Target has long been a favorite shopping destination for my family. Between the great prices and quality products, you simply get more for your money. And it seems like many shoppers agree. More stores open every year and their website hosts more than 1 million visitors a day. While many people are familiar with the Target brand, most are not aware of its history or values. Here are 10 things you probably didn’t know about Target and Super Target.
10 Things You Didn’t Know about Super Target
1. The first Target opened in 1962 in Roseville, MN. However, the first Super Target opened its doors in 1995 in Omaha, NE.
Although George Dayton had already established several retail and department stores, the Dayton corporation launched the Target brand as a discounted chain. The first location officially opened its doors in May 1962 in Roseville, MN. By the end of the year, they added two more locations in the same state. Today, they have thousands of stores around the world.
However, the brand expanded and added Super Targets as well. These stores had the same great prices, but they added a grocery section to provide fresh meat, produce, and dairy. The first Super Target location opened in Omaha, NE in 1995.
2. The current version of the Target logo has been used since 1968.
After long discussions and debates, Target was the final selection for the store’s name from a list of 200 possible choices. The reasoning for the choice was because “as a marksman’s goal is to hit the center bullseye, the new store would do much the same in terms of retail good, services, commitment to the community, price, value, and overall experience.” To coincide with their brand, the store created the red bullseye logo that has become synonymous with great deals. The store adopted the current version of the logo in 1968 and has used it ever since.
3. The pronunciation of “Tarjay” goes back to the store’s beginning.
I’ve heard many of my friends and even some celebrities refer to the national retailer as “Tarjay,” as if pronouncing it with a French accent made it sound like an exclusive boutique. But if you’re like me, you probably didn’t know that this tradition goes back decades. People have been mispronouncing the name for years. Even the first president of the Target Corporation noted that people joked about the name when the first store opened in 1962.
4. There are 1,00 around the U.S.
It seems like more Targets and Super Targets pop up in my city every year. Don’t get me wrong, I love Target. So, it makes me happy to see more stores appear in local neighborhoods. While many other retailers are cutting back, Target is continuing to add more locations every year. Currently, there are 1,938 stores in the U.S. alone.
5. CVS owns the Target pharmacies.
In-store pharmacies are another huge convenience for Target shoppers. However, they are now all owned and operated by CVS. At one time, Target handled its own prescriptions and branding. But in 2015, it announced a change in ownership. CVS Pharmacy bought all their dispensaries and rebranded them under their corporate umbrella.
6. The large concrete balls in front of the store are for your safety.
When you visit a Target or Super Target, you can’t miss the large, red, concrete balls in front of the store. Initially, I thought this was part of an exterior redesign. While some think they look odd, they serve as more than just decor. Those large concrete balls (known as bollards) are there for your safety. In addition to complementing the store’s exterior facade, they are there to protect pedestrians and prevent cars from driving into the entrance.
7. Target shoppers hit key demographics.
Although Target is a staple for people from all backgrounds, it does seem to cater to certain key demographics. Based on market research, the median age of the average Target shopper is 40. And their median salary is about $64,000. It is also interesting to note that 57% of Target shoppers are college graduates while 43% have children.
8. They have a special app to offer customers additional savings.
The Target brand has established itself as a trusted retailer that continues to offer mass-market discounts. The goal is to provide a high-quality shopping experience to value-oriented consumers. So, it should come as no surprise that Target has designed a special app that offers even more savings.
If you are a frequent shopper, you can download the Cartwheel app to save even more during your next Target trip. You can peruse the app to find additional coupons and discounts. And, both in-store and online shoppers can take advantage of the discounts.
9. Target stopped selling tobacco products in the 1990s.
If you went to a Target store 30 years ago, they offered many of the same products as all their competitors. However, over the last few decades, the company has made great efforts to become more socially conscious of its corporate impact and its customers’ values. Under one of their initiatives to support public health, Target became one of the first major retailers to remove tobacco products from its shelves in 1996. Today, the company continues to put the health of its customers above its profits.
10. Super Target customers can breastfeed anywhere in the store.
On that same train of thought, Target has also taken a very controversial stance to support nursing mothers who visit its stores. Although many mothers are shamed for breastfeeding in public, Target has established a policy to make the store more mommy-friendly. In 2015, they enacted a new policy that mothers can breastfeed anywhere on the premises, and no department is exempt. It implemented the policy after one customer at a Texas location was told to cover up. In response, several mothers in the community staged a “nurse-in” to protest. Not only did this bring attention to an issue that many mothers face, but it also set a precedent for all American retailers.
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Jenny Smedra is an avid world traveler, ESL teacher, former archaeologist, and freelance writer. Choosing a life abroad had strengthened her commitment to finding ways to bring people together across language and cultural barriers. While most of her time is dedicated to either working with children, she also enjoys good friends, good food, and new adventures.
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