Target Executive Summary

Target Corporation is an evolving company. Target has great expectations for its future. For the year 2015, Target aims to expand its experience in order to effectively alter their customer’s expectations and shopping behavior. Target’s industry outlook starts with opening fifteen new stores for the year. The strategic store growth plans focus on localization and customer experience. Target will establish new store formats such as TargetExpress and CityTarget, while also offering new experiences, merchandising layouts and innovations in its general merchandising stores. (Target.com) The retailer’s TargetExpress is the smallest store format at approximately 20,000 square feet and aims to provide customers with effective quick trip shopping experience.

George Draper Dayton: A banker and real estate investor, George Draper Dayton, who is a native New Yorker saw potential growth in the Midwest markets and after much research decided that Minneapolis has the greatest potential for growth. In 1902 Dayton decided to be a partner in Goodfellow’s Dry Goods Company, the fourth largest department store in Minneapolis, Minnesota. However, about a year later he takes sole ownership of the store and renames the store to Dayton Dry Goods Company. Dayton’s principles and belief in the “the higher ground of stewardship” soon played into how Dayton Dry Goods Company would be recognized. The store became known for dependable merchandise, fair business practices, and generous spirit of giving. Dayton, as president, was well involved in the management of the store up until his death in 1938. His son and grandsons would later take over leadership and has influenced the stores growth into the nationwide retailer position it has today. Throughout the years, many events occurred that influence the business path Dayton Dry Goods Company took, currently known as Target Corporation.

The purpose of this paper is to discuss Target’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. This paper will also talk about how Porter’s Five affects Target’s business decisions.

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 Corporation was founded in 1902 in Minneapolis as the Dayton Dry Goods Company, though the first Target store was opened in 1962 in nearby Roseville, Minnesota. Not until 1995, was the first Super Target was built. In 1999 Target launched their website Target.com. Target grew and eventually became the largest division of Dayton Hudson Corporation, culminating in the company being renamed as Target Corporation in August 2000. The Corporation became a major retailing power house with $52.6 billion in revenues from 1,397 stores in 47 states by 2005. Realizing a 12.1% sales growth over the past five years target had announced plans to continue its growth by opening

Headquartered in Minneapolis Minnesota, Target Corporation is one of the largest chains of retail stores in United States and Canada (Stone, 1995). Founded in 1902, the chain now has more than 360,000 employees worldwide. The company operates nearly 1925 stores out of which 1795 stores are in the US and 130 stores are in Canada (NASDAQ, 2014). The business prides itself in a diverse portfolio of merchandise that their outlets houses, ranging from dry groceries to electronics, furniture, apparel and much more. Its distribution networks make use of third party vendors, direct shipping as well as distribution centers. It also operates a successful e-store target.com which offers customers a virtual one-stop shop for their needs.

Target Corporation was founded in 1902 and headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Target Corporation operates general merchandise and food discount stores throughout the United States. The company’s products range from household essentials, to electronics, to toys, to apparel and accessories, to home furnishings, to food and pet supplies. Most of the merchandise is sold under Target and SuperTarget trademarks, but it also sells under private-label brands, such as Archer Farms, Circo, Merona, and Room Essentials. The company also offers merchandise through programs like ClearRx, Great Save, and Home Design Event. Additionally, Target markets its merchandise under license and designer

Target was founded in 1902 first named Dayton Dry Goods Company by founder George D. Dayton (Target, 2015). After a lot of expansion and growth, Dayton Dry Goods was renamed to Target in 1961 after a mass marketing move to cater to value-oriented shoppers that wanted high quality items. In 1962, the Target bullseye symbol was adopted (Target, 2015). Over the years Target began to expand and grow throughout the entire United States. In 1983, Target was recognized for their community involvement (Target, 2015). Target has grown with technology as being the first mass merchandiser in 1983 to implement UPC scanning in their stores and distributors. In support of education, Target

The Target Corporation is a general merchandise retailer that opened up in in 1962 under the parent company of Dayton Corporation. This parent company was renamed the Target Corporation in 2000 and are based out of Minneapolis. There are over 1,800 Target stores throughout the United States which includes Targets and Super Targets. In 2005 Target began expansion in India and in 2011 to Canada however this expansion into Canada did not fare well and all Target Canada stores were closed by 2015. According to Forbes in 2005 they we ranked amongst the highest cash-giving companies in America with 2.1% given and they donate about 5% of its pre-tax operating profit. In 2010 Target was ranked number 22 by Fortune magazine’s World's Most Admired Companies.

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

The following paper will discuss the research that I completed regarding the internal and external environments of both Allstate Insurance and the Target stores as a corporation. What will be provided is information on the competitive advantages of each company and the types of strategies that they each use. What will also be discussed is how each of these organizations create value and how they maintain a competitive advantage through their business strategy. I will also cover what types of measurement guidelines both Allstate Insurance and Target is using and how effective these measurement guidelines are for their organization.

Nearly everyone is at least somewhat familiar with Target stores; the famous bullseye logo is identifiable all across the United States. With the motto "Expect More, Pay Less", the company suggests that customers can expect more of everything, at more reasonable prices.1 Target's commitment to the consumer, as well as it's employment consideration and management style led Fortune Magazine to name it as one of the Most Admired Companies in 2005.

With its headquarters in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Target is a continuously striving company focused on improving every aspect of their business – whether it's their merchandising for guests, technology solutions, or even the future design of the company. The first Target store was founded and created in 1932 in Roseville, Minnesota by George Dayton. Originally created to be a discounted merchandising company, Target surpassed all doubters expectations when it began to offer common stock, and 1969, merging with J.L. Hudson and for the first time, Target revenues topped $1 billion dollars. Today Target is

This report examines Target Corporation’s performance in a detailed strategic audit. The audit includes an external, internal and strategic analysis as well as a recommended course of action. The findings of the audit recommend a robust on-line/mobile presence to complement in-store sales, and to increase future earnings to remain competitive by building upon physical assets, brand value and logistical capabilities.

In the year1962 the Target Organization was established by George Dayton who categories the organization as a concession retailer within the townships of Roseville, Minnesota. A decade later after the organization established it footing within the industry, the small subsidiary developed into the biggest division within The Dayton Corporation. The company advanced from a single discount store to earning its successes over the years from conventional leased superstore practices and discount vending, in addition to general retailing the