Analysis Of Target Is Trying To Overcome The Problem Of Showrooming

Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) is the leading large-format general merchandise and discount retailer in the U.S., challenging Wal-Mart in electronics, toys and apparel while also seeking to differentiate with higher-end fashions and products for an upscale audience. As of the close of their latest fiscal year (FY2011), Target operated approximately 1,760 stores encompassing 233,000 square feet in 49 states and the District of Columbia. The company is divided into the retail and credit card divisions and moves the majority of its products through a highly integrated network of 37 different distribution centers, which include four food distribution centers. Target is one of the most well-entrenched large format retailers in the U.S., has the ability to manage their pricing strategies at a level of accuracy and precision that is comparable to Wal-Mart (Henderson, 2001). Unlike Wal-Mart, Target concentrates on a value-based message that concentrates on quality and price differentiation to sustain their gross margins while Wal-Mart concentrates on supply chain efficiency and a continual reduction of supplier and transaction costs (Krishnamurthi, 2001).

Target is one of the largest retailers in the United States. Target wants to be able to give guests better quality products for a cheaper price. They also want to be the one stop shop. Target relies on their team members to keep the guests happy so they always come back again and again. Target Corp. is the nation 's #2 discount chain (behindWal-Mart). The fashion-forward discounter operates about 1,765 Target and SuperTarget stores in 49 states, as well as an online business at Target.com. Target and its larger grocery-carrying incarnation, SuperTarget, have carved out a niche by

Target Corporation offers its customers a vast variety of products, well also providing a service. The corporation owns or has exclusive rights to many different brands ranging from groceries to clothing. For example, some brands that can only be found at Target are Archer Farms which provides food merchandise, Merona which supplies clothing and Room Essentials which provides home goods (Target, 2015, para.2). The shopping experience that Target provides can be defined as a service. The stores shopping experience is a service, since it cannot be patented, interaction with the customer occurs, it is heterogeneous, along with perishable and time dependent and contains the package of features (Chase & Jacobs, 2013, p.9). Target is a popular consumer destination because it provides both a service and goods making it ideal for one

The aim of this paper is to highlight the strategic position of the company with an overview of its internal and external environment. The study of its strategy, design and other forces, one can easily gauge why and how target has managed to become the retail giant it is today.

Target sells its products from the high end of the market to the low end depending on the type of product in question. In regards to Electronics items where the caption rate is small, they price their items at the high end to ensure they meet their margins. However, in regards to Target’s name brand items, they price those at the low end, keeping the company as a discounted retailer. Target also sells designer items that range from mid to high range of the market. In 2013 Targets CEO Gregg Steinhafel adopted the philosophy “a penny saved is a penny earned”. He further mentioned that they company would be a penny higher in price than their competitors Wal-Mart (Davis, M 2013). Steinhafel stated that “We want to be a penny

In today’s world, especially in Canada, consumers generally want to satisfy all of their needs in a way that saves them the most time and energy. In order to meet this need, Target offers their customers the chance to buy different products that they would normally have to go to two or three different stores

More often than not, Target’s products fall under the consumer discretionary category. Thus, the company is vulnerable to macroeconomic forces— consumer spending trends, employment and income, and GDP (gross domestic product) growth rate. After a failed attempt to expand into Canada, Target’s operations are limited to the United States market. This makes the company’s financial performance more vulnerable to our fluctuating economy. It is primarily these macro forces, in the recession and thereafter, that forced Target to shift towards an affordability focus in all of its product lines. However, these macro forces, in the betterment of the state of the economy, also provide Target with the opportunity to refresh its product offerings according to the tastes and preferences of its consumers, while continuing to offer a relatively low price point, regardless of the product area. In this way, Target is shifting from employing a production concept, in which its main focus is to sell products at a low production

Target’s business-level strategy is one that does not strictly focus entirely on one plan to gain a competitive advantage over competition. It encompasses various strategic and meticulous planning and decision making that is implemented in order to position the company at the top of the retail industry. With competition from the likes of Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club, and Costco, Target uses several clever and “out-of-the-box” ideas to attract consumer attention and ultimately increase market share within the industry. Most of the company’s ideas centered more on the differentiation of products and services provided to customers than lowering prices. For quite some time, the company’s plan was to not compete head-to-head with Wal-Mart in terms of lowering prices but instead to provide their customers, who they identify as “guests”, with a special experience every time they visited a Target location. One idea that was implemented was to market and sell upscale, trendy clothing and unique merchandise at discounted prices.1 This strategy, known as the “cheap-chic” strategy, focused on providing good quality clothing from various well known designers and fancy products from high-profile manufacturers for prices lower than their competition. This plan was vital because it began essentially began the concept of customers referring to Target as “Tar-zhay” which according to Patrick Barwise and Sean Meehan, who are university professors, as a “connote its trendy sensibility”. Target

This correspondences procedure focused on an up-market cachet with quality stock at moderate costs. They bring new patterns to racks quicker than other markdown retailers and incorporated "fast fashion" to bring about more regular customer visits. Publicizing efforts, for example, "Expect More, Pay Less" work to impart their intended interest group of more youthful, more wealthy, and instructed advertise. They have engaged their business sectors "classification require, mark mindfulness, mark disposition, and brand buy aim" with its IMC systems. Walmart has passed on a brand as a rebate superstore, which purchasers see as modest and low quality. Target upholds a solid trust in its purchasers of value and top of the line items. Through their coordinated showcasing correspondences procedures the brand has turned out to be seen as top of the line reasonableness. This separation is the manner by which target has wedged itself a specialty in the markdown retail

Target is basically asking its vendors to do for them what they are not doing for others. Target is trying to cut corners, labor, and sweat by placing the work on the vendors. I see this being a good thing or a bad thing for the vendors. This could be good for vendors because it will bring in more revenue for them. It will also motivate competitors to demand special products as well.

Target has obviously realized that “show-rooming” is a huge problem for them. I personally am known for being a “savvy shopper.” If I can get a product for a cheaper price, and can wait until it arrives in the mail instead of buying it from the store immediately then I am going to do that. Target has realized that most people are like this too. They are wanting the manufactures and/or vendors to create special products that will set them apart from their competition (Kinicki & Williams, 2013). With this special product that you can only get in their store, they believe it will draw people in.

Target Corporation has recognized itself as one of the top retailers in the United States market on the basis of excellent service quality, customer experiences, operational excellence, strong financial position, and a wide array of product offerings. Through its high degree of service orientation at physical outlets and adoption of fair business practices, Target Corporation has become the most distinctive retailer in the eyes of its potential customers. Being one of the top-notch retailers in the United States, Target Corporation has to carefully strategize on its business operations and marketing tactics so as to keep itself in the row of competitive brands of the industry.

The article describes how brick and mortar stores are faced with problem of show-rooming. This problem is where consumers come into retail stores and try out or on products and then go online and purchase at a lower price (Zimmerman, 2012). Target was trying to get their vendors to give them exclusive products to sell only in their brick and mortar stores. Other options were for the vendor to offer better prices to Target than to its competitors.

Target Corp. is facing an economic challenge as shoppers are now engaging in the practice of show-rooming. Many potential customers are coming in to the store to view the products or merchandise in person. Then the consumer returns home to compare prices and purchase the products from other online retailers. Target is tired of spending on advertising and displays only to have consumers view their products and purchase them elsewhere at cheaper prices.

The case study name Target is Trying to Overcome the Problem of “Showrooming” indicates that Target vendors have little choice but to “play ball” and create special products to shield them from price comparisons (Kinicki & Williams, 2013). This demand from Target could have much more ethical ramifications and possible fallout from the vendors. Target’s use of the Individual Approach may not be the solution for the long run.