Target: Can We Still Expect More and Pay Less?

First-class toys, groceries, apparel, electronics, and makeup… These are some categories that come to my mind when I think of Target. A store with something for everyone.

However, this was not always the case. In fact, Target was not even the original name of the company.

Credits: Rishi Barbhaya 

Credits: Charlie Deets

The beginnings of Target go all the way back to 1902 when Drayton’s Dry Goods company was established. The store was quite successful through the 1900s, even after the Great Depression and the economic hardships the country underwent.

Nevertheless, the Vice President of the company,  Douglas Dayton, saw an opportunity to expand the store and make it better by adapting it to a discount store model, which was booming in the 1960s.

In 1962 he and John Francis Geisser’s, who later on would help build Walmart and Sam’s Club, created Target: a fancy discount store.

This brand was a subdivision of Drayton’s Dry Goods enterprise until the year 2000 when they changed their name to Target because of the retail store’s success. 

Credits: Daniel ODonnell

Today with a shop in every state, Target makes around 70 billion dollars in revenue and is one the largest retail stores in the United States.

But can it still be considered a high-quality and low-priced store as Douglas Dayton and Geisser intended?

Credits: Arren Mills 

I would say yes to the initial factor and a definitive no to the latter one.

Usually, the first aisle in any Target is their Bullseye’s playground and dollar spot, which is the section that resembles Dayton's and Geisser’s vision the most.

It is always fun seeing all the supplies, crafts, toys, and decorations they sell here, even though most of the articles are frivolities. 

Following that segment, comes the apparel section. Clothing ranges from swimsuits to athleisure and carries supplies for kids, men, and women.

Attached to it are the always trending jewelry and accessories. Overall, some pieces of clothing are fair priced and even good deals, like Denizen jeans from Levis which sell at around 20 dollars.

The retail store also sells designer clothes, like Alexia Admor dresses which are originally priced in the $200s. 

Other aisles they have include the toy section, a personal favorite of mine when I was a kid, outdoor artifacts, house devices, decorations, and groceries. 

While Target carries a variety and high quantity of some items, like candies, I would not say the same for their grocery section. They sell food out of convenience for shoppers, but it is not their specialty. 

They do create products under their own brand, which are cheaper and of good quality.

Lastly, Target cares about giving back to its community and aids them through multiple relief programs.

For example, they partnered with Feeding America to donate food to families in need.

They also host fundraisers to help medical development and sponsor families with kids that are undergoing treatments. 

While I always love and enjoy shopping at Target, the store does have some negative factors, like their tendency for higher prices, and their limited grocery aisles.

Also, It is not unusual to go to the store intending on buying two things and coming out with half of the store's supplies.

 

I rate this store a seven out of ten or a seven, and a half if you count their mascot Bullseye.

Let's talk: what would you rate Target? Leave your comments on the bottom.