Nordstrom's Strategic Positioning Strategy

Target Corporation is a retail chain specializing in household goods, clothing, food, and accessories at discounted prices. The retail chain’s history started back in 1902 as Goodfellows and in 1910 as The Dayton Company. Initially, the chain specialized in “furnishings, fabrics and decorations for business and other public institutions” (“Target Corporation,” 2016, p. 5). Eventually, Target went public in 1967 and on to acquire Mervyn’s in the 1970s where they became the seventh largest retailer in the United States. Target operates in the United States, where it is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota and as of January 31, 2015 Target employs over 300,000 people. “The company recorded revenues of $72,618 million in the financial year ended January 2015, the operating profit of the company was $4,535 million, [and] the net profit was $2,449 million” (“Target

In an attempt to diversify itself, and gain greater market penetration, Nordstrom took on a new name, “Nordstrom Best”, and ventured into the clothing market. Now, upon entering a Nordstrom store, “customers were greeted with a selection of both shoes and fine apparel” (Nordstrom Employee, 2006). Now for the first time in history, Nordstrom offered a diverse product mix, something no other competitor offered.

Goals & Objectives The goal of Nordstrom, is to create a wonderful customer experience, which will never change within the Nordstrom Company. Their goal is to create new experiences for its customers. For instance, their goal is to create convenience, speed, innovation, and personalization, which all impacts the customer experience (Nordstrom Company, n.d.). Nordstrom also wants to be able to invest in its cross-channel experience, by combining its online experience with the high-touch inclusivity of its stores (Nordstrom Company, n.d.).

Since Topshop has been inside Nordstrom’s across the country for years, it will be an easy transition to bring the new line into the store.

Through all of my research and in person visits to Target, I have determined this store to be incredibly superior. Not everyone has to agree with me, but I truly believe there is something for everyone there. Some may wonder, “Keely, why on earth does anyone love a grocery store this much?” And to that I reply, Target is not a grocery store. It is a

Neiman Marcus and Target are stores that provide goods and services to consumers in a traditional brick and mortar set up with auxiliary outlets online and via catalogue. Neiman Marcus prides itself on delivering to the discerning consumer unique and innovative items much like a boutique store. Whereas Target is considered a discount retailer, second only to Wal-Mart, providing a wide variety of everyday items from groceries to furniture. While both Neiman Marcus and Target are retail stores, their product and service, clientele, supply chain management, and pricing and marketing gravely differ due to the intrinsic nature of what each store supplies.

We don’t rely on promotions, be it one-day sales, coupons, or “friends of friends” sales. We think our regular pricing has to have integrity.” Fifth is presentation, where the stores image is determined. Nordstrom is known for its relaxed upscale image. Sixth is personnel or customer service, where employees assist customers with their shopping experience. Nordstrom’s personnel are outstanding while they may not serve customers champagne they definitely will go out of their way to assist customers. I think that their personnel have to be the reason behind their success. Whether the story about the customer buying one shoe or the customer returning tires are true or not, gives the current and potential customers a sense of comfort and good customer service beats prices any day.

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

Having so many locations makes Target easily accessible to many people and increases its popularity. There are also few stores similar in type or content to Target. Most similarly, this superstore can be compared to Walmart but when looking at the details Walmart does not come close to the high standards of Target. With less variety, disorganized displays and low quality products it is clear that Target is superior (Lydersen). Target products are typically well made and are never of a low value.

One of Target’s strengths is that it’s one of the largest retail outlets. Target is a one stop shop for its consumers. Target

Target has deals that continue every week and people can get their buys the way they plan like. This store has enormous potential to get to customers at best and with efficiency that there will be better consumer marketing that has to be done to improve economies people function with to improve future of countries that need prosperous ways to fulfill needs they have.

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.

Target’s creators had a history in retail before they opened the discount merchandise store. They had already built an empire through Dayton’s department stores. They offered quality apparel and goods to people and were praised for their high levels of customer service. When they entered the discount retail world they wanted to continue that tradition. Unfortunately, they were already struggling to keep up with Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart offered a one stop shop location where you can find clothing, groceries and other household items and deeply discounted prices. Target offered discount clothing and other household items but had yet to introduce grocery as Wal-Mart was beginning to sweep the nation. Target needed to reevaluate their place in the market and needed to strategize so that they could continue to compete with the box store giant.

While Wal-Mart depends on providing a low price goods, Target on the other hand relies on the needs of the younger customers. Among others Wal-Mart is one of the biggest competitor to Target. Target Corporation was able to differentiate its business from competitors by ensuring to its customers to offer a better quality goods with a reasonable low price. According to Douglas J. Dayton, Target

Target Corporation is the second largest retailer in the United States, behind Wal-Mart. Target is involved in selling a variety of general merchandise and food products. Its main strategy involves a low cost and differentiation approach, which sets it apart from its competitors. Target’s products it offers also sets it apart from its competitors due to its high quality. Target has relationships with top designers, such as Mossimo, which allows it to provide more innovative and trendy products to keep up with the changing demands of consumers. Target is also able to achieve their quality through its relationship with its suppliers. This relationship and Target’s size allow it to achieve economies of scale to provide low prices. Wal-Mart, on the other hand, offers lower quality products at low prices. Wal-Mart solely focuses on a low cost strategy. Wal-Mart however has a global advantage. Wal-Mart operates in twenty-six different countries with over 6,100 stores internationally. Wal-Mart also has 4,540 U.S. stores compared to 1,795 Target stores in the United States. Target also only operates in the United States. In 2013, Target attempted to expand into Canada, but failed, having to sell its stores and relocate domestically. Their domestic presence, however, can be seen as an opportunity for Target to expand globally, especially into markets such as China and India. If they expanded, it would allow them to squeeze out some of Wal-Mart’s market share and