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Walmart has displays but none in boxes for purchase 

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Walmart has displays but none in boxes for purchase 

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Over the years I have visited many Walmart stores and have seen some very disorderly stores. But I found a store in total disarray during my visit last Saturday to the Pittsfield, Massachusetts store (number 2228). It was disturbing.

Everywhere I looked, whether it was the men's, women's or juniors departments, merchandise was not well assorted by style, size, or color. There was no fashion message; and the presentation was poor--goods hung loose on separate racks in a most unattractive way. In the women's intimate apparel department there were many bras on the floor - certainly unappealing, not to mention an unsanitary condition.

It wasn't just apparel that was in disarray--the rest of the store was also disorganized and out-of-stock; for example, the pharmacy area had many empty spaces on the vitamin shelves as well as in other categories. In the vacuum cleaner department there were some machines on display - but no back-up stock to purchase; some styles were in boxes but not on display. There were many other departments in similar conditions. No surprise in such a poorly kept store, the bathrooms were both filthy and in serious need of management's attention-to me this shows the disregard management has for customers and employees-not a good message. (The company's response to this post is below).

What happened to this standard setting retailer? Walmart always prided itself on neatness, cleanliness and full assortments of merchandise. It was Sam Walton's creed to offer his customers the best values that were available. I walked Walmart stores with "Mr. Sam" many times-he cared deeply about people--he knew associates' names and often recognized loyal customers. Sam has been dead over 21 years and unfortunately as the company has grown beyond his wildest dreams it has become a bureaucracy. The year Sam Walton died, Walmart recorded sales of $43.9 billion. In fiscal 2012 sales reached an astounding $443.9 billion. Walmart stores achieved $264.2 billion in the United States, and $125.9 billion in international sales.

It seems size is now working against Walmart in many ways especially where it comes to holding the organization accountable for the customer experience. I believe that the company is dependent on strong supervisors throughout the company. They must spot weak stores--to me the Pittsfield, MA store is a weak operation. Too many times it appears there is no supervision in the store, and the sales associates seem to be afraid to step up and straighten visible flaws. In an effort to be profitable, I believe management has cut into operating staff and eliminated vital levels of management. This is visible in many Walmart stores where there are fewer sales associates, less management, and longer lines at the check-out register. However, no store I've seen has been as much of a disaster as store 2228.

Over the long run, if Walmart wants to remain a discount store leader with low prices and continue to serve customers with dignity and respect, it must pay attention to the appearance of the store, the genuine value of the merchandise it sells, and show appreciation for every customer. My recent visit to store 2228 in Pittsfield, MA was an insult to customers and a violation of the spirit of Sam Walton, suggesting bureaucracy is an issue. Customers do notice, and so do competitors, in the dog-eat-dog world of discount retailing.
Walmart Responds:
Mr. Loeb -

We work hard to provide our customers a pleasant shopping experience and we appreciate your detailed feedback about our store in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. We know this particular store was below the Walmart standards that you know well and our management teams are addressing them immediately. In fact, we had already named a new store manager with ties to the community who will transition back to Pittsfield within the coming weeks. In the meantime, we have additional management on-site to ensure that this store is brought up to our company's standards. Whether it's this store or any other, Walmart is committed to providing our customers with the best possible shopping experience, which means neat, clean stores, with quality merchandise and the everyday low prices.

Julie Murphy, Senior Vice President

New England Division, Walmart U.S.
Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly identified the number of the Pittsfield, MA store. The text has been updated. More on Forbes:

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Over the years I have visited many Walmart stores and have seen some very disorderly stores. But I found a store in total disarray during my visit last Saturday to the Pittsfield, Massachusetts store (number 2228). It was disturbing. Everywhere I looked, whether it was the men's, women's or juniors departments, merchandise was not well assorted by style, size, or color.

# data[].attributes.headline
Walmart is disorganized and out- of- stock 

# data[].attributes.subject
Walmart is disorganized and out- of- stock 

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Over the years I have visited many Walmart stores and have seen some very disorderly stores. But I found a store in total disarray during my visit last Saturday to the Pittsfield, Massachusetts store (number 2228). It was disturbing.

Everywhere I looked, whether it was the men's, women's or juniors departments, merchandise was not well assorted by style, size, or color. There was no fashion message; and the presentation was poor--goods hung loose on separate racks in a most unattractive way. In the women's intimate apparel department there were many bras on the floor - certainly unappealing, not to mention an unsanitary condition.

It wasn't just apparel that was in disarray--the rest of the store was also disorganized and out-of-stock; for example, the pharmacy area had many empty spaces on the vitamin shelves as well as in other categories. In the vacuum cleaner department there were some machines on display - but no back-up stock to purchase; some styles were in boxes but not on display. There were many other departments in similar conditions. No surprise in such a poorly kept store, the bathrooms were both filthy and in serious need of management's attention-to me this shows the disregard management has for customers and employees-not a good message. (The company's response to this post is below).

What happened to this standard setting retailer? Walmart always prided itself on neatness, cleanliness and full assortments of merchandise. It was Sam Walton's creed to offer his customers the best values that were available. I walked Walmart stores with "Mr. Sam" many times-he cared deeply about people--he knew associates' names and often recognized loyal customers. Sam has been dead over 21 years and unfortunately as the company has grown beyond his wildest dreams it has become a bureaucracy. The year Sam Walton died, Walmart recorded sales of $43.9 billion. In fiscal 2012 sales reached an astounding $443.9 billion. Walmart stores achieved $264.2 billion in the United States, and $125.9 billion in international sales.

It seems size is now working against Walmart in many ways especially where it comes to holding the organization accountable for the customer experience. I believe that the company is dependent on strong supervisors throughout the company. They must spot weak stores--to me the Pittsfield, MA store is a weak operation. Too many times it appears there is no supervision in the store, and the sales associates seem to be afraid to step up and straighten visible flaws. In an effort to be profitable, I believe management has cut into operating staff and eliminated vital levels of management. This is visible in many Walmart stores where there are fewer sales associates, less management, and longer lines at the check-out register. However, no store I've seen has been as much of a disaster as store 2228.

Over the long run, if Walmart wants to remain a discount store leader with low prices and continue to serve customers with dignity and respect, it must pay attention to the appearance of the store, the genuine value of the merchandise it sells, and show appreciation for every customer. My recent visit to store 2228 in Pittsfield, MA was an insult to customers and a violation of the spirit of Sam Walton, suggesting bureaucracy is an issue. Customers do notice, and so do competitors, in the dog-eat-dog world of discount retailing.
Walmart Responds:
Mr. Loeb -

We work hard to provide our customers a pleasant shopping experience and we appreciate your detailed feedback about our store in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. We know this particular store was below the Walmart standards that you know well and our management teams are addressing them immediately. In fact, we had already named a new store manager with ties to the community who will transition back to Pittsfield within the coming weeks. In the meantime, we have additional management on-site to ensure that this store is brought up to our company's standards. Whether it's this store or any other, Walmart is committed to providing our customers with the best possible shopping experience, which means neat, clean stores, with quality merchandise and the everyday low prices.

Julie Murphy, Senior Vice President

New England Division, Walmart U.S.
Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly identified the number of the Pittsfield, MA store. The text has been updated. More on Forbes:

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Over the years I have visited many Walmart stores and have seen some very disorderly stores. But I found a store in total disarray during my visit last Saturday to the Pittsfield, Massachusetts store (number 2228). It was disturbing. Everywhere I looked, whether it was the men's, women's or juniors departments, merchandise was not well assorted by style, size, or color.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Over the years I have visited many Walmart stores and have seen some very disorderly stores. But I found a store in total disarray during my visit last Saturday to the Pittsfield, Massachusetts store (number 2228). It was disturbing.

Everywhere I looked, whether it was the men's, women's or juniors departments, merchandise was not well assorted by style, size, or color. There was no fashion message; and the presentation was poor--goods hung loose on separate racks in a most unattractive way. In the women's intimate apparel department there were many bras on the floor - certainly unappealing, not to mention an unsanitary condition.

It wasn't just apparel that was in disarray--the rest of the store was also disorganized and out-of-stock; for example, the pharmacy area had many empty spaces on the vitamin shelves as well as in other categories. In the vacuum cleaner department there were some machines on display - but no back-up stock to purchase; some styles were in boxes but not on display. There were many other departments in similar conditions. No surprise in such a poorly kept store, the bathrooms were both filthy and in serious need of management's attention-to me this shows the disregard management has for customers and employees-not a good message. (The company's response to this post is below).

What happened to this standard setting retailer? Walmart always prided itself on neatness, cleanliness and full assortments of merchandise. It was Sam Walton's creed to offer his customers the best values that were available. I walked Walmart stores with "Mr. Sam" many times-he cared deeply about people--he knew associates' names and often recognized loyal customers. Sam has been dead over 21 years and unfortunately as the company has grown beyond his wildest dreams it has become a bureaucracy. The year Sam Walton died, Walmart recorded sales of $43.9 billion. In fiscal 2012 sales reached an astounding $443.9 billion. Walmart stores achieved $264.2 billion in the United States, and $125.9 billion in international sales.

It seems size is now working against Walmart in many ways especially where it comes to holding the organization accountable for the customer experience. I believe that the company is dependent on strong supervisors throughout the company. They must spot weak stores--to me the Pittsfield, MA store is a weak operation. Too many times it appears there is no supervision in the store, and the sales associates seem to be afraid to step up and straighten visible flaws. In an effort to be profitable, I believe management has cut into operating staff and eliminated vital levels of management. This is visible in many Walmart stores where there are fewer sales associates, less management, and longer lines at the check-out register. However, no store I've seen has been as much of a disaster as store 2228.

Over the long run, if Walmart wants to remain a discount store leader with low prices and continue to serve customers with dignity and respect, it must pay attention to the appearance of the store, the genuine value of the merchandise it sells, and show appreciation for every customer. My recent visit to store 2228 in Pittsfield, MA was an insult to customers and a violation of the spirit of Sam Walton, suggesting bureaucracy is an issue. Customers do notice, and so do competitors, in the dog-eat-dog world of discount retailing.
Walmart Responds:
Mr. Loeb -

We work hard to provide our customers a pleasant shopping experience and we appreciate your detailed feedback about our store in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. We know this particular store was below the Walmart standards that you know well and our management teams are addressing them immediately. In fact, we had already named a new store manager with ties to the community who will transition back to Pittsfield within the coming weeks. In the meantime, we have additional management on-site to ensure that this store is brought up to our company's standards. Whether it's this store or any other, Walmart is committed to providing our customers with the best possible shopping experience, which means neat, clean stores, with quality merchandise and the everyday low prices.

Julie Murphy, Senior Vice President

New England Division, Walmart U.S.
Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly identified the number of the Pittsfield, MA store. The text has been updated. More on Forbes:

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Over the years I have visited many Walmart stores and have seen some very disorderly stores. But I found a store in total disarray during my visit last Saturday to the Pittsfield, Massachusetts store (number 2228). It was disturbing. Everywhere I looked, whether it was the men's, women's or juniors departments, merchandise was not well assorted by style, size, or color.

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Walmart's bathrooms are nasty and cakes up with filth

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Walmart's bathrooms are nasty and cakes up with filth

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Houston, Texas-While visiting a local Walmart getting supplies for our exhibition for last weeks NRA Convention I visited the bathroom.

This is a filthy and unnecessary blight on an otherwise well-established American brand. They obviously don't take pride on having sanitary bathrooms. This one was average or better than most for Wal Mart stores in America.

On every stainless steel panel in the stalls or next to the urinals there are various bodily fluids that are growing bacteria and germs from Hell. I'm sure children wind up touching this vile material with their little hands.

My question is how difficult would it be to clean this hazardous filth up? Every Walmart Bathroom seems to have the nasty, caked up filth like this. Why don't they take a little more pride? This is sad indeed.

Check out this video!

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Walmart Bathrooms are Filthy and Disgusting.

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Houston, Texas-While visiting a local Walmart getting supplies for our exhibition for last weeks NRA Convention I visited the bathroom. This is a filthy and unnecessary blight on an otherwise well-established American brand. They obviously don't take pride on having sanitary bathrooms. This one was average or better than most for Wal Mart stores in America.

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Walmart's atmosphere is cheap and crass 

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Walmart's atmosphere is cheap and crass 

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I feel ill visiting Wal-Mart - Am I alone? Target doesn't have this effect on me. I feel great in Target stores. 10 reasons why...

Crime
Why did the 911 hijackers buy their box cutters at Wal-Mart? Why do serial killers featured on Court TV buy duct tape and rope at Wal-Mart? Because they feel comfortable there. They're with their people. Did you know (according to this study) the average Wal-Mart has almost 450% more police calls than the average Target store?

Target Doesn't Destroy Small Towns
My parents live in the lake country of Northern Minnesota. It's beautiful; please visit sometime. They live near Park Rapids (pop 3,300) and Wadena (pop 4,200), two quaint small towns about 30 miles apart. Wal-Mart is building a box store in each town. These cities have vibrant downtowns with ice cream confectionaries, candy shops, coffee shops, theaters, dime stores, bookstores, restaurants, and hardware stores. We know what happens when a box store opens on the edge of town, the downtown dies. Economists say that the little shops in town are economic dinosaurs. Maybe the economists are right, but I will still grieve the loss of these special places.

Target doesn't build stores in towns with populations of 4,200 or 3,300 and it isn't on their agenda (as far as I know).
Target's Prices are Competitive
I've Never Seen Anyone Wearing a NASCAR Shirt, Purple Sweat Pants, and Pink Fluffy Slippers at Target See the Cockeyed.com Comparison
Employees (An Anecdote)
Sunday Sep 10 th 10:00 AM
Wal-Mart: I smiled at the people greeter. She didn't greet me or anyone else. She stood there like a zombie looking straight ahead scowling.

After spending 15 minutes looking for a lunch box, I asked an employee where the lunch boxes were. She led us aimlessly around the store with no idea where they were. Eventually she asked another employee working at the jewelry counter, "Hey ya know where the lunch boxes are?"

She looked up from the phone, chewing her gum, said "Nope", and returned to her telephone.

We didn't find a lunch box.

As I left, I saw 25 checkout lanes. Two were open. The lines were 15 deep. After 60 minutes, I walked out empty handed and nauseous.

Sunday Sep 10 th 11:15 AM
Target: The people greeter smiled and asked, "Can I help you?"

"Where are the lunch boxes?" I asked.

She whispered something into a microphone on her chest, paused, and said, "Behind aisle 8 against the back wall."

Target had ten lanes open and two with no line. In less than ten minutes, I found what I wanted and left with a smile on my face.

I don't know if Target offers higher pay or better benefits but I can tell that they attract different employees; employees that care. Wal-Mart employees appear indifferent.

Happy Customers
At the Target store near my home, I see energetic customers smiling, visiting, and laughing.

At Wal-Mart I see people moping around with frowns, yelling at their kids, and everyone looks depressed.

Cleanliness
In my experience, the difference in cleanliness between the two chains is dramatic, especially the bathrooms. I brought my son into the bathroom at Wal-Mart and it was so nasty I'll never bring him there again.

Better Parking Lots
Wal-Mart: One way, narrow, and angled. I'd show you how bad it is but Wal-Mart could sue me if I post a picture of their store. Yet another reason to love 'em.

Did you know that most Wal-Marts allow people to camp in their parking lots? Is that safe?

Target: Square, two way, parking lots which are safer and easier to navigate.

Positive Atmosphere
Wal-Mart's atmosphere is cheap and crass.

Target's atmosphere exudes progress and style.

Go to each store and soak in the whole scene and you'll know what I mean.

Wider Aisles
Wal-Mart: I'd show you how narrow, crowded, and disorganized their aisles are but... Wal-Mart could sue me if I post a picture of their store.

Target: Wide spacious aisles

I have both a Wal-Mart and a Target five minutes from my house. There is no comparison in the shopping experience.

My first priority in life right now is to maintain a positive mental state. I've found it nearly impossible to maintain a positive mental state inside a Wal-Mart store. The place oozes negativity.

When I leave Wal-Mart I feel like I should go home and shower, like I've just visited a seedy porn shop or something.
For more on Wal-Mart watch this movie.
When I leave Target, I feel energetic and I want to return.

Positive thinking tip:
Visit Target frequently and stay out of Wal-Mart.

This is an opinion piece, based on my personal experiences. I don't work for Target. I don't even own any Target stock.

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10 Reasons Target is Better than Wal-Mart

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I feel ill visiting Wal-Mart - Am I alone? Target doesn't have this effect on me. I feel great in Target stores. 10 reasons why... Crime Why did the 911 hijackers buy their box cutters at Wal-Mart? Why do serial killers featured on Court TV buy duct tape and rope at Wal-Mart?

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Walmart's employees don't know where the stores merchandise is located. 

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Walmart's employees don't know where the stores merchandise is located. 

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
I feel ill visiting Wal-Mart - Am I alone? Target doesn't have this effect on me. I feel great in Target stores. 10 reasons why...

Crime
Why did the 911 hijackers buy their box cutters at Wal-Mart? Why do serial killers featured on Court TV buy duct tape and rope at Wal-Mart? Because they feel comfortable there. They're with their people. Did you know (according to this study) the average Wal-Mart has almost 450% more police calls than the average Target store?

Target Doesn't Destroy Small Towns
My parents live in the lake country of Northern Minnesota. It's beautiful; please visit sometime. They live near Park Rapids (pop 3,300) and Wadena (pop 4,200), two quaint small towns about 30 miles apart. Wal-Mart is building a box store in each town. These cities have vibrant downtowns with ice cream confectionaries, candy shops, coffee shops, theaters, dime stores, bookstores, restaurants, and hardware stores. We know what happens when a box store opens on the edge of town, the downtown dies. Economists say that the little shops in town are economic dinosaurs. Maybe the economists are right, but I will still grieve the loss of these special places.

Target doesn't build stores in towns with populations of 4,200 or 3,300 and it isn't on their agenda (as far as I know).
Target's Prices are Competitive
I've Never Seen Anyone Wearing a NASCAR Shirt, Purple Sweat Pants, and Pink Fluffy Slippers at Target See the Cockeyed.com Comparison
Employees (An Anecdote)
Sunday Sep 10 th 10:00 AM
Wal-Mart: I smiled at the people greeter. She didn't greet me or anyone else. She stood there like a zombie looking straight ahead scowling.

After spending 15 minutes looking for a lunch box, I asked an employee where the lunch boxes were. She led us aimlessly around the store with no idea where they were. Eventually she asked another employee working at the jewelry counter, "Hey ya know where the lunch boxes are?"

She looked up from the phone, chewing her gum, said "Nope", and returned to her telephone.

We didn't find a lunch box.

As I left, I saw 25 checkout lanes. Two were open. The lines were 15 deep. After 60 minutes, I walked out empty handed and nauseous.

Sunday Sep 10 th 11:15 AM
Target: The people greeter smiled and asked, "Can I help you?"

"Where are the lunch boxes?" I asked.

She whispered something into a microphone on her chest, paused, and said, "Behind aisle 8 against the back wall."

Target had ten lanes open and two with no line. In less than ten minutes, I found what I wanted and left with a smile on my face.

I don't know if Target offers higher pay or better benefits but I can tell that they attract different employees; employees that care. Wal-Mart employees appear indifferent.

Happy Customers
At the Target store near my home, I see energetic customers smiling, visiting, and laughing.

At Wal-Mart I see people moping around with frowns, yelling at their kids, and everyone looks depressed.

Cleanliness
In my experience, the difference in cleanliness between the two chains is dramatic, especially the bathrooms. I brought my son into the bathroom at Wal-Mart and it was so nasty I'll never bring him there again.

Better Parking Lots
Wal-Mart: One way, narrow, and angled. I'd show you how bad it is but Wal-Mart could sue me if I post a picture of their store. Yet another reason to love 'em.

Did you know that most Wal-Marts allow people to camp in their parking lots? Is that safe?

Target: Square, two way, parking lots which are safer and easier to navigate.

Positive Atmosphere
Wal-Mart's atmosphere is cheap and crass.

Target's atmosphere exudes progress and style.

Go to each store and soak in the whole scene and you'll know what I mean.

Wider Aisles
Wal-Mart: I'd show you how narrow, crowded, and disorganized their aisles are but... Wal-Mart could sue me if I post a picture of their store.

Target: Wide spacious aisles

I have both a Wal-Mart and a Target five minutes from my house. There is no comparison in the shopping experience.

My first priority in life right now is to maintain a positive mental state. I've found it nearly impossible to maintain a positive mental state inside a Wal-Mart store. The place oozes negativity.

When I leave Wal-Mart I feel like I should go home and shower, like I've just visited a seedy porn shop or something.
For more on Wal-Mart watch this movie.
When I leave Target, I feel energetic and I want to return.

Positive thinking tip:
Visit Target frequently and stay out of Wal-Mart.

This is an opinion piece, based on my personal experiences. I don't work for Target. I don't even own any Target stock.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
10 Reasons Target is Better than Wal-Mart

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
I feel ill visiting Wal-Mart - Am I alone? Target doesn't have this effect on me. I feel great in Target stores. 10 reasons why... Crime Why did the 911 hijackers buy their box cutters at Wal-Mart? Why do serial killers featured on Court TV buy duct tape and rope at Wal-Mart?

# data[].attributes.headline
Walmart has 450% more police calls than Target 

# data[].attributes.subject
Walmart has 450% more police calls than Target 

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
I feel ill visiting Wal-Mart - Am I alone? Target doesn't have this effect on me. I feel great in Target stores. 10 reasons why...

Crime
Why did the 911 hijackers buy their box cutters at Wal-Mart? Why do serial killers featured on Court TV buy duct tape and rope at Wal-Mart? Because they feel comfortable there. They're with their people. Did you know (according to this study) the average Wal-Mart has almost 450% more police calls than the average Target store?

Target Doesn't Destroy Small Towns
My parents live in the lake country of Northern Minnesota. It's beautiful; please visit sometime. They live near Park Rapids (pop 3,300) and Wadena (pop 4,200), two quaint small towns about 30 miles apart. Wal-Mart is building a box store in each town. These cities have vibrant downtowns with ice cream confectionaries, candy shops, coffee shops, theaters, dime stores, bookstores, restaurants, and hardware stores. We know what happens when a box store opens on the edge of town, the downtown dies. Economists say that the little shops in town are economic dinosaurs. Maybe the economists are right, but I will still grieve the loss of these special places.

Target doesn't build stores in towns with populations of 4,200 or 3,300 and it isn't on their agenda (as far as I know).
Target's Prices are Competitive
I've Never Seen Anyone Wearing a NASCAR Shirt, Purple Sweat Pants, and Pink Fluffy Slippers at Target See the Cockeyed.com Comparison
Employees (An Anecdote)
Sunday Sep 10 th 10:00 AM
Wal-Mart: I smiled at the people greeter. She didn't greet me or anyone else. She stood there like a zombie looking straight ahead scowling.

After spending 15 minutes looking for a lunch box, I asked an employee where the lunch boxes were. She led us aimlessly around the store with no idea where they were. Eventually she asked another employee working at the jewelry counter, "Hey ya know where the lunch boxes are?"

She looked up from the phone, chewing her gum, said "Nope", and returned to her telephone.

We didn't find a lunch box.

As I left, I saw 25 checkout lanes. Two were open. The lines were 15 deep. After 60 minutes, I walked out empty handed and nauseous.

Sunday Sep 10 th 11:15 AM
Target: The people greeter smiled and asked, "Can I help you?"

"Where are the lunch boxes?" I asked.

She whispered something into a microphone on her chest, paused, and said, "Behind aisle 8 against the back wall."

Target had ten lanes open and two with no line. In less than ten minutes, I found what I wanted and left with a smile on my face.

I don't know if Target offers higher pay or better benefits but I can tell that they attract different employees; employees that care. Wal-Mart employees appear indifferent.

Happy Customers
At the Target store near my home, I see energetic customers smiling, visiting, and laughing.

At Wal-Mart I see people moping around with frowns, yelling at their kids, and everyone looks depressed.

Cleanliness
In my experience, the difference in cleanliness between the two chains is dramatic, especially the bathrooms. I brought my son into the bathroom at Wal-Mart and it was so nasty I'll never bring him there again.

Better Parking Lots
Wal-Mart: One way, narrow, and angled. I'd show you how bad it is but Wal-Mart could sue me if I post a picture of their store. Yet another reason to love 'em.

Did you know that most Wal-Marts allow people to camp in their parking lots? Is that safe?

Target: Square, two way, parking lots which are safer and easier to navigate.

Positive Atmosphere
Wal-Mart's atmosphere is cheap and crass.

Target's atmosphere exudes progress and style.

Go to each store and soak in the whole scene and you'll know what I mean.

Wider Aisles
Wal-Mart: I'd show you how narrow, crowded, and disorganized their aisles are but... Wal-Mart could sue me if I post a picture of their store.

Target: Wide spacious aisles

I have both a Wal-Mart and a Target five minutes from my house. There is no comparison in the shopping experience.

My first priority in life right now is to maintain a positive mental state. I've found it nearly impossible to maintain a positive mental state inside a Wal-Mart store. The place oozes negativity.

When I leave Wal-Mart I feel like I should go home and shower, like I've just visited a seedy porn shop or something.
For more on Wal-Mart watch this movie.
When I leave Target, I feel energetic and I want to return.

Positive thinking tip:
Visit Target frequently and stay out of Wal-Mart.

This is an opinion piece, based on my personal experiences. I don't work for Target. I don't even own any Target stock.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
10 Reasons Target is Better than Wal-Mart

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
I feel ill visiting Wal-Mart - Am I alone? Target doesn't have this effect on me. I feel great in Target stores. 10 reasons why... Crime Why did the 911 hijackers buy their box cutters at Wal-Mart? Why do serial killers featured on Court TV buy duct tape and rope at Wal-Mart?

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Target has better sales on amazon devises during black Friday 

# data[].attributes.subject
Target has better sales on amazon devises during black Friday 

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This post was created by the Contributor in partnership with BestBlackFriday.com , which specializes in holiday season sales. The deals highlighted within this post were independently selected and do not contain affiliate links.

Black Friday 2018 is an opportunity for buyers because it is war between retailers. Every year the deals get better and more numerous, but tracking who has the best Black Friday sales is challenging. That's why I'm squaring off the biggest retailers, starting with Vs so you can be ahead of the curve come the big day...
Walmart Vs. Target's Best Black Friday Tech Deals Last Year
To predict whether Walmart or Target will have superior holiday sales this year, you have to look at their history and the best place to start is comparing last year's 32-page Walmart Black Friday ad to Target's 36-page Black Friday ad . Here are comparisons of their deals on the most popular products:
Where Walmart Black Friday Beat Target Black Friday
Apple's iPhone X, iPhone 8 or iPhone 8 Plus - Walmart offered a free $300 Walmart Gift Card with purchase of Apple's iPhone X, iPhone 8 or iPhone 8 Plus ( review deal ) while Target only offered a f ree $250 Gift Card with Apple iPhone 8 or iPhone 8 Plus and Qualified Activation ).

PlayStation 4 GranTurismo Sport VR Bundle - Walmart offered this very popular PS4 Bundle for $100 off at $299 last year ( review deal ) while Target did not have this deal in its ad scan. This was an easy win for Walmart.

Cheapest 39-inch HDTV - Walmart had an Element 39-inch Class HD (720P) Smart LED TV for $125 ( review deal ) which was the cheapest mainstream 39-inch Black Friday TV deal. Another easy win for Walmart.
Where Target Black Friday Beat Walmart Black Friday
Xbox One S 500GB Console - Page 1 of Target's Black Friday ad last year had the Xbox One S 500GB for $189.99 + $25 Gift Card ( review deal ) . While Walmart offered the same device for $189 ( review deal ), the $25 Target gift made Target the winner.

Cheapest 55-inch HDTV - Last year Target had an in-store only doorbuster on the Westinghouse 55-inch 4K Smart UHD TV for $249.99 ( review deal ). This offer was $50 cheaper than the Sharp 55-inch Class 4K (2160P) Smart LED TV going for $298 ( review deal ) in Walmart's Black Friday ad. While the Sharp TV was definitely a better brand, Target gets the win here for shoppers strictly going by price.

GoPro HERO5 Black - Target offered the GoPro HERO5 Black for $349.99 + $50 Target Gift Card ( review deal ). Walmart did not have this widely popular item in its ad scan.

So what does this all mean for Walmart and Target's Black Friday 2018 sales? Let's break it down:
What To Expect From Walmart Black Friday 2018 and Target Black Friday 2018
Both these retailers have history in running very similar deals year-on-year and simply updating them to the latest technology. Consequently, Black Friday 2018 should present the following stand out deals from each retailer:

Free Shipping - Walmart will offer free two-day shipping on any orders over $35 while Target will again offer free shipping on any order.

I will be post daily updates throughout the 2018 Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping season and publishing my recommendations. To follow this either bookmark my author page , or hit the Follow button at the top of that page which will give you instant updates when I publish so you stay in the loop.
More Of My Black Friday Coverage On Forbes Amazon 'Black Friday' 2018 Ad Preview: Expected Echo, Fire, Kindle, HDTV Deals Apple 'Black Friday' 2018 Ad Preview: Expected iPad, iPhone, MacBook Deals Best Buy 'Black Friday' 2018 Ad Preview: Expected Smartphone, Console, HDTV Deals Samsung 'Black Friday' 2018 Ad Preview: Expected Galaxy S9, Galaxy Note9, 4K HDTV Deals Target 'Black Friday' 2018 Ad Preview: Expected Apple, Google, Samsung Deals Walmart 'Black Friday' 2018 Ad Preview: Expected iPhone, Galaxy, PS4, Xbox, HDTV Deals

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Walmart Vs Target Ad Preview: Best 'Black Friday' 2018 Deals

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This post was created by the Contributor in partnership with BestBlackFriday.com , which specializes in holiday season sales. The deals highlighted within this post were independently selected and do not contain affiliate links. Black Friday 2018 is an opportunity for buyers because it is war between retailers.

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Target grants $5 million to more 50 schools 

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Target grants $5 million to more 50 schools 

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Which Retail Chains Have The Best Employee Discount?

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If you’re gonna hate your job, you’ve got to at least get something more than minimum wage out of it. For seasonal employment planning purposes, ranked from worst to best.

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Target has better insurance for their employees. 

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Target has better insurance for their employees. 

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health

Taking care of your whole self. Health benefits for you and your family may include...

Medical and pharmacy benefits

Dental benefits

Vision eyewear coverage

Critical Illness, Accident and Hospital Indemnity Insurance

Programs and rewards to encourage healthy actions

Support programs for life events

Education resources to inspire well-being

Employee assistance program through Team Member LifeResources

20% Wellness discount

learn more about our health benefits

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Employee Benefits, Fringe Benefits, Perks | Target Corporate

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Taking care of your whole self. Health benefits for you and your family may include...

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Target has a state of the art forensics program

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Target has a state of the art forensics program

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Listen Story audio
Oct 20, 2011

Computer technology MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson

It's not uncommon for large retail stores to use high-tech video surveillance and forensics to catch shoplifters, but Minnesota-based Target Corp. takes the concept one step further, lending its high-end technology and professionals to law enforcement agencies free of charge, often on high-profile cases.

Target forensic analyst Jake Steinhour even testified during the recent trial of Mahdi Hassan Ali, who was convicted of killing three men last year at the Seward Market in Minneapolis.

Target Vice President of Assets Protection Brad Brekke said the company's relationship with police departments is just one part of a broader policy on charitable giving.

"We take the philosophy -- it's a Midwestern company -- that we don't want to be just in the community, we want to be part of the community," he said.

Contained in a single room on the company's Brooklyn Park campus, the criminal lab is one of about 400 operations worldwide -- including only about two dozen private organizations -- to receive accreditation from the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors. That's the same group that accredited the crime labs at the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the Minneapolis Police Department.

Law enforcement assistance MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson

Steinhour, a tall, stout man with bushy red hair, was happy to show off the lab's abilities for a reporter. Working the keyboard in front of a series of monitors, he displayed the image of a blue compact car driven by a person suspected of kidnapping a newborn infant in Ardmore, Tenn., in 2009. The car was on a road surrounded by other vehicles, and next to that image was a set of faint images of similar-looking automobiles.

"As you notice, there's a lot of ghosting in this image," Steinhour said. "This image is actually comprised of about a dozen separate, individual images."

The other images of the car were taken by surveillance cameras from a number of different sources, including one in a WalMart parking lot. However, Steinhour said none of the images was clear enough to capture the car's license plates or the make and model of the car.

"You can blend those images together, if they're stationary, and what we're going to do is get a lot higher quality of an image of the subject that's not moving," and create a better opportunity to track down the car, he said. Target analysts figured out the suspect was driving a Kia Spectra. They were also able to pick out the first number of the car's license plate - number 3. Steinhour said that helped narrow the search for law enforcement investigators as they looked up state motor vehicle records.

"Because of this lead for law enforcement, we were actually able to assist them. They recovered the child in Alabama, shortly thereafter, completely safe and the suspect was put away and is serving time in federal prison," he said.

In the Seward Market triple homicide case, Steinhour examined security camera footage, which showed that Ali's face was covered. But he was wearing a pair of cuffed jeans with lighter coloring on the thighs. Steinhour testified that the pants in the video appeared to be similar to a pair of jeans police seized from Ali's apartment days after the shooting.

Target forensics lab MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson

Minneapolis Deputy Police Chief Rob Allen said the department doesn't use Target's video forensic services very often. The department's own crime lab handles 85 to 90 percent of cases involving video, and he said it analyzes 100 percent of video gathered by its own officers.

But sometimes MPD gets video from outside sources, and that can be a challenge because the different camera systems use different compression schemes, called codecs, Allen said, to capture and store the images.

"It's impossible for our crime lab to have all those different codecs," Allen said. "Target typically has all those, so when we're using other people's video, they have programs that sometimes can enhance it better than our folks can."

Allen said he wasn't concerned about outsourcing parts of police investigations to Target. "They are certified examiners," he said. "[They] have the same level of certification of any lab we use."

For example, the Minneapolis Police Department outsources DNA analysis to the state's Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. Target's forensic lab has the same level of accreditation as the BCA, meaning they follow the same standards designed to prevent contamination of evidence.

Target's philanthropic relationship with the Minneapolis police department began in earnest in 2004 when the company donated $300,000 to the city of Minneapolis to help it purchase 30 wireless cameras. The cameras were strategically placed to create what was then called the downtown safe zone. Target officials said that since then, the company has created similar relationships with law enforcement agencies in 20 other cities and in something known as the Safe City program.

The program is a boon to police departments nationwide as they face shrinking budgets and can't afford to keep up with the latest technologies, said Pamela Delaney, of the National Police Foundations Project. The project is a federally-funded effort to help law enforcement agencies set up foundations. Delaney said about 200 agencies across the country, including the St. Paul Police Department, have their own foundations. She said the foundations make it easier for public law enforcement agencies to receive private contributions. Delaney said many city governments don't allow private corporations to specify what they want their financial gifts to be used for.

By making a donation to a non-profit, a company has more control over what its contribution is spent on, she said. Another problem with direct giving is that it can appear that a company is buying special treatment from a police department, Delaney said. But donating through a 501 (c)(3) corporation "insulates the department from that kind of appearance of impropriety and appearance of undue influence."

Asked if Target has ever received any special treatment from Minneapolis police in exchange for its services, Target Vice President Brad Brekke was blunt.

"We ask for nothing in return. There's no quid pro quo -- we've never asked for video forensics services or anything else we've done for anything," Brekke said. "We just offer it up as a commitment to them and the community."

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Target's state-of-the-art forensics lab catches more than just shoplifters

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Oct 20, 2011 It's not uncommon for large retail stores to use high-tech video surveillance and forensics to catch shoplifters, but Minnesota-based Target Corp. takes the concept one step further, lending its high-end technology and professionals to law enforcement agencies free of charge, often on high-profile cases.

# data[].attributes.headline
Target has better quality products for better prices

# data[].attributes.subject
Target has better quality products for better prices

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Target Corporation is one of the biggest chain of discount stores that can be found in the whole of the United States, so much so that it is beaten out by Walmart and none other. As a result, it should come as no surprise to learn that Target Corporation has a long history, which has provided it with the foundations on which its success stands.

Here are 20 fun facts that you may or may not have known about Target Corporation:

1. Founded By George Dayton

Target Corporation was founded in 1902 by a man named George Dayton, who had been born in the state of New York but wound up in the state of Minnesota. As a result, this is the reason that Target Corporation was once called Dayton's Dry Goods, though it should be mentioned that wasn't the first name of the first store of what would become the modern corporation.

2. George Dayton Wanted to Become a Minister

At one point in time, Dayton wanted to become a minister. However, he wound up becoming a businessman instead, though he retained his religious convictions. For example, Dayton was a believer in bettering his community as well as helping others. Furthermore, Dayton was a very active member of his church, as shown by the fact that he taught Sunday School as well as hosted church service in his home on a regular basis. With that said, it is interesting to note that Dayton was led onto his path of starting up a department store because of his involvement with his church.

3. George Dayton's Church Burned Down During the Panic of 1893

During the Panic of 1893, Dayton's church burned down without the means to rebuild it. As a result, it convinced him to purchase an empty lot situated next to it which had been in its possession, which Dayton proceeded to use to build a building with six floors. This is the building that wound up becoming the home of what would become Target Corporation, though it should be noted that the story is somewhat more complicated than Dayton making the choice to start his own business in his own building.

4. George Dayton Took Over Goodfellow Dry Goods

Initially, Dayton convinced the Reuben Simon Goodfellow Company to put its Goodfellow Dry Goods in his new building. However, it wasn't long before the owner of said company retired from the business, with the result that Dayon wound up buying said individual's share in it. This is how Dayton came to become the owner of a store, which he proceeded to rename Dayton's Dry Goods. In time, Dayton's Dry Goods would go through further name changes, which is why it is now Target Corporation rather than either Dayton's Dry Goods or something along those lines.

5. George Dayton Continued to Run His Business During the Depression

Dayton remained in charge of his business throughout the Great Depression. It is interesting to note that his department store remained in good condition throughout this period of time, which must have been a challenge considering the low demand that would have prevalent then. With that said, Dayton's business purchased a jewelry store just before the start of the Great Depression, which he continued to hold on to in spite of the fact that it produced a net loss throughout that period of time.

6. George Dayton Was Succeeded By His Family Members

Dayton's business saw a change of leadership in 1938 when he died at the age of 80. As a result, he was succeeded by his son Nelson, who in turn, was succeeded by his son Donald when he died in 1950. It was Donald and his cousins who embarked on a change of direction for the business as a whole by choosing a more secular approach while discarding the Presbyterian principles that had been the preference of both his father and his grandfather.

7. Target Was Founded to Be Different From the Department Store

Target was created for the purpose of setting up a store that would enable the business to pursue a policy of "upscale discount retailing." This was critical because the business wanted to make sure that there would be a clear line drawn between the new store and its department store instead of causing one to blur into the other. Given the sheer number of Target stores that opened up with a short period of time, it is clear that the business hit upon a winning formula, though its experiences were by no means uniformly smooth and uninterrupted.

8. Dayton Became Dayton-Hudson

In 1969, the Dayton Company became the Dayton-Hudson Company when it merged with the J.L. Hudson Company, which ran a chain of department stores that were concentrated in the state of Michigan. As a result, the produce of this merger became one of the biggest retail businesses in the whole of the United States, encompassing not just Target but also a number of department store chains. The whole thing was made possible by the decline of Hudson's, which was caused in part by changing demographics that made it difficult for it to continue making a profit by using its once-viable strategies.

9. Renamed Target Corporation in 2000

Dayton-Hudson became the Target Corporation in 2000. This is because Target made up somewhere between 75 and 80 percent of its earnings by that point in time, meaning that it was its single most important component by a significant margin. Besides the name change, the leadership of Target Corporation made some other changes at around the same time as well, with examples ranging from setting up Target Direct by separating its e-commerce operations to its choice to rebrand both Dayton's and Hudson's department stores under the name of Marshall Field's.

10. Target Canada Was a Huge Disaster

With that said, Target Corporation has encountered its fair share of metaphorical bumps in the road. For example, its effort to expand into Canada was a huge disaster, particularly because it had poured a great deal of resources to set up more than a 100 department stores at its height. The exact cause of the failure was multi-faceted, with examples ranging from high prices to supply chain issues. As a result, Target was forced to pull out of the Canadian market in 2015, with the result that it has become nothing but a lesson for other retailers planning out their own foreign expansions.

11. Target Corporation Can Be Pretty Philanthropic

It is interesting to note that one of the ways that Target Corporation remains true to its founder is its interest in philanthropy. For example, it donates a percentage of its profits to charitable causes on an annual basis, with an excellent example being how a 2005 article in Forbes described it giving 2.1 percent of its profits in this manner. Likewise, Target Corporation was the one that led the push for the Target House complex in Memphis, which exists for the purpose of housing the families of patients at a local children's hospital.

12. Target Corporation Has a No-Solicitation Rule

Target stores have a no-solicitation rule at its locations, which can make it difficult for volunteers to collect funding for various cases. Previously, Target had an exemption for the Salvation Army, but said exemption was revoked. However, that was not the end of their partnership because the revocation came with an initiative to figure out new ways that the two could work together, with the result that Target continues to be a major supporter of said charity as well as others out there.

#ThingsICantStopDoing: Ending up here every time I go outside. 😉 pic.twitter.com/Sl6GcJEXCZ

- Target (@Target) May 21, 2018

13. Target Helps Out During Disasters

Speaking of which, it should come as no surprise to learn that Target helps out during disasters in a wide range of ways. For example, it has been known to make its stores available for use as command centers for rescue efforts. Likewise, it has been known to donate not just money but also its products, which can actually be more useful than providing just money under certain circumstances because of the logistical challenges of actually getting things to areas where the local infrastructure has been disrupted.

14. Interested in Environmentalism

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Target Corporation is very much interested in environmentalism, which is why it has launched a number of initiatives in this regard. One excellent example is its interest in building green buildings, which operate while using fewer resources than otherwise possible. Something that can be very useful in a pragmatic sense by offering cost reductions. Another example is Target's interest in recycling, which keeps a wide range of materials from being dumped in landfills.

15. Far From Being Perfect in This Regard

With that said, Target Corporation doesn't exactly have a perfect, spotless record when it comes to environmental matters. For example, Target stores in the state of California have been accused of dumping toxic waste in landfills, which is a huge problem because toxic waste has rather unfortunate tendencies of seeping out at some point in the future. Furthermore, Target stores have been accused of marketing products as being environmentally friendly when they really weren't, which has become unfortunately common in an era when environmentalism is well-regarded by a lot of consumers with a lot of purchasing power.

16. Very Recognizable Symbol

Target is an excellent example of a business that has had enormous success in coming up with a memorable logo. For proof, look no further than the studies suggesting that more than 95 percent of people in the United States are capable of recognizing Target's bullseye logo, which is well chosen in light of its name.

17. Competes By Offering Higher-Quality Products At Better Prices

Target's strategy is to offer products at affordable prices. However, there is more to it than that, seeing as how it specializes in offering higher-quality products at affordable prices. The one who came up with it described it as making products affordable by cutting expenses instead of making a huge marketing fuss about offering cheaper products at low prices. Moreover, Target is very interested in offering products that anticipate the latest trends, which contributes to its performance as well.

18. Has More Success with a Younger Clientele

Compared to some of its counterparts, Target Corporation has a younger clientele, which makes sense considering its strategy when competing with its discount store counterparts. With that said, younger actually means an average age of 40, which is nonetheless enough to make it the one with the youngest clientele out of those competing in the same niche. With that said, it is interesting to note that Target's clientele has a high percentage of people who have either completed college or at least attended college at some point in time, which might be connected to its strategy as well.

19. Has Encountered Some Issues with Its Strategy

With that said, Target has encountered some issues with its strategy as well. For example, there is a perception that Target has higher prices than other discount stores, which is something that has cost it a significant number of customers as well as a significant amount of revenue over time. Due to this, Target actually implemented policies in 2008 for the purpose of combating said perception. One example of its policies was the inclusion of perishables in its product selection. Meanwhile, another example was its choice to focus on the great value of its products in its ads, which emphasized the point by mentioning the real prices of Target products so as to give interested individuals a better idea of what to expect.

20. Sometimes Pronounced in a Faux-French Manner For Fun

Sometimes, Target has been pronounced Targét by some people in a sort of faux-French as a joke, which is connected to its strategy of depicting itself as being more upscale than other discount stores. Amusingly, Target has rolled with this joke on some occasions, as shown by its choice to license the name for the purpose of selling a clothing line to more upscale customers. On the whole, this seems like a much healthier response than some of the other options that Target could have taken because it made use of its reputation instead of struggling against it at much cost for perhaps no real gain.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
20 Fun Facts You Didn't Know about Target

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Target Corporation is one of the biggest chain of discount stores that can be found in the whole of the United States, so much so that it is beaten out by Walmart and none other. As a result, it should come as no surprise to learn that Target Corporation has a long history, which has provided it with the foundations on which its success stands.

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Target is very interested in the environment

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Target is very interested in the environment

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Target Corporation is one of the biggest chain of discount stores that can be found in the whole of the United States, so much so that it is beaten out by Walmart and none other. As a result, it should come as no surprise to learn that Target Corporation has a long history, which has provided it with the foundations on which its success stands.

Here are 20 fun facts that you may or may not have known about Target Corporation:

1. Founded By George Dayton

Target Corporation was founded in 1902 by a man named George Dayton, who had been born in the state of New York but wound up in the state of Minnesota. As a result, this is the reason that Target Corporation was once called Dayton's Dry Goods, though it should be mentioned that wasn't the first name of the first store of what would become the modern corporation.

2. George Dayton Wanted to Become a Minister

At one point in time, Dayton wanted to become a minister. However, he wound up becoming a businessman instead, though he retained his religious convictions. For example, Dayton was a believer in bettering his community as well as helping others. Furthermore, Dayton was a very active member of his church, as shown by the fact that he taught Sunday School as well as hosted church service in his home on a regular basis. With that said, it is interesting to note that Dayton was led onto his path of starting up a department store because of his involvement with his church.

3. George Dayton's Church Burned Down During the Panic of 1893

During the Panic of 1893, Dayton's church burned down without the means to rebuild it. As a result, it convinced him to purchase an empty lot situated next to it which had been in its possession, which Dayton proceeded to use to build a building with six floors. This is the building that wound up becoming the home of what would become Target Corporation, though it should be noted that the story is somewhat more complicated than Dayton making the choice to start his own business in his own building.

4. George Dayton Took Over Goodfellow Dry Goods

Initially, Dayton convinced the Reuben Simon Goodfellow Company to put its Goodfellow Dry Goods in his new building. However, it wasn't long before the owner of said company retired from the business, with the result that Dayon wound up buying said individual's share in it. This is how Dayton came to become the owner of a store, which he proceeded to rename Dayton's Dry Goods. In time, Dayton's Dry Goods would go through further name changes, which is why it is now Target Corporation rather than either Dayton's Dry Goods or something along those lines.

5. George Dayton Continued to Run His Business During the Depression

Dayton remained in charge of his business throughout the Great Depression. It is interesting to note that his department store remained in good condition throughout this period of time, which must have been a challenge considering the low demand that would have prevalent then. With that said, Dayton's business purchased a jewelry store just before the start of the Great Depression, which he continued to hold on to in spite of the fact that it produced a net loss throughout that period of time.

6. George Dayton Was Succeeded By His Family Members

Dayton's business saw a change of leadership in 1938 when he died at the age of 80. As a result, he was succeeded by his son Nelson, who in turn, was succeeded by his son Donald when he died in 1950. It was Donald and his cousins who embarked on a change of direction for the business as a whole by choosing a more secular approach while discarding the Presbyterian principles that had been the preference of both his father and his grandfather.

7. Target Was Founded to Be Different From the Department Store

Target was created for the purpose of setting up a store that would enable the business to pursue a policy of "upscale discount retailing." This was critical because the business wanted to make sure that there would be a clear line drawn between the new store and its department store instead of causing one to blur into the other. Given the sheer number of Target stores that opened up with a short period of time, it is clear that the business hit upon a winning formula, though its experiences were by no means uniformly smooth and uninterrupted.

8. Dayton Became Dayton-Hudson

In 1969, the Dayton Company became the Dayton-Hudson Company when it merged with the J.L. Hudson Company, which ran a chain of department stores that were concentrated in the state of Michigan. As a result, the produce of this merger became one of the biggest retail businesses in the whole of the United States, encompassing not just Target but also a number of department store chains. The whole thing was made possible by the decline of Hudson's, which was caused in part by changing demographics that made it difficult for it to continue making a profit by using its once-viable strategies.

9. Renamed Target Corporation in 2000

Dayton-Hudson became the Target Corporation in 2000. This is because Target made up somewhere between 75 and 80 percent of its earnings by that point in time, meaning that it was its single most important component by a significant margin. Besides the name change, the leadership of Target Corporation made some other changes at around the same time as well, with examples ranging from setting up Target Direct by separating its e-commerce operations to its choice to rebrand both Dayton's and Hudson's department stores under the name of Marshall Field's.

10. Target Canada Was a Huge Disaster

With that said, Target Corporation has encountered its fair share of metaphorical bumps in the road. For example, its effort to expand into Canada was a huge disaster, particularly because it had poured a great deal of resources to set up more than a 100 department stores at its height. The exact cause of the failure was multi-faceted, with examples ranging from high prices to supply chain issues. As a result, Target was forced to pull out of the Canadian market in 2015, with the result that it has become nothing but a lesson for other retailers planning out their own foreign expansions.

11. Target Corporation Can Be Pretty Philanthropic

It is interesting to note that one of the ways that Target Corporation remains true to its founder is its interest in philanthropy. For example, it donates a percentage of its profits to charitable causes on an annual basis, with an excellent example being how a 2005 article in Forbes described it giving 2.1 percent of its profits in this manner. Likewise, Target Corporation was the one that led the push for the Target House complex in Memphis, which exists for the purpose of housing the families of patients at a local children's hospital.

12. Target Corporation Has a No-Solicitation Rule

Target stores have a no-solicitation rule at its locations, which can make it difficult for volunteers to collect funding for various cases. Previously, Target had an exemption for the Salvation Army, but said exemption was revoked. However, that was not the end of their partnership because the revocation came with an initiative to figure out new ways that the two could work together, with the result that Target continues to be a major supporter of said charity as well as others out there.

#ThingsICantStopDoing: Ending up here every time I go outside. 😉 pic.twitter.com/Sl6GcJEXCZ

- Target (@Target) May 21, 2018

13. Target Helps Out During Disasters

Speaking of which, it should come as no surprise to learn that Target helps out during disasters in a wide range of ways. For example, it has been known to make its stores available for use as command centers for rescue efforts. Likewise, it has been known to donate not just money but also its products, which can actually be more useful than providing just money under certain circumstances because of the logistical challenges of actually getting things to areas where the local infrastructure has been disrupted.

14. Interested in Environmentalism

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Target Corporation is very much interested in environmentalism, which is why it has launched a number of initiatives in this regard. One excellent example is its interest in building green buildings, which operate while using fewer resources than otherwise possible. Something that can be very useful in a pragmatic sense by offering cost reductions. Another example is Target's interest in recycling, which keeps a wide range of materials from being dumped in landfills.

15. Far From Being Perfect in This Regard

With that said, Target Corporation doesn't exactly have a perfect, spotless record when it comes to environmental matters. For example, Target stores in the state of California have been accused of dumping toxic waste in landfills, which is a huge problem because toxic waste has rather unfortunate tendencies of seeping out at some point in the future. Furthermore, Target stores have been accused of marketing products as being environmentally friendly when they really weren't, which has become unfortunately common in an era when environmentalism is well-regarded by a lot of consumers with a lot of purchasing power.

16. Very Recognizable Symbol

Target is an excellent example of a business that has had enormous success in coming up with a memorable logo. For proof, look no further than the studies suggesting that more than 95 percent of people in the United States are capable of recognizing Target's bullseye logo, which is well chosen in light of its name.

17. Competes By Offering Higher-Quality Products At Better Prices

Target's strategy is to offer products at affordable prices. However, there is more to it than that, seeing as how it specializes in offering higher-quality products at affordable prices. The one who came up with it described it as making products affordable by cutting expenses instead of making a huge marketing fuss about offering cheaper products at low prices. Moreover, Target is very interested in offering products that anticipate the latest trends, which contributes to its performance as well.

18. Has More Success with a Younger Clientele

Compared to some of its counterparts, Target Corporation has a younger clientele, which makes sense considering its strategy when competing with its discount store counterparts. With that said, younger actually means an average age of 40, which is nonetheless enough to make it the one with the youngest clientele out of those competing in the same niche. With that said, it is interesting to note that Target's clientele has a high percentage of people who have either completed college or at least attended college at some point in time, which might be connected to its strategy as well.

19. Has Encountered Some Issues with Its Strategy

With that said, Target has encountered some issues with its strategy as well. For example, there is a perception that Target has higher prices than other discount stores, which is something that has cost it a significant number of customers as well as a significant amount of revenue over time. Due to this, Target actually implemented policies in 2008 for the purpose of combating said perception. One example of its policies was the inclusion of perishables in its product selection. Meanwhile, another example was its choice to focus on the great value of its products in its ads, which emphasized the point by mentioning the real prices of Target products so as to give interested individuals a better idea of what to expect.

20. Sometimes Pronounced in a Faux-French Manner For Fun

Sometimes, Target has been pronounced Targét by some people in a sort of faux-French as a joke, which is connected to its strategy of depicting itself as being more upscale than other discount stores. Amusingly, Target has rolled with this joke on some occasions, as shown by its choice to license the name for the purpose of selling a clothing line to more upscale customers. On the whole, this seems like a much healthier response than some of the other options that Target could have taken because it made use of its reputation instead of struggling against it at much cost for perhaps no real gain.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
20 Fun Facts You Didn't Know about Target

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Target Corporation is one of the biggest chain of discount stores that can be found in the whole of the United States, so much so that it is beaten out by Walmart and none other. As a result, it should come as no surprise to learn that Target Corporation has a long history, which has provided it with the foundations on which its success stands.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Target Corporation is one of the biggest chain of discount stores that can be found in the whole of the United States, so much so that it is beaten out by Walmart and none other. As a result, it should come as no surprise to learn that Target Corporation has a long history, which has provided it with the foundations on which its success stands.

Here are 20 fun facts that you may or may not have known about Target Corporation:

1. Founded By George Dayton

Target Corporation was founded in 1902 by a man named George Dayton, who had been born in the state of New York but wound up in the state of Minnesota. As a result, this is the reason that Target Corporation was once called Dayton's Dry Goods, though it should be mentioned that wasn't the first name of the first store of what would become the modern corporation.

2. George Dayton Wanted to Become a Minister

At one point in time, Dayton wanted to become a minister. However, he wound up becoming a businessman instead, though he retained his religious convictions. For example, Dayton was a believer in bettering his community as well as helping others. Furthermore, Dayton was a very active member of his church, as shown by the fact that he taught Sunday School as well as hosted church service in his home on a regular basis. With that said, it is interesting to note that Dayton was led onto his path of starting up a department store because of his involvement with his church.

3. George Dayton's Church Burned Down During the Panic of 1893

During the Panic of 1893, Dayton's church burned down without the means to rebuild it. As a result, it convinced him to purchase an empty lot situated next to it which had been in its possession, which Dayton proceeded to use to build a building with six floors. This is the building that wound up becoming the home of what would become Target Corporation, though it should be noted that the story is somewhat more complicated than Dayton making the choice to start his own business in his own building.

4. George Dayton Took Over Goodfellow Dry Goods

Initially, Dayton convinced the Reuben Simon Goodfellow Company to put its Goodfellow Dry Goods in his new building. However, it wasn't long before the owner of said company retired from the business, with the result that Dayon wound up buying said individual's share in it. This is how Dayton came to become the owner of a store, which he proceeded to rename Dayton's Dry Goods. In time, Dayton's Dry Goods would go through further name changes, which is why it is now Target Corporation rather than either Dayton's Dry Goods or something along those lines.

5. George Dayton Continued to Run His Business During the Depression

Dayton remained in charge of his business throughout the Great Depression. It is interesting to note that his department store remained in good condition throughout this period of time, which must have been a challenge considering the low demand that would have prevalent then. With that said, Dayton's business purchased a jewelry store just before the start of the Great Depression, which he continued to hold on to in spite of the fact that it produced a net loss throughout that period of time.

6. George Dayton Was Succeeded By His Family Members

Dayton's business saw a change of leadership in 1938 when he died at the age of 80. As a result, he was succeeded by his son Nelson, who in turn, was succeeded by his son Donald when he died in 1950. It was Donald and his cousins who embarked on a change of direction for the business as a whole by choosing a more secular approach while discarding the Presbyterian principles that had been the preference of both his father and his grandfather.

7. Target Was Founded to Be Different From the Department Store

Target was created for the purpose of setting up a store that would enable the business to pursue a policy of "upscale discount retailing." This was critical because the business wanted to make sure that there would be a clear line drawn between the new store and its department store instead of causing one to blur into the other. Given the sheer number of Target stores that opened up with a short period of time, it is clear that the business hit upon a winning formula, though its experiences were by no means uniformly smooth and uninterrupted.

8. Dayton Became Dayton-Hudson

In 1969, the Dayton Company became the Dayton-Hudson Company when it merged with the J.L. Hudson Company, which ran a chain of department stores that were concentrated in the state of Michigan. As a result, the produce of this merger became one of the biggest retail businesses in the whole of the United States, encompassing not just Target but also a number of department store chains. The whole thing was made possible by the decline of Hudson's, which was caused in part by changing demographics that made it difficult for it to continue making a profit by using its once-viable strategies.

9. Renamed Target Corporation in 2000

Dayton-Hudson became the Target Corporation in 2000. This is because Target made up somewhere between 75 and 80 percent of its earnings by that point in time, meaning that it was its single most important component by a significant margin. Besides the name change, the leadership of Target Corporation made some other changes at around the same time as well, with examples ranging from setting up Target Direct by separating its e-commerce operations to its choice to rebrand both Dayton's and Hudson's department stores under the name of Marshall Field's.

10. Target Canada Was a Huge Disaster

With that said, Target Corporation has encountered its fair share of metaphorical bumps in the road. For example, its effort to expand into Canada was a huge disaster, particularly because it had poured a great deal of resources to set up more than a 100 department stores at its height. The exact cause of the failure was multi-faceted, with examples ranging from high prices to supply chain issues. As a result, Target was forced to pull out of the Canadian market in 2015, with the result that it has become nothing but a lesson for other retailers planning out their own foreign expansions.

11. Target Corporation Can Be Pretty Philanthropic

It is interesting to note that one of the ways that Target Corporation remains true to its founder is its interest in philanthropy. For example, it donates a percentage of its profits to charitable causes on an annual basis, with an excellent example being how a 2005 article in Forbes described it giving 2.1 percent of its profits in this manner. Likewise, Target Corporation was the one that led the push for the Target House complex in Memphis, which exists for the purpose of housing the families of patients at a local children's hospital.

12. Target Corporation Has a No-Solicitation Rule

Target stores have a no-solicitation rule at its locations, which can make it difficult for volunteers to collect funding for various cases. Previously, Target had an exemption for the Salvation Army, but said exemption was revoked. However, that was not the end of their partnership because the revocation came with an initiative to figure out new ways that the two could work together, with the result that Target continues to be a major supporter of said charity as well as others out there.

#ThingsICantStopDoing: Ending up here every time I go outside. 😉 pic.twitter.com/Sl6GcJEXCZ

- Target (@Target) May 21, 2018

13. Target Helps Out During Disasters

Speaking of which, it should come as no surprise to learn that Target helps out during disasters in a wide range of ways. For example, it has been known to make its stores available for use as command centers for rescue efforts. Likewise, it has been known to donate not just money but also its products, which can actually be more useful than providing just money under certain circumstances because of the logistical challenges of actually getting things to areas where the local infrastructure has been disrupted.

14. Interested in Environmentalism

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Target Corporation is very much interested in environmentalism, which is why it has launched a number of initiatives in this regard. One excellent example is its interest in building green buildings, which operate while using fewer resources than otherwise possible. Something that can be very useful in a pragmatic sense by offering cost reductions. Another example is Target's interest in recycling, which keeps a wide range of materials from being dumped in landfills.

15. Far From Being Perfect in This Regard

With that said, Target Corporation doesn't exactly have a perfect, spotless record when it comes to environmental matters. For example, Target stores in the state of California have been accused of dumping toxic waste in landfills, which is a huge problem because toxic waste has rather unfortunate tendencies of seeping out at some point in the future. Furthermore, Target stores have been accused of marketing products as being environmentally friendly when they really weren't, which has become unfortunately common in an era when environmentalism is well-regarded by a lot of consumers with a lot of purchasing power.

16. Very Recognizable Symbol

Target is an excellent example of a business that has had enormous success in coming up with a memorable logo. For proof, look no further than the studies suggesting that more than 95 percent of people in the United States are capable of recognizing Target's bullseye logo, which is well chosen in light of its name.

17. Competes By Offering Higher-Quality Products At Better Prices

Target's strategy is to offer products at affordable prices. However, there is more to it than that, seeing as how it specializes in offering higher-quality products at affordable prices. The one who came up with it described it as making products affordable by cutting expenses instead of making a huge marketing fuss about offering cheaper products at low prices. Moreover, Target is very interested in offering products that anticipate the latest trends, which contributes to its performance as well.

18. Has More Success with a Younger Clientele

Compared to some of its counterparts, Target Corporation has a younger clientele, which makes sense considering its strategy when competing with its discount store counterparts. With that said, younger actually means an average age of 40, which is nonetheless enough to make it the one with the youngest clientele out of those competing in the same niche. With that said, it is interesting to note that Target's clientele has a high percentage of people who have either completed college or at least attended college at some point in time, which might be connected to its strategy as well.

19. Has Encountered Some Issues with Its Strategy

With that said, Target has encountered some issues with its strategy as well. For example, there is a perception that Target has higher prices than other discount stores, which is something that has cost it a significant number of customers as well as a significant amount of revenue over time. Due to this, Target actually implemented policies in 2008 for the purpose of combating said perception. One example of its policies was the inclusion of perishables in its product selection. Meanwhile, another example was its choice to focus on the great value of its products in its ads, which emphasized the point by mentioning the real prices of Target products so as to give interested individuals a better idea of what to expect.

20. Sometimes Pronounced in a Faux-French Manner For Fun

Sometimes, Target has been pronounced Targét by some people in a sort of faux-French as a joke, which is connected to its strategy of depicting itself as being more upscale than other discount stores. Amusingly, Target has rolled with this joke on some occasions, as shown by its choice to license the name for the purpose of selling a clothing line to more upscale customers. On the whole, this seems like a much healthier response than some of the other options that Target could have taken because it made use of its reputation instead of struggling against it at much cost for perhaps no real gain.

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20 Fun Facts You Didn't Know about Target

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Target Corporation is one of the biggest chain of discount stores that can be found in the whole of the United States, so much so that it is beaten out by Walmart and none other. As a result, it should come as no surprise to learn that Target Corporation has a long history, which has provided it with the foundations on which its success stands.

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The red balls outside of Target are for safety

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The red balls outside of Target are for safety

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Pretty much everyone loves Target, right? What's not to like?! They sell pretty much everything at an amazing price. Plus, the stores are just fun to be in. Here are seven surprising facts about Target to make your shopping experience a little bit better.
[Photo: Shutterstock]

Bullseye, Target's official ambassador, has been around since 1999. She's been featured in commercials and has done many red carpet appearances. Oh, and she flies first class.
[Photo: Instagram]

Each week, Target gives $4 million to communities in need. The money goes toward fighting hunger, supporting the arts, getting kids on the right educational track and more. By the end of 2015, Target is committed to giving $1 billion toward education efforts.
[Photo: Facebook]

The big red balls that are randomly placed in front of Target stores actually serve a purpose. They prevent cars from driving up on the curb and smashing through store's doors.
[Photo: Shutterstock]

All of Target's shopping carts are specially designed to be difficult to tip over! Now you have an excuse to overfill your cart.
[Photo: Shutterstock]

Target follows a schedule when it comes to markdowns. Here it is:
Monday - Electronics, Accessories, Kids Clothing, Books, Baby and Stationery
Tuesday - Domestics, Women's Clothing, Pets and Market (food items)
Wednesday - Men's Clothing, Health and Beauty, Diapers, Lawn & Garden items and Furniture
Thursday - Housewares, Lingerie, Shoes, Toys, Sporting Goods, Decor & Luggage
Friday - Auto, Cosmetics, Hardware, & Jewelry
[Photo: Instagram]

The clearance tags tell a whole lot. In the upper right corner, you can see how much the item is discounted by. For instance, this item is marked down 50% because there's a "50" in the corner. Also, if the price on the clearance tag ends in an $0.06 or $0.08, it will be marked down again. However, if the price ends in $0.04 then the item is final sale and won't be marked down again.
[Photo: Instagram]

If a sale item is out of stock, just request a rain check! When the item is restocked, you can buy it for the sale price.
[Photo: Instagram]

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7 Surprising Facts You Never Knew About Target

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Pretty much everyone loves Target, right? What's not to like?! They sell pretty much everything at an amazing price. Plus, the stores are just fun to be in. Here are seven surprising facts about Target to make your shopping experience a little bit better.[Photo: Shutterstock] Bullseye, Target's official ambassador, has been around since 1999.

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Target has new carts so you can shop more 

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Target has new carts so you can shop more 

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Pretty much everyone loves Target, right? What's not to like?! They sell pretty much everything at an amazing price. Plus, the stores are just fun to be in. Here are seven surprising facts about Target to make your shopping experience a little bit better.
[Photo: Shutterstock]

Bullseye, Target's official ambassador, has been around since 1999. She's been featured in commercials and has done many red carpet appearances. Oh, and she flies first class.
[Photo: Instagram]

Each week, Target gives $4 million to communities in need. The money goes toward fighting hunger, supporting the arts, getting kids on the right educational track and more. By the end of 2015, Target is committed to giving $1 billion toward education efforts.
[Photo: Facebook]

The big red balls that are randomly placed in front of Target stores actually serve a purpose. They prevent cars from driving up on the curb and smashing through store's doors.
[Photo: Shutterstock]

All of Target's shopping carts are specially designed to be difficult to tip over! Now you have an excuse to overfill your cart.
[Photo: Shutterstock]

Target follows a schedule when it comes to markdowns. Here it is:
Monday - Electronics, Accessories, Kids Clothing, Books, Baby and Stationery
Tuesday - Domestics, Women's Clothing, Pets and Market (food items)
Wednesday - Men's Clothing, Health and Beauty, Diapers, Lawn & Garden items and Furniture
Thursday - Housewares, Lingerie, Shoes, Toys, Sporting Goods, Decor & Luggage
Friday - Auto, Cosmetics, Hardware, & Jewelry
[Photo: Instagram]

The clearance tags tell a whole lot. In the upper right corner, you can see how much the item is discounted by. For instance, this item is marked down 50% because there's a "50" in the corner. Also, if the price on the clearance tag ends in an $0.06 or $0.08, it will be marked down again. However, if the price ends in $0.04 then the item is final sale and won't be marked down again.
[Photo: Instagram]

If a sale item is out of stock, just request a rain check! When the item is restocked, you can buy it for the sale price.
[Photo: Instagram]

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
7 Surprising Facts You Never Knew About Target

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Pretty much everyone loves Target, right? What's not to like?! They sell pretty much everything at an amazing price. Plus, the stores are just fun to be in. Here are seven surprising facts about Target to make your shopping experience a little bit better.[Photo: Shutterstock] Bullseye, Target's official ambassador, has been around since 1999.

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I feel ill visiting Wal-Mart - Am I alone? Target doesn't have this effect on me. I feel great in Target stores. 10 reasons why...

Crime
Why did the 911 hijackers buy their box cutters at Wal-Mart? Why do serial killers featured on Court TV buy duct tape and rope at Wal-Mart? Because they feel comfortable there. They're with their people. Did you know (according to this study) the average Wal-Mart has almost 450% more police calls than the average Target store?

Target Doesn't Destroy Small Towns
My parents live in the lake country of Northern Minnesota. It's beautiful; please visit sometime. They live near Park Rapids (pop 3,300) and Wadena (pop 4,200), two quaint small towns about 30 miles apart. Wal-Mart is building a box store in each town. These cities have vibrant downtowns with ice cream confectionaries, candy shops, coffee shops, theaters, dime stores, bookstores, restaurants, and hardware stores. We know what happens when a box store opens on the edge of town, the downtown dies. Economists say that the little shops in town are economic dinosaurs. Maybe the economists are right, but I will still grieve the loss of these special places.

Target doesn't build stores in towns with populations of 4,200 or 3,300 and it isn't on their agenda (as far as I know).
Target's Prices are Competitive
I've Never Seen Anyone Wearing a NASCAR Shirt, Purple Sweat Pants, and Pink Fluffy Slippers at Target See the Cockeyed.com Comparison
Employees (An Anecdote)
Sunday Sep 10 th 10:00 AM
Wal-Mart: I smiled at the people greeter. She didn't greet me or anyone else. She stood there like a zombie looking straight ahead scowling.

After spending 15 minutes looking for a lunch box, I asked an employee where the lunch boxes were. She led us aimlessly around the store with no idea where they were. Eventually she asked another employee working at the jewelry counter, "Hey ya know where the lunch boxes are?"

She looked up from the phone, chewing her gum, said "Nope", and returned to her telephone.

We didn't find a lunch box.

As I left, I saw 25 checkout lanes. Two were open. The lines were 15 deep. After 60 minutes, I walked out empty handed and nauseous.

Sunday Sep 10 th 11:15 AM
Target: The people greeter smiled and asked, "Can I help you?"

"Where are the lunch boxes?" I asked.

She whispered something into a microphone on her chest, paused, and said, "Behind aisle 8 against the back wall."

Target had ten lanes open and two with no line. In less than ten minutes, I found what I wanted and left with a smile on my face.

I don't know if Target offers higher pay or better benefits but I can tell that they attract different employees; employees that care. Wal-Mart employees appear indifferent.

Happy Customers
At the Target store near my home, I see energetic customers smiling, visiting, and laughing.

At Wal-Mart I see people moping around with frowns, yelling at their kids, and everyone looks depressed.

Cleanliness
In my experience, the difference in cleanliness between the two chains is dramatic, especially the bathrooms. I brought my son into the bathroom at Wal-Mart and it was so nasty I'll never bring him there again.

Better Parking Lots
Wal-Mart: One way, narrow, and angled. I'd show you how bad it is but Wal-Mart could sue me if I post a picture of their store. Yet another reason to love 'em.

Did you know that most Wal-Marts allow people to camp in their parking lots? Is that safe?

Target: Square, two way, parking lots which are safer and easier to navigate.

Positive Atmosphere
Wal-Mart's atmosphere is cheap and crass.

Target's atmosphere exudes progress and style.

Go to each store and soak in the whole scene and you'll know what I mean.

Wider Aisles
Wal-Mart: I'd show you how narrow, crowded, and disorganized their aisles are but... Wal-Mart could sue me if I post a picture of their store.

Target: Wide spacious aisles

I have both a Wal-Mart and a Target five minutes from my house. There is no comparison in the shopping experience.

My first priority in life right now is to maintain a positive mental state. I've found it nearly impossible to maintain a positive mental state inside a Wal-Mart store. The place oozes negativity.

When I leave Wal-Mart I feel like I should go home and shower, like I've just visited a seedy porn shop or something.
For more on Wal-Mart watch this movie.
When I leave Target, I feel energetic and I want to return.

Positive thinking tip:
Visit Target frequently and stay out of Wal-Mart.

This is an opinion piece, based on my personal experiences. I don't work for Target. I don't even own any Target stock.

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10 Reasons Target is Better than Wal-Mart

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I feel ill visiting Wal-Mart - Am I alone? Target doesn't have this effect on me. I feel great in Target stores. 10 reasons why... Crime Why did the 911 hijackers buy their box cutters at Wal-Mart? Why do serial killers featured on Court TV buy duct tape and rope at Wal-Mart?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
I feel ill visiting Wal-Mart - Am I alone? Target doesn't have this effect on me. I feel great in Target stores. 10 reasons why...

Crime
Why did the 911 hijackers buy their box cutters at Wal-Mart? Why do serial killers featured on Court TV buy duct tape and rope at Wal-Mart? Because they feel comfortable there. They're with their people. Did you know (according to this study) the average Wal-Mart has almost 450% more police calls than the average Target store?

Target Doesn't Destroy Small Towns
My parents live in the lake country of Northern Minnesota. It's beautiful; please visit sometime. They live near Park Rapids (pop 3,300) and Wadena (pop 4,200), two quaint small towns about 30 miles apart. Wal-Mart is building a box store in each town. These cities have vibrant downtowns with ice cream confectionaries, candy shops, coffee shops, theaters, dime stores, bookstores, restaurants, and hardware stores. We know what happens when a box store opens on the edge of town, the downtown dies. Economists say that the little shops in town are economic dinosaurs. Maybe the economists are right, but I will still grieve the loss of these special places.

Target doesn't build stores in towns with populations of 4,200 or 3,300 and it isn't on their agenda (as far as I know).
Target's Prices are Competitive
I've Never Seen Anyone Wearing a NASCAR Shirt, Purple Sweat Pants, and Pink Fluffy Slippers at Target See the Cockeyed.com Comparison
Employees (An Anecdote)
Sunday Sep 10 th 10:00 AM
Wal-Mart: I smiled at the people greeter. She didn't greet me or anyone else. She stood there like a zombie looking straight ahead scowling.

After spending 15 minutes looking for a lunch box, I asked an employee where the lunch boxes were. She led us aimlessly around the store with no idea where they were. Eventually she asked another employee working at the jewelry counter, "Hey ya know where the lunch boxes are?"

She looked up from the phone, chewing her gum, said "Nope", and returned to her telephone.

We didn't find a lunch box.

As I left, I saw 25 checkout lanes. Two were open. The lines were 15 deep. After 60 minutes, I walked out empty handed and nauseous.

Sunday Sep 10 th 11:15 AM
Target: The people greeter smiled and asked, "Can I help you?"

"Where are the lunch boxes?" I asked.

She whispered something into a microphone on her chest, paused, and said, "Behind aisle 8 against the back wall."

Target had ten lanes open and two with no line. In less than ten minutes, I found what I wanted and left with a smile on my face.

I don't know if Target offers higher pay or better benefits but I can tell that they attract different employees; employees that care. Wal-Mart employees appear indifferent.

Happy Customers
At the Target store near my home, I see energetic customers smiling, visiting, and laughing.

At Wal-Mart I see people moping around with frowns, yelling at their kids, and everyone looks depressed.

Cleanliness
In my experience, the difference in cleanliness between the two chains is dramatic, especially the bathrooms. I brought my son into the bathroom at Wal-Mart and it was so nasty I'll never bring him there again.

Better Parking Lots
Wal-Mart: One way, narrow, and angled. I'd show you how bad it is but Wal-Mart could sue me if I post a picture of their store. Yet another reason to love 'em.

Did you know that most Wal-Marts allow people to camp in their parking lots? Is that safe?

Target: Square, two way, parking lots which are safer and easier to navigate.

Positive Atmosphere
Wal-Mart's atmosphere is cheap and crass.

Target's atmosphere exudes progress and style.

Go to each store and soak in the whole scene and you'll know what I mean.

Wider Aisles
Wal-Mart: I'd show you how narrow, crowded, and disorganized their aisles are but... Wal-Mart could sue me if I post a picture of their store.

Target: Wide spacious aisles

I have both a Wal-Mart and a Target five minutes from my house. There is no comparison in the shopping experience.

My first priority in life right now is to maintain a positive mental state. I've found it nearly impossible to maintain a positive mental state inside a Wal-Mart store. The place oozes negativity.

When I leave Wal-Mart I feel like I should go home and shower, like I've just visited a seedy porn shop or something.
For more on Wal-Mart watch this movie.
When I leave Target, I feel energetic and I want to return.

Positive thinking tip:
Visit Target frequently and stay out of Wal-Mart.

This is an opinion piece, based on my personal experiences. I don't work for Target. I don't even own any Target stock.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
10 Reasons Target is Better than Wal-Mart

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
I feel ill visiting Wal-Mart - Am I alone? Target doesn't have this effect on me. I feel great in Target stores. 10 reasons why... Crime Why did the 911 hijackers buy their box cutters at Wal-Mart? Why do serial killers featured on Court TV buy duct tape and rope at Wal-Mart?

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Walmart and Target both dedicate a large section of their stores to selling groceries.

Both stores have been adding features like same-day grocery delivery and free shipping on orders over $35.

Walmart reported same-store sales were up 4.5% in the most recent quarter, and Target reported same-store sales were up 6.5% in the most recent quarter.

We went grocery shopping at each of the stores and found that even though the online selections were comparable, there was a clear winner between the two.

Walmart and Target have a lot of overlap in what they sell, and one of the biggest departments they compete in is grocery.

The two stores have both been working on improving their e-commerce strategies, especially when it comes to grocery. Walmart offers free two-day shipping on orders over $35, free same-day store pickup on certain orders, and same-day delivery in New York City through Jet.com, which it acquired in 2016. Similarly, Target offers free two-day shipping on orders over $35 and in-store pickup, and it announced earlier this year that it plans to offer same-day delivery of groceries from half of its 1,800 stores using Shipt, a delivery startup it acquired in December.

In Walmart's earnings call in August, the retail giant reported second-quarter same-store sales were up 4.5%. It announced earlier this year that it would be remodeling 500 stores and building 20 new locations.

Likewise, in an earnings call at the end of August, Target reported same-store sales were up 6.5% in the second quarter. Target is working towards improving its physical outposts, and it plans on expanding its store fleet while many brick-and-mortar stores are closing.

Even though the stores are both performing well financially, we found one was preferable when it came to the grocery-shopping experience:

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We went shopping at Walmart and Target to see which was better for groceries, and there was a clear winner

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Walmart and Target have a lot of overlap in what they sell, and one of the biggest departments they compete in is grocery. Even though the stores are both performing well financially, we found one was preferable when it came to the grocery-shopping experience.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Walmart and Target both dedicate a large section of their stores to selling groceries.

Both stores have been adding features like same-day grocery delivery and free shipping on orders over $35.

Walmart reported same-store sales were up 4.5% in the most recent quarter, and Target reported same-store sales were up 6.5% in the most recent quarter.

We went grocery shopping at each of the stores and found that even though the online selections were comparable, there was a clear winner between the two.

Walmart and Target have a lot of overlap in what they sell, and one of the biggest departments they compete in is grocery.

The two stores have both been working on improving their e-commerce strategies, especially when it comes to grocery. Walmart offers free two-day shipping on orders over $35, free same-day store pickup on certain orders, and same-day delivery in New York City through Jet.com, which it acquired in 2016. Similarly, Target offers free two-day shipping on orders over $35 and in-store pickup, and it announced earlier this year that it plans to offer same-day delivery of groceries from half of its 1,800 stores using Shipt, a delivery startup it acquired in December.

In Walmart's earnings call in August, the retail giant reported second-quarter same-store sales were up 4.5%. It announced earlier this year that it would be remodeling 500 stores and building 20 new locations.

Likewise, in an earnings call at the end of August, Target reported same-store sales were up 6.5% in the second quarter. Target is working towards improving its physical outposts, and it plans on expanding its store fleet while many brick-and-mortar stores are closing.

Even though the stores are both performing well financially, we found one was preferable when it came to the grocery-shopping experience:

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
We went shopping at Walmart and Target to see which was better for groceries, and there was a clear winner

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Walmart and Target have a lot of overlap in what they sell, and one of the biggest departments they compete in is grocery. Even though the stores are both performing well financially, we found one was preferable when it came to the grocery-shopping experience.

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Target has separate stores inside of it 

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Target has separate stores inside of it 