sorta PSA - Target

has anyone been to Target lately and noticed what they're doing????

we were going there the other night & dave tells me, as we're walking in, that he read an article in the paper about how they're going to be more of a 'warehouse' store..etc. I was like - okay, whatever.

we walk to the back, where the seasonal stuff usually is and there it is! HUGE orange signs - NO MEMBERSHIP FEES, BULK ITEMS....

they had the 3 pack of Frosted Flakes in one box (like bj's or costco), the large number of pampers, etc. We didn't look at it all - i just looked at the diapers. Pampers were 160 Swaddlers for $35.99 - so I wasn't TOO impressed (bj's has 184 for 39.99 and always has a 5.00 off coupon), but for those that aren't members of BJ's or Costco - i wanted to share!

I don't know if ALL of them will be doing this - but ours did... Dave checked out a few prices of a few other things - but didn't really say if he felt they were great prices!

Re: sorta PSA - Target

I saw that in my Target too but they also said all over the place in the store that it's temporary. It's all set up in the corner of the store where they do the seasonal things like summer patio furniture, Xmas decorations, Back-To-School items. From what I can tell it's not a permanent thing at all.

Re: sorta PSA - Target

Found this......looks like it will be a 7 week trial and if successful they will continue to offer just a few items in bulk to try and compete with the warehouse stores.


Target Tries Retail Warehouse Approach with Sales of Bulk Items

Posted Jan 6th 2010 11:00AM by Brian WhiteBrian White RSS Feed
Filed under: Consumer experience, Competitive strategy, Target Corp. (TGT)
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After a 2009 that left retailer Target (TGT) crabwalking in regards to same-store sales growth slowdowns, the retailer is now going to experiment with a " warehouse club" strategy that will see if its mix of clean and bright retailer stores and the bulky and boring merchandising of wholesale goods will have consumer appeal.

Like competitors Walmart (WMT) and Costco (COST), Target wants to latch onto the idea that customers perusing its stores will want to continue their saving ways from 2009 and buy groceries and other goods in bulk. For seven weeks, items like paper towels, toilet paper, toothpaste and granola bars will be available in bulk packaging as Target determines interest. Is that enough time to gauge seasonality purchasing and a lot of other variables? Who knows.

One thing is clear: this will be something that, if successful, will become a mainstay at Target stores that already exist (mostly SuperTarget locations). Target won't open new warehouse stores that compete with Costco or Sams's Club locations -- that market is already locked up and it would be foolish for Target to offer just another alternative with no clear competitive advantage.

Offering a good section of square footage inside many SuperTarget locations dedicated solely to wholesale merchandising, though, could work well. Target: just make sure and have a clear separation between those cheery red floors and checkout lanes and what could only be a drab (but value-focused) section of stores featuring all product categories of bulk goods that make sense for you.