Diane Campbell, left, and her husband Brian Campbell display a selection of candies from their San Francisco candy boutique The Candy Store, which Target introduced as a partner in its new design program The Shops At Target, Thursday, Jan. 12.Syracuse, NY -- Target needs to become more of what it used to be -- Target -- and less of what it seemed to be trying to become, Walmart. Looks as though Target is making some moves back in the Bullseye direction from whence it came. Read on...
From Chain Store Age:
Minneapolis -- Target Corp. confirmed Thursday that it plans to install Apple mini-boutiques in some of its stores this year. The concept will be tested in 25 locations, and feature a wider assortment of Apple products than is currently available at Target, according to Bloomberg.
In addition, the discounter is teaming up with owners of specialty shops to create limited edition merchandise that will be sold online and at its stores. Target will start featuring products from five shops starting May 6. The in-store shops will be open for six weeks and then be replaced with a group of different shops in the fall.
The initial group includes The Candy Store in San Francisco, The Privet House home accessories shop in Connecticut; The Webster House, a clothing store in Miami; Polka Dog Bakery in Boston; and The Cos Bar, a cosmetic shop in Aspen.
Target said it will continue to scout for unique shops that will co-create merchandise to be sold exclusively through Target.
The move “puts Target at the frontier of what's next in retail," said Brian Robinson, director of fashion and design partnership at Target in a presentation in New York.
I don't think the Apple news is anything to write home about for the Central New York market. We were rather early in with an Apple store that continues to impress with the billions of shoppers it seems to draw for product and support. Plus,
Best Buy
stores already have the platform for an
Apple
store-within-a-store. I rather doubt Target would do the same here.
But the concept Target is calling The Shops At Target? I like. Muchly. Any time a mass merchandiser can do something to make itself stand out? Priceless. Plus, this The Shops At Target concept gives a leg up to smaller retailers who would likely never have that kind of national bricks-and-mortar exposure. Well played, Target.
This afternoon, I shot out to the Target in Fairmount for a little
work research. Hey, it's my job. I forgot about all of you having the day off. Busy! But more, I notice that store may be prepping for its next makeover -- the Target PFresh build-in I also saw some smart moves perhaps lifted from other retailers' in-store designs: Lower shelving so shoppers can visually sweep more of the store. Am I wrong or am I wrong?
That is all.
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