hours of the morning. Check out the length of the line around the halfway point of the video, about an hour before the store opens. So many people! And the rush to get in when the doors open - I expected to see trampled bodies strewn across the floors.
I'm sure I will be at Target at some point next Friday, but definitely not with all these crazy early birds.
One week 'til Black Friday!
Apparently, Brad Olson of Gottadeal.com obtained Target's Black Friday circular a little over two weeks before the big day.
Read more...
Some of the deals, according to the CNNMoney.com story:
- Olevia 37-inch widescreen LCD HDTV: $549
- Trutech 19-inch widescreen LCD HDTV with built-in DVD player: $199
- Sony PSP with 5 PSP movies: $169.99
- Kodak MD853 8MP Digital Camera with 3X Zoom: $89
No matter how much information gets leaked, nothing can compare to the glory of physically holding the actual printed Black Friday circular. I enjoy spending my Thanksgivings looking through all the Black Friday ads and circling everything I want. Target tends to merit the most circles.
Read more...
Some of the deals, according to the CNNMoney.com story:
- Olevia 37-inch widescreen LCD HDTV: $549
- Trutech 19-inch widescreen LCD HDTV with built-in DVD player: $199
- Sony PSP with 5 PSP movies: $169.99
- Kodak MD853 8MP Digital Camera with 3X Zoom: $89
No matter how much information gets leaked, nothing can compare to the glory of physically holding the actual printed Black Friday circular. I enjoy spending my Thanksgivings looking through all the Black Friday ads and circling everything I want. Target tends to merit the most circles.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Insider Information: You shoes, you lose.
"You're in charge of zoning shoes today."
These words struck more fear into the hearts of Target employees during my summer there than any others. It basically meant that at the beginning of your shift, you'd disappear into the narrow aisles, and hours later you'd emerge, exhausted...but the shoe department would still be a mess.
Shoe shoppers, a unique breed, liked to take boxes and boxes off the shelves, put the shoes on their feet, then throw those shoes on the floor. The Target "team member" (what every other store calls employees) assigned to the department had six or eight aisles of shoes to "zone" (keep in order). By the time he or she completed the final aisle, the first resembled a war zone again.
Please, next time you're shoe shopping at Target, help a team member out.
With the help of Target.com and Photoshop, I have crafted a helpful visual that shows you how to put shoes back in their boxes properly. (These shoes are actually adorable gold flats, but for some reason, when I upload the image to Blogger, it inverts the color. Go figure.) The soles should face out, the toe of the left shoe should point toward you, and the toe of the right, away.
These words struck more fear into the hearts of Target employees during my summer there than any others. It basically meant that at the beginning of your shift, you'd disappear into the narrow aisles, and hours later you'd emerge, exhausted...but the shoe department would still be a mess.
Shoe shoppers, a unique breed, liked to take boxes and boxes off the shelves, put the shoes on their feet, then throw those shoes on the floor. The Target "team member" (what every other store calls employees) assigned to the department had six or eight aisles of shoes to "zone" (keep in order). By the time he or she completed the final aisle, the first resembled a war zone again.
Please, next time you're shoe shopping at Target, help a team member out.
With the help of Target.com and Photoshop, I have crafted a helpful visual that shows you how to put shoes back in their boxes properly. (These shoes are actually adorable gold flats, but for some reason, when I upload the image to Blogger, it inverts the color. Go figure.) The soles should face out, the toe of the left shoe should point toward you, and the toe of the right, away.Just carting around.
Check out this huge Target and its amazing escalators. I'm not exactly sure where it is - one of the comments claims it's in Queens - but I'd love to know for sure so I could see this for myself.
I have never seen one of these before at any store, so I will go ahead and assume, like the video's creator, that Target pioneered this cart-raising technology.
I wonder how much weight these can carry. Since I tend to load up on all kinds of fun things I may or may not need every time I go to Target, I'd be a little scared of breaking this contraption. And if it didn't collapse under the weight of my cart full of stuff, I'd be entirely too tempted to hop in the cart and ride in it myself.
I have never seen one of these before at any store, so I will go ahead and assume, like the video's creator, that Target pioneered this cart-raising technology.
I wonder how much weight these can carry. Since I tend to load up on all kinds of fun things I may or may not need every time I go to Target, I'd be a little scared of breaking this contraption. And if it didn't collapse under the weight of my cart full of stuff, I'd be entirely too tempted to hop in the cart and ride in it myself.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
No Wonder It's on Clearance: What kind of color is "acid green"?
I spotted this attractive cardigan about two weeks ago on the 30 percent-off clearance rack of the Target store in Fayetteville, N.Y.
Yikes!
Target.com describes the garment as "Yosemite Gold" with "Acid Green" trim. What? I took Advanced Placement Chemistry in high school, and we worked with all kinds of acids. None were green. So, what's with the name? "Pea-Soup Green" with "Fluorescent Lime" trim would be more accurate.
I can think of only one occasion for which this cardigan could work as part of an outfit, and it has already passed. Perhaps it would be worth buying and saving for next Halloween once it makes it to the 75 percent-off rack, if you wanted to go as a colorblind person.
Yikes!Target.com describes the garment as "Yosemite Gold" with "Acid Green" trim. What? I took Advanced Placement Chemistry in high school, and we worked with all kinds of acids. None were green. So, what's with the name? "Pea-Soup Green" with "Fluorescent Lime" trim would be more accurate.
I can think of only one occasion for which this cardigan could work as part of an outfit, and it has already passed. Perhaps it would be worth buying and saving for next Halloween once it makes it to the 75 percent-off rack, if you wanted to go as a colorblind person.
In the News: Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Target Seeks to Add Meat Warning Labels
WASHINGTON (AP) — Target Corp. said Tuesday it was working to add labels that warn consumers when meat is treated with carbon monoxide to make those steaks and chops look fresh as federal regulators faced criticism for allowing a practice that critics call unsafe.
Hormel Foods Corp. and Cargill Inc. also announced they would be willing to add similar labeling if necessary.
"Hormel will comply with any labeling of this product that is determined to be necessary and fair through the legislative or regulatory process," Jeffrey Ettinger, Hormel's chief executive, said during a House hearing.
The meat industry for years has typically used carbon monoxide in packages to help meat retain its red color, with approval by the Food and Drug Administration and the Agriculture Department. But consumer advocates say the practice misleads people by making meat look fresh long after its expiration date.
Target downgraded at Merrill Lynch, shares down in premarket
NEW YORK, Nov. 14, 2007 (Thomson Financial delivered by Newstex) -- Target Corp. (NYSE:TGT) was downgraded Wednesday to neutral from buy at Merrill Lynch (NYSE:MER) (OOTC:MERIZ) , which cited a reduced chance of a sale of its credit card business and eroding retail margins.The discount retailer's stock was down 0.2% at $59.50 in premarket trading, despite indications that the broader market will open sharply higher.
How do I love Target? Let me count the ways...
Hi, my name is Meghan, and I'm a Target-holic.
(Hi, Meghan.)
I've been hooked on the store since the one in Vestal, N.Y., just outside my hometown of Binghamton, opened in March 1997. By default, KMart and Wal-Mart had been my go-to discount stores, but I always felt like I needed to shower immediately after shopping there.
And then came Target, with its gleaming white tile floors and freshly vacuumed carpets. I could hear the Hallelujah Chorus when I walked through the doors...but only in my head, since Target mercifully refrains from broadcasting muzak through its public address system. I floated happily through my first shopping trip there. I could find everything I needed, from clothes to CDs to toothpaste, and all for prices just as low as those in the dirty stores.
Target stole my heart during that first visit, and it has kept it ever since. I even spent a summer working at a Target store, in Queensbury, N.Y., and that only strengthened my feelings. The recent renovation of my hometown Target, which added an in-store Starbucks, made my year.
I know other people who feel the same way, which led me to start this blog. Here, you will find the latest Target news, store reviews, Sunday ad reviews, customer anecdotes, photos of great (and terrible!) Target products, and much more. "On Target" will help you get your daily Target fix from the comfort of your own home. Enjoy.
(Hi, Meghan.)
I've been hooked on the store since the one in Vestal, N.Y., just outside my hometown of Binghamton, opened in March 1997. By default, KMart and Wal-Mart had been my go-to discount stores, but I always felt like I needed to shower immediately after shopping there.
And then came Target, with its gleaming white tile floors and freshly vacuumed carpets. I could hear the Hallelujah Chorus when I walked through the doors...but only in my head, since Target mercifully refrains from broadcasting muzak through its public address system. I floated happily through my first shopping trip there. I could find everything I needed, from clothes to CDs to toothpaste, and all for prices just as low as those in the dirty stores.
Target stole my heart during that first visit, and it has kept it ever since. I even spent a summer working at a Target store, in Queensbury, N.Y., and that only strengthened my feelings. The recent renovation of my hometown Target, which added an in-store Starbucks, made my year.
I know other people who feel the same way, which led me to start this blog. Here, you will find the latest Target news, store reviews, Sunday ad reviews, customer anecdotes, photos of great (and terrible!) Target products, and much more. "On Target" will help you get your daily Target fix from the comfort of your own home. Enjoy.
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