Notes from Target Store Tour and Technology Demos

Executive Summary

During our trip to Minneapolis to attend the 2018 Target Financial Community Meeting this week, the Coresight Research team also took a guided tour of a Target store and viewed a demonstration of technologies that the company is developing. Selected takeaways from the store visit include:

• Target has refreshed its women’s private-label collection with several new brands (and more are on the way).
• The company has redesigned its beauty department to make products more appealing and accessible.
• Target has also redesigned its home section, which now offers an appealing, curated display of products.
• Target has separated its order pickup and exchange desks to save customers time.
• Sales associates are now empowered with handheld devices for checkout and placing online orders.
• The breadth of Target’s electronics section rivals that of many specialty retailers.
• Target is promoting its new Goodfellow & Co menswear brand.
• The company has focused on its fresh-food section and has made it more visually appealing.