Target Aims for Smaller Formats, Urban Stores
In the wake of its announcement that it would close all of its Canadian stores, Target Corp. heralded plans to open 15 U.S. stores in 2015, including three distinct store formats: eight TargetExpress locations, one CityTarget and six general merchandise stores.
Target’s strategic store growth is focused on reaching guests in urban centers with new formats, while also offering new experiences, merchandising layouts and innovations in its general merchandise stores.
“Our store growth looks different today than it did five years ago, driven by guests’ expectations for ease and personalization in their shopping experience," said Tina Tyler, Target EVP and chief stores officer. "Smaller formats like TargetExpress and CityTarget offer customized assortments and services to meet the needs of guests who are increasingly moving into urban centers. In our general merchandise stores, we’re embracing a test and learn philosophy, innovating with layouts and experiences and bringing digital and bricks and mortar together like never before.”
TargetExpress
In addition to previously announced openings in San Francisco, San Diego and St. Paul, Minn., Target plans to bring two TargetExpress stores to the greater Washington, D.C., area and one to Chicago. The retailer’s newest and smallest format at approximately 20,000 square feet, TargetExpress will enable the retailer to create a unique store experience and curated merchandise assortment localized for each community. Target will continue to test TargetExpress stores to learn more about operating small format locations and further enhance and customize the guest experience. Target currently operates one TargetExpress location in Minneapolis, which opened in July 2014 and has already made adjustments based on guest feedback and operational insights. Beyond 2015, Target is exploring a number of opportunities to bring TargetExpress to select major markets across the country, including the greater Philadelphia area, Los Angeles, the greater Washington, D.C. area, Chicago and the San Francisco Bay area.
CityTarget
In 2015, Target will open its first East Coast CityTarget store in Boston near Fenway Park, followed by a location in Brooklyn, N.Y., that will open in 2016 in the City Point development. CityTarget debuted in 2012 to bring the Target experience to urban guests who previously had to travel outside the city to one of Target’s suburban store locations. CityTarget offers an edited assortment of its best-selling merchandise with urban dwellers in mind, including smaller pack sizes and a curated assortment. CityTarget stores are typically 80,000-160,000 square feet, and are some of its highest traffic locations in the company. There are currently eight CityTarget stores, including three in Los Angeles, two in San Francisco, one in Seattle, one in Portland, Ore., and one in Chicago.
Community Programs and Partnerships
In 2015, Target will continue to sponsor numerous programs as part of its commitment to building strong communities, including Take Charge of Education; food donations; disaster response and relief; United Way Workplace Giving; National and Regional Days of Service; team member volunteerism; walks with national partners, including St. Jude and American Cancer Society; and local giving by individual stores through GiftCard grants and a Community Engagement Fund.
Minneapolis-based Target Corp. operates 1,790 stores across the United States.