topic Re: Target in Fashion

Target

tishkins — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 14:20:58 GMT

I heard on tv this am that Target is planning on firing a few thousand workers in order to boost on line sales.What is wrong with this picture? These workers are for the most part part-time employees who must pay for their medical insurance and am sure are working pay check to pay check. Not everyone likes to shop on line especially the elderly and how about trying to find an employee when we do need assistance in the store. Right now you sometimes have to search for an employee.I feel for these workers because many of them probably lost their high paying jobs due to the financial disaster or out sourcing. We need to rethink. People are important

Re: Target

brii — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 14:22:16 GMT

I never like to hear that people are losing their jobs.

Re: Target

violann — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 15:01:30 GMT

There are a LOT of things that need rethinking. I have come to intensely dislike malls for instance. In my area they have replaced towns, without the socializing influences of churches, schools, libraries, and court houses. To me they are like communities of greed. Our LOCAL community stores (now completely gone) were a totally different experience. There are things I like about our local Target, but I have to go to a mall to use it, and once there it just becomes a part of the vast anonymous megolith of buybuybuy. Showing my age, I know.

Re: Target

bluejeansluvr — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 15:12:33 GMT

I love Target. I am sorry to hear this. That isn't a logical reason why they are letting people go, how does that help online sales, I don't understand that. I prefer to shop at Target anytime vs. Walmart. Walmart is so big and dirty. I only go there when it's necessary which isn't often.

Re: Target

handygal2 — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 15:18:56 GMT

I like the experience of shopping at the Target store, as opposed to their website. This is a shame. As with everything else in this economy, it's not about people, but rather, all about the bottom line.

Re: Target

terrier3 — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 15:51:05 GMT

I spent 20 hours a week in Target stores from Nov. thru Feb. selling and advising people about individual health insurance plans. I worked in city, suburban and a country store, so I saw a LOT of different people and areas.

The volume of customers fell off SHARPLY after Christmas...like it does in all retail stores.

I passed out lip balm as part of my job to get people to our kiosk. I went from 3-4 bags each 6 hour shift - that's 450-600 lip balms...to half a bag or so.

I think it's seasonal more than anything else.

That being said - I wanted to buy a 4x5 ft. rug I saw in the store. The store only had one color - online there were 6 choices. I had to get it online.

Re: Target

circles — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 15:51:53 GMT

Sorry to read this...I like Target...there was a time when I went into my local Target and there were employees everywhere...there was always someone asking if they can help you find something...or direct you to what you were looking for...always friendly...now...I am hard pressed to find anyone working on their floor....except the registers...

I can't imagine my store cutting back any further....

Re: Target

Sakuya — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 16:18:58 GMT

Businesses are in business to make money. Yes, it is awful so many people will lose their job, but Target needs to make money. If they don't, everyone loses their job.

Re: Target

itsmagic — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 16:26:19 GMT

The article I read about Target layoffs yesterday said Target expanded into Canada which they lost a lot of money on and now need to tighten their belt so to speak.

Re: Target

terrier3 — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 16:31:21 GMT

I just heard on CNBC that the cuts are in their corporate offices - and in India.

NOT staff in local stores.

Re: Target

Happydays — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 16:39:15 GMT

I hate to hear this too. Target, Walmart, & Kmart are all places we shop on budgets. However they also have online shopping and low shipping prices. I am 81 years old and do almost of my shopping on line, except food, which I have done with Safeway 3 times when I just could not get out and around.

Maybe we have done this to ourselves.

Re: Target

terrier3 — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 16:46:18 GMT

On 3/4/2015 ShopperAZ said:
I hate to hear this too. Target, Walmart, & Kmart are all places we shop on budgets. However they also have online shopping and low shipping prices. I am 81 years old and do almost of my shopping on line, except food, which I have done with Safeway 3 times when I just could not get out and around.

Maybe we have done this to ourselves.

Very astute comment!

Yes, we have done this to ourselves.

Re: Target

wilma — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 17:01:47 GMT

Sorry to hear this. I prefer to shop in stores whether it be in Target or somewhere else. Lots of people do the majority of their shopping online now, so I wouldn't be surprised to see lots of stores scaling back in store personnel.

Re: Target

Andreatoo — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 17:43:20 GMT

Target is taking people in to consideration; unfortunately the people are their shareholders..I've noticed recently when I've been shopping for particular products, that plenty of things Target carries are 'on line only' and it isn't only Target that's doing it....

Re: Target

goodstuff — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 17:48:04 GMT

The shift to online shopping is affecting the retail model everywhere. It's a fact: more and more of us enjoy shopping online and many of us don't go to B&M stores and malls as often as in the past. You can't expect stores to keep paying FT staff members when there's less and less work for them to do in the stores. The business model is changing, and so will staffing needs. Reality.

Anyway, what Target does or doesn't do makes very little difference to me. I rarely shop there at all, and almost never for fashion. I find Target's style sense and quality "iffy", and I am not gratified or impressed that they relegate their meager plus size offerings to a remote corner of the store adjacent to their back office and the maternity section. Hey, Target: There are a lot of larger women out here, and we have money to spend! I take mine where it's merited and appreciated......which is not Target.

Re: Target

stevieb — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 17:50:00 GMT

As noted above, the news item I read indicated that most cuts would come from corporate headquarters, including a location in India and not from stores, and didn't reference this as a move to enhance on-line sales, but to save money and restructure. I hope Target makes a go of it, I enjoy going to Target and prefer it to other similar stores.

Re: Target

Jacie — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 18:28:58 GMT

I always think it's a funny thing with Target. New CEO wants to re-do everything and that is his job to make it work. However, I have never in the last few years, been able to round out a grocery shopping list at Target. They still have, and have always had, a problem with keeping their shelves stocked. I figure at least they admitted that when they shut down the Canada operation.

I live in Minneapolis and locally we have heard that this round of lay-offs affects only the HQ. In the past there have been scathing reports in the local paper about the waste at HQ. Executives reportedly spent a large majority of their weeks meeting with mentors, free-wheeling through their days and exponentially spending more time in meetings than the average company. AND decisions were made by a huge consensus so of people so little got done and little left the ground.

While fashionable, fun and clean, it doesn't work if you cannot keep product in the store for your customer. I have spent money elsewhere and it sure didn't hurt! There is lots of shopping available!

Re: Target

gardensla — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 18:34:00 GMT

Huge 4th quarter losses. I read that they're restructuring their grocery section, phasing out packaged goods in favor of more fresh based on sales to younger shoppers. They're also going back to reclaim their cheap chic reputation for fashion which they abandoned over the past few years.

Target is usually more expensive for basics and over the last few years I find I rarely go there much; used to be a regular!

Re: Target

Vivian — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 19:00:42 GMT

I just wonder what the ultimate result of all the firings will have on the US economy. Almost a century ago, Henry Ford said that he wanted to build a car that his workers could afford. With massive firings and outsourcing there will be a dwindling market for these companies. Customer service and purchasing power will suffer. I have no sympathy for what will happen to those businesses that engage in Draconian practices.

Re: Target

terrier3 — Wed, 04 Mar 2015 19:16:49 GMT

On 3/4/2015 Vivian said: I just wonder what the ultimate result of all the firings will have on the US economy. Almost a century ago, Henry Ford said that he wanted to build a car that his workers could afford. With massive firings and outsourcing there will be a dwindling market for these companies. Customer service and purchasing power will suffer. I have no sympathy for what will happen to those businesses that engage in Draconian practices.

I don't sympathize with companies that have massive layoffs either.

But unfortunately when companies announce layoffs, their stock price usually rises!