#3: Do I Expect More From Target? Yes. Do I Pay Less at Target? Negotiable.
Target Store via Kevin Dooley
Target’s marketing strategy is genius. They are a complete one-stop shop for so many people but especially the working mom on the go! Target is my go-to place for quick errands, but it ALWAYS morphs into so much more. I don’t remember the last time I went in to buy 3 things and came out with only those specific 3 things. Never, it just doesn’t happen.
I don’t know if it’s the temptation as much as the strategic placement of items around the store and the store layout in general that have me captivated when I’m there. I am obsessed with their new “Dollar Section” at one of their main doors. It reminds me of the Dollar General store, but because it is Target, it just feels like I’m getting a better quality product with my $1 than I would at the Dollar General.
That’s another reason I personally dig Target; I feel like I’m helping my community and kid’s schools when I shop there. I love Back-To-School shopping at Target; the moment when I get to select which school I want my rewards awarded to, I feel like I’m doing my part. I like that they seem to employ a variety of people at their stores and when I go there that I’m bound to run into someone I know either shopping there or working there. In fact; I’ve come to look forward to checking out with a few of our “regular” clerks that always help entertain my girls when I’m shopping. They dote on them with multiple stickers and always make sure to engage them in conversation. I love that. For me, that is an extra bonus for shopping at Target.
I don’t recall that many TV ads that they’ve done but I know that I search out their ads every Sunday in our local paper. I can’t wait to see what they have on sale during the week and what new products they are advertising. I’ve known a few people and their kids that have been Target models which is awesome because they are a Minnesota company so I enjoy flipping through and seeing “familiar” faces. Even if I don’t know them, it’s nice to see people that I would see walking in and out of “my” Target.
That’s another great thing about Target. They’re everywhere! I have the Target by my house I go to, the one by my Mom’s I still go to on the weekends, and a couple near work that I’ll pop into now and again. While every store is a little different, the main layout and theme is the same. I’ve noticed that they’ve recently revamped their layout scheme and I love it. I think it flows. I also like that they have a “holiday” area that they update as the holidays flow from one to the next. It’s eye catching and it gets me to stop. All. The. Time.
I mentioned it a bit before but Target always leaves me feeling like I bought a high quality product. Whether it be one of their products; Up & Up, Market Pantry, Archer Farms, Xhiliration, Merona, and the all of the rest – I feel like I’m getting better quality than if I picked up Wal-Mart’s store brand. Now, is it truly less expensive than Wal-Mart? That’s negotiable. For me, I feel like it’s the better value – and I’m okay with that.
Target defiantly knows where to place things. Have you ever been at Target when they get their new shipment of product in and they are changing all of the end-caps? It is chaos. And the Chaos pays off. The placement is convenient enough, that when you are trying to walk out of the store, you are dumping product from each end-cap you see on your way out into your cart.
Not only do they place the new product at the end of the isles but they also group together all of the clearance items at the end of the isles as well. Every time I go into Target I make the loop to look at the clearance items. Sometimes there are damaged items there, which I don’t buy, but most of the time there are items that are from the last collection of goods that they are trying to phase out in order to get ready for the next group. It is worth your while to check in and watch for these items. I can’t tell you how many awesome things I have got from Target at a reduced price! No one would ever know!
March 22, 2013 at 7:18 pm
Great title and post.
March 28, 2013 at 12:10 am
Those $1 aisles at the front of the store are a huge danger zone for me, too. My local SuperTarget has two – one with “stuff” (usually seasonal) and one with food!
March 29, 2013 at 6:51 pm