Target’s Supply Chain For over 50 years, Target has provided American consumers with quality products delivered with “a unique shopping experience” (“About Us”, 2015). The retailing giant, second only to Walmart Corporation, secured a Fortune 500 ranking of 36 this year making them one the Top 100 companies in the U.S. (“Target”, 2015). 2014 was a tough year for the company marked with many pivotal moments including the installment of a new chief executive officer. Still, the company’s growth accelerated as the year progressed earning Target $72.6 million in revenues (“Annual Report”, 2014). The new CEO faced many challenges this year including making the tough decision to close stores in Canada and the 2013 information breach settlement …show more content…
This is an important process because it is based on the customer’s wants and needs. The products that are built here enhance the supply chain design and goes beyond just giving customers what they want. And according to Target, their guests want more sustainable products (“Corporate Responsibility”, 2014). For example, Target’s Sustainable Product Standard partners them with vendors who provide information on 6,500 products for which there is no widely accepted standard for sustainability. They evaluate this information against certain criteria based on information gathered from stakeholders. The process helps Target to provide a better selection of sustainable products for their guests (“Corporate Responsibility”, 2014). Order Processing and Management According to Misra and Choudhary (2010), advanced information and communications technology such as virtual private networks, allows organizations to reduce cycle times and operational costs. Target utilizes an efficient ready-to-ship process to get their products out to thousands of vendors. Technology links all the vendors into a customized online community with extensive reporting and management systems. Vendors can easily and efficiently order shipments from regional distribution centers. Technology has streamlined costs in this process by eliminating thousands of faxed documents from vendors. Target is also able to fill trucks with more products at lower prices (“Target Corporation”, n.d.). Value
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
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’s 2007 annual report to stockholders keys in on a few main points. The first main concern was that overall financial performance in 2007 fell short of expectations largely due to slowing sales and earnings growth in the second half of the year. But, despite the slowing economy, Target remained focused on continual investment and growth in the business. Over 100 new stores, including 33 SuperTarget® stores were opened in 2007. Investments were made in technology and
After the recession, Target’s value proposition shifted to simply offer affordable options in a wide array of product areas. However, now with better economic conditions and without the ability to offer lower prices than its affordable retail competitors, such as Walmart, and in order to stay relevant and refresh the company, Target needs to reposition itself as the high-quality concept and style-oriented retail store it was once known for.
Target achieved its differentiation in the marketplace by positioning its products and store experience as higher quality than its main discount competitors Wal-Mart, with lower prices than department stores. Target’s main focus is QUALITY product and at a LOW PRICE. It all began with the idea of, “fashionable, smart design…delivered at a competitive discount prices.” Target strives to deliver to customers a unique shopping experience. Target grabs customer’s attention by their big red bulls eye and customers keep going to target. But at the same time Target need to make sure that their shelves are stocked, they gave good customer service,
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
Target is one of the most successful retail stores still standing despite the hostile competition that Walmart and Amazon have created in the affordable market. Target mission statement clearly describes the company objective are to satisfy the needed of their customer by offering exceptional shopping experiences with outstanding value. Through which they also mean, offer quality products for an affordable price.
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 2014, Target headquarters discover its annual results which were US $ 941 million loss in Canada. They launched a YouTube campaign apologizing to the Canadians consumer for the inconveniences caused and admitting their bad strategy used in the Canadian market. They tried with this public expression to improve the relationship with the consumers. After this, new team starts to work hard on the data analyze and make new decisions about better segment stores and moving inventory. Also, they improve the system identifying wrong data and improving supply chain process. Even though at the end of 2014 the company
Over the years Target has established itself as the second largest discount store in America. Falling behind Walmart, Target has experienced periods of strong growth but has recently encountered problems that have caused concern with those within the organization as well as external analysts. One of the biggest problems Target is facing currently is generating consistent customer traffic into its stores as many of their major departments are continuously loosing money and causing customers seek out other product alternatives. A major contributor to this problem is that it is spreading itself thin by offering too much without establishing a competitive advantage and not firmly establishing itself in denser city locations.
Customer service is the heart of any business. I’ve selected Target as my service organization assessment. Target is a corporation similar to Walmart, however, upscale and provides high-quality, on-trend merchandise. Regardless if you are shopping online on Target’s website or a physical location, Target carries items ranging from clothing to groceries to electronics to toys and even a pharmacy and in-store Starbucks. Target was first opened in 1962 in Minneapolis and now has 1,802 stores around the United State. There are over 300 thousand Target employees.
Target Corporation was founded in 1902 as Dayton Dry Goods Company, headquartered in Minnesota. In 1962, the first target store was initiated with the purpose of catering customers with discounted values. In United States and Canada, there are currently 1888 stores, in addition to this, in 2004, all of the subsidiaries were sold by the company following the objective of focusing on select stores of Target Corporation. Currently, it is second largest and renowned discount retailer throughout the world. In contrast to this, the company has been facing fierce and strong competition from market leaders such as Wal-Mart and Costco. There is also a need that the company must adjust its capital budgeting process.
Targets service design is to offer consumers high quality goods at an affordable price, well increasing its positive ecological impact. Target does this by owning and providing exclusive brands that are offered in the store (Target, 2015, para. 5). Increased volumes due to the holiday season causes an increase in customer demand instore, which is combated by an increase in staffing. Target also uses outsourcing to reduce cost, but this does not always prove to be efficient. The CIO of Target has announced that they are working to decrease outsourcing of their Information Technology department (Rosenbush, 2015, para.1). The outsourcing decreased cost, but it was timely to fix an issue with communication of multiple people in multiple geological locations. The strategy of saving money by outsourcing has failed and is be
Target Corporation is the fourth largest retailer in the United States. The company operates 1,556 stores in 47 states. The company has three main retail divisions: Target Stores, Mervyn’s and Marshall Fields. Target Stores is the number two discount retailer in the country, trailing only Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. they have distinguished itself from its competitors by offering upscale, fashion-conscious products at affordable prices (Funding Universe, n.d.). Targets supply chain actives has been an important part of and one of the most significant reasons for its huge growth and success. The purpose of paper is to analyze Targets supply chain and related actives to understand its effectiveness and gain a better understanding on how their supply chain contributes to the company’s growth and success.
Target works on trying to find environmentally friendly ways get the product to the customers. They work on reducing their carbon footprint by working with experts on ways to improve their packaging and transportation. (Target Corporate 2016.) They also try to get their manufactures to use sustainable apparel and footwear products. They encourage their customers to follow manufactures suggestion by washing apparel in cold water to help reduce the usage of water and energy consumption. (Target Corporate 2016.) Targets products come from all over the world.