Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Consumer Audit
Amy Brantley
Michael Deppa
Carla Johnson
Jen Jurs
Anna Meyer
Ray Roquemore
MKTG 4150
Mon./Wed.
11:00 – 12:15
1
Table of Contents:
Product Positioning........................................................................................................... 7
Market Analysis
The Target Corporation is part of a company that goes back over a hundred years
when the first Target store was opened in 1962. For the past forty years, Target has been
committed to providing an inexpensive, yet chic and savvy shopping experience to their
customers. As a result of Target’s continued success, in 2000 their parent company, The
Dayton Hudson Corporation, was renamed the Target Corporation. Target continues to
grow financially; in January 2006 they announced success of $50 billion in sales for a
single year (Biesada). In more recent news, Target reported in mid-November that there
third quarter profits have risen 16% and sales rose 11%. Target attributes these recent
successes to the increases they have made in building new stores; in 2003 Target had a
There are many economic, physical and technological conditions that influence
economic conditions that have affected Target has been the recent war in Iraq. Because
of the war, prices on certain items have increased, particularly gas prices, over the past
couple years; but it is primarily the customers of competitor Wal-Mart that suffers,
leaving Target to reap the benefits. The average Wal-Mart shopper makes an average
Wal-Mart shoppers stay loyal to the purchasing of cheap staple products, but because of
the rise in gas prices, they avoid the items that are not absolutely necessary. On the other
hand, Target’s customers are not as price sensitive to economic conditions and can
somewhat afford to maintain their lifestyle. In the end Target keeps their numbers up,
various types of merchandise they provide. They do have competitors with clothing
retailers, grocery stores and even drugstores; however, their main competition is
concentrated with other discounters or wholesale clubs. The top competitors of Target
include: Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Costco and BJ’s Wholesale Club. In a recent Gallop Poll
about 1,000 consumers were surveyed on which of the three discount retailers they would
prefer to shop at. The results came back with Wal-Mart leading the way at 52%, Target
in second at 29% and K-Mart falling quickly behind at only 13% (Grant). If Target
became successful in becoming the number one discount retailer in the industry, Wal-
Mart would likely be one of the few retailers with sufficient financial resources to
respond. Therefore, it is very important to the Target Corporation to ensure that their
own marketing strategies are kept current and relevant with accurate information.
are highly loyal to shopping at Target. The demographics in which 20% of consumers
are loyal to Target, there are more females than males, 80% are under the age of 40 and
are also college educated, and they are in the middle to upper income range. Customers
of Target also prefer to shop at a place where there friends and family are likely to shop,
and they are not price sensitive; these customers are willing to pay more at a store in
which they feel good about and are treated well. In order to close the gap between the
percentages of Target at 20% and Wal-Mart at about 50%, Target will have to analyze the
reasoning behind Wal-Mart’s 50% mark. Research indicates that those who shop at Wal-
Mart are attracted by the low prices and although 20% of consumers would still shop at
Target despite higher prices, in order to catch up to Wal-Mart Target Corporation would
4
benefit from looking into ways of decreasing their prices of products offered (Wal-Mart
Market Segmentation
The store offers a wide range of selling from clothes (male and female), groceries,
pet supplies, athletics, electronics, home accessories, pharmacy and shoes. Target has
accomplished a lower median consumer age than its competitors at an age of 41. The
female, of whom 43 percent have children still living at home (delayed full nest II, full
nest II, and single parent II), and 80 percent have attended college with 43 percent
completing a degree program. In a recent poll done by CNN, consumers were asked to
choose between Target, Wal-Mart, and Kmart. The results found a sliding scale upward:
The results show a high level of educated consumers lean more towards Target than they
do their competitors with 59% of people with annual income of $20,000 or less preferring
Wal-Mart (Grimm).
Target likes to view its retail position as a “discount department store”, instead of
primarily a discount store. This could be due to the companies desire to go above and
beyond the basic customer needs of a discount store. They are trying to perceive
5
themselves as a store presenting name brands at low price by cutting expenses, then
The visual perception of a Target store is very important to the company. Target
Corporation takes great pains in the presentation and appearance of the store and
merchandise. Using wide isles and drop ceilings, the store portrays more of a department
store feel. By using this strategy Target is understandably portrayed as more upscale than
its competitors by many of its consumers. This strategy is also portrayed in the way
Target Corporation presents itself. The customers of the stores are called “guests”,
employees are “team members” and supervisors are “team leaders”. Through this
Target became one step closer in achieving its desire to have the appearance of a
department store when they collaborated with designer Todd Oldham. This partnership
will pave the way for a newer, more youthful brand to appeal to the younger consumer.
Think about what Martha Stewart has done for Kmart. Now make the endorser less
relevant to middle aged homemakers and shift them toward the left of the culture, where
it’s less about environmental conformity and more about self-expressive art. Now
putting them amid what has become the trademark artsy, rock ‘n’ roll TV spots for
Target. In recent years, Target’s spectacular co-op advertising in this vein has put
profoundly younger frames on such vendors’ brands as Tide and Coca-Cola. When a
Target commercial appears you wonder why such a direct approach is taken to market
their product. Then the red Target logo appears. Oldham, bringing his new artistic
6
designs for clothing and home furnishings – back to college, kids – builds this aesthetic
on the fashion end of Target’s business with a kind of edge that Stewart could never
claim. In addition to its new acquisition for its clothing line, Target has also enlisted the
help of designer Michael Graves to design a set of distinctive home furnishings and
appliances (Grimm).
When dealing with culture, all businesses have to take in effect what is around
them. In 2002 Target had to pull merchandise clothing off the racks, which was
embroidered with “88” known to a lot of people as the white supremacist symbol. Target
also has a new advertising campaign for the holidays. Instead of referring to “Christmas”
in their promotions they use “holiday” to keep from offending those of different religions
Target is known for the bull’s eye of the store logo. Whether it is the dog with the
bull’s eye over the eye or just the bull’s eye in advertisements, promotions, or the store
Target also has a web site online that enables the consumer to browse, review and
buy online. This hits more of the tech savvy buyers that like to use the internet to search,
review and buy products online than going to the store. Other than showing products, it
also allows the customer to see where their money is being contributed to by the
company (education, communities, etc.). Also Target has a Visa credit card service that
allows for the customers to be able to buy products and receive a promotion of 10%
discount just by using the card, through the store and online with certain products
(Grimm).
7
Product Positioning
“Pay Less + Expect More”- is how Target sets its self apart from its competitors
(Berman). It also has a famous red bulls-eye symbol that most consumers know; and
research shows that 96% of people recognize the Target bulls-eye over Apple and
Swoosh (Behind the Bullseye). Target seems to offer high quality products at low prices.
Target is seen as an upscale discount store, because it has many major designers that
design a line of products just for Target (Berman). Since Target seems to focus its
marketing on women- not only does it offer a variety of clothing and intimate apparel that
would appeal to just about any women but it also is offering power tools for women
(Hawkins). Target’s mission statement focuses on “great guest service, clean stores, in
stock merchandise, and speedy checkout” (Lhe). This corporation is a “purveyor of all
Target’s influence on consumers differs than other leading retailers. Their image
and product offerings provide for a wide range of customers. Target strives to
differentiate its products through an image of cheap stylish and elegant clothing (Yerak).
There consumers are up market families, as well as young singles, who shop at Target
because they offer products that are fun and trendy, as well as the availability of general
merchandise. There niche is based on young, affluent families that are typically
Based on their customers, there are a number of internal influences that affect the
customers. Target has positioned their stores from other retailers, particularly Wal-Mart,
8
as being a chic, upscale discount chain that is a hipper alternative to Wal-Mart. This
brand image is evident in current distinctive marketing campaigns developed for Target.
They are positioning ads to reinforce the concept to the consumer that they offer “style.”
The ads show consumers that they do not have to pay top dollar for lucrative well-
designed products. The ads are being designed and finished so that they can stand beside
ads for luxury items, and to help bring style to the masses by making “cheap” look cool.
Thus they are making the product the key focus, instead of the offer. They are able to
balance price and image to build the brands and brand loyalty (Tilley).
The brand that they have established with the customers can be conveyed through
the use of personality in their marketing practices. Their chic, upscale discounter image
is used as their focus in building and enhancing their brand personality, with the ability to
better target key customer groups. Of the five dimensions of brand personality, which
in the excitement area. They could possibly be in the sophistication area, but this pertains
to mostly upper class, higher end items. Target is high scale, but at a discounter level.
They are focused on the daring, spirited, imaginative and up-to-date excitement brand
personality. There product offering includes modern designs, fashions, styles and
merchandise items. They have to make sure they stay on top of the trends as products in
this category tend to fade in excitement over time, thus keeping current on consumer
There are several attitude aspects of Target consumers that can be seen. Shoppers
tend to be more affectively loyal to the brand. They prefer to shop in an atmosphere
where they are treated well and feel good about the store. This results in a willingness to
9
pay more for items, and individuals who are not as price sensitive. They consider the
store brand important, and they shop at stores their friends and family prefer. A decision
consumer attitudes. In a recent survey of 1,200 people, 70% say they shop at Target at
least bi-weekly or more, while they have an average historical share of 70%. Also within
this component lies the ability for a Target customer to recommend the stores as a place
to shop. Ninety six percent of Targets current customer base would recommend the store
Target customers fall into the category of “esteem” based on Maslow’s Need
Hierarchy. These individuals are looking for status, superiority, self-respect and prestige.
There need relates to the individuals feeling of usefulness and accomplishment. The
consumers that can buy trendier, more in style fashions at Target, whether it is clothing,
furniture or anything else, will feel they have products that are seen as being better, even
though they are shopping at a discount store. They will be able to buy products that give
them better image or status, but at a reasonable price (Hawking, Mothersbaugh, Best).
under the affective preservation motive of need for expression. This motive fits with
Target’s current trend of offering fun, trendy and fashionable items which is a model for
the need to express one’s identity to others. For example the purchase of clothing allows
consumers to express a particular image to others. This is also evident in the marketing
Target consists of value shopping and idea shopping. Target is able to attract those who
10
enjoy going to discount stores to find great deals, along with those who enjoy keeping up
Target customers fall mostly under the achievers dimension of the VALS
Segment system. The achievers have a percent female of 56%, a median income of
$67,000 and a median age of 40. These VALS demographic characteristics fit with
Targets major demographics (Hawking, Mothersbaugh, Best). Target has more females
than males, and majority of their customers fall in the middle to upper income levels.
Achievers are more committed to their family, which demonstrates their efforts to
recommend brands to their family members. Though they are not as risky, or value self-
discovery, as other segments do, achievers are still active in the consumer marketplace
and favor image. They are going to want products that demonstrate success to their piers.
Target allows them the opportunity to get trendy fashionable clothing or other items, and
can save these individuals time in their busy lives, by providing them the availability to
Target has been able to tie in the perception of their logo design with their
marketing strategy. Target bulls-eye logo can stand alone, as almost 94% of Americans
recognize it. They also focus on keeping their marketing, store design, product offering
and website consistent in an effort to further their brand message. The expectation
Target’s product position relative to other major retail outlet centers can be
derived from price, either high or low, and the type of merchandise they offer, whether
specialized or for the masses. Target, Wal-Mart and K-Mart fall in the area low priced,
mass merchandise. Target in comparison to these companies offers products that are
11
slightly higher in price, beside mass merchandise items, and more specialized products.
The perceptual map below relates these three companies with other well know retailers:
Perceptual Map:
One out of two people shop at mass merchandisers every week. Target has to
make sure that they are focused on satisfying the consumer’s functional and emotional
issues. Target is able to balance this with a variety of general products with the
excitement of the latest affordable trendy item, while enticing consumers at all income
levels (Liebmann).
Target is able to understand that sales are made in the head and the heart. They
are able to take ordinary products and make them desirable. Cheap products to some are
12
presented through Target in a way that makes them “cool.” There ads are used in a way
that makes the company stand out. The look, tone and message all respect the reader.
They do not pack every available space of an ad with a “selling, selling, selling”
mentality. Target makes the product, not the offer, the important aspect. They are able to
balance the price and the image, to drive sales and build brand loyalty, day after day.
(Tilley)
When consumers are starting the consumer decision process many would start
with looking at the physical surroundings when deciding which store to frequent. Target
stores have been designed to display items in a clean, organized and welcoming
environment (Roger). Most Target Supercenters are laid out in a fashion so that
crowding is not an issue for customers to deal with. Target tries to make the stores more
intuitive by placing related departments close to each other; such as toys and sporting
goods, as well as home improvements near the home decorations (Roger). Rather simple
things like these are important to the customer. It shows that Target is thinking about the
customer and their needs when making design/layout plans; and it makes customers want
to return to their store. Target’s goal is to attract more affluent and better educated
customers, and attract them they do; consumers that shop exclusively at Target are more
likely to shop at more high fashion retailers such at Nordstrom and Macy’s (O’Donnell).
Target consumers are more likely to fall into the nominal decision making
category. They recognize the problem and after doing an internal search, they have their
13
Consumers go to Target to purchase items that they have previously purchased from
Target. Target’s clothing, for example, is of a great quality, and that is recognized,
especially by women shoppers. Women spend more each year on business/casual clothes
and health and beauty aid products at Target each year than any other products in the
store (O’Donnell).
Time plays a huge role in the consumer decision process. Consumers have less
and less time to spend on things like shopping each week, so many are turning more and
more to online shopping to fulfill their needs. Online shopping helps to reduce the time it
takes to actually purchase the product as well as allow the consumer more control as to
when the purchase is being made. Of all Target exclusive customers 58% made online
purchases last year; 45% of them spent over $100 in online purchases last year
(O’Donnell). Women are emerging as the stronger internet buyer in recent years. The
key items that women have been purchasing online are clothing or accessories, consumer
Target has had the ability to offer designer as well as store brands in their stores
such as Mossimo, Isaac Mizrahi and Sonia Kashuk to name a few. These store brands are
important attributes to the company; if consumers like the designers, they have to go to
Target to get the product due to the fact that no one else carries them. These high quality
designers/products attract the type of customer that Target is looking for: affluent, better-
The shopping orientation of Target customers would best fit into the Chameleons
category. Their shopping styles are situation specific and can frequently change. Their
approach is different for different products and for different purposes of shopping (gifts,
personal, etc.). Target customers could also fall into the Scavengers category. They
enjoy shopping and consider it to be a form of entertainment and many are prone to make
unplanned purchases.
Marketing Mix
Target offers a wide array of products for every type of consumer. A recent study
showed that ¼ of all U.S. primary household shoppers visit a Target store at least once a
month (“Chain Store Age”). Consumables and commodities make up about thirty percent
of Target’s sales (Hoover’s). In September 2006, Target launched organic foods and
beverages, sold under the Archer Farms label, into their stores. The purpose of the move
sporting goods and toys make up twenty-three percent of sales (Hoover’s); however,
Target along with other entertainment retailers have begun to struggle with the profits
from entertainment items because of online web sites that offer music and movie
15
downloads at a discounted price, such as iTunes. Apparel and accessories account for
twenty-two percent of sales (Hoover’s). Target offers chic, inexpensive yet trendy
apparel and accessories which attracts more young and affluent consumers. Eighty
percent of Target’s products have private label from big name designers such as Colin
Cowie, Behnaz Sarafpour, Tara Jarmon, Paul & Joe, and Isaac Mizrahi. Home
furnishings, décor, and other items, such as seasonal products, make up the remaining
twenty-five percent of sales (Hoover’s). Each store has “The One Spot” which is a
section of the store, usually located near the entrance, which contains products that only
cost one dollar. The items change frequently and the consumer sense like they have
found a bargain.
Target currently has 1,494 stores in forty-seven states. The corporation has three
types physical store formats, Target, SuperTarget, and Target Greatland. A regular
Target is an upscale discount store that is usually 123,000 square feet. SuperTarget
carries groceries and general merchandise while Target Greatland is about seventy
percent larger than a regular Target store (Hoover’s). Target.com is the third most visited
retail web site only to be surpassed by Ebay and Amazon. The online store currently
offers 90,000 products and that number is estimated to exceed 200,000 by the end of the
Market Penetration:
and inserts in newspapers allow the company to reach a large segment. The company
spends a lot of money for advertisements and inserts in the newspaper weekly. Free
shipping is offered periodically at Target.com. During the holidays, Target offers special
extended holiday hours as well as special promotional pricing for new products or
products with a high demand. The stores open early and close late. Private label
designers are usually featured in commercials for Target. This is a very good
promotional strategy because it allows the designer to get their name and product lines
into the market, and it also gives Target the competitive advantage because the designers’
products are only sold at Target stores. Clearance items and prices change every week.
This promotional strategy is beneficial because it makes the customer return to the store.
Everyone wants a good deal and they are willing to take the risk to see how much the
product’s price will be reduced and if the product will still be available when its price is
marked down. The signature logo for Target is the bulls-eye. This has become a
trademark for the company and when people see it, they associate it with Target.
17
Target Logo:
focusing primarily on price, Target strives to differentiate.” Even though the company’s
products are more expensive than their leading competitor, Target remains popular
because they have unique and differentiated products. The average household income for
upscale discount store and its pricing structure is reflected by the title. As mentioned
earlier, Target’s products are more expensive than its leading competitor, but the products
Target services its customers through the decision process as well as with the post
purchase. Most products can be returned within 90 days, and damaged or defective
products will be replaced. The Club Wedd and Target Baby Registry have been a very
successful service for couples. This service allows couples to register for products that
they need and helps the person giving the gift to choose the right product for the couple.
Registries can be viewed, and products can be purchased online or at any Target store.
For added convenience, the pharmacy and the photo center allow customers to order
medications and photos online. Target has also opened several in-store medical clinics
that provide basic medical services without the hassle of having to make an appointment
with a doctor. Prescription drug bottles are now being colored coded to keep the
customers from taking the wrong medication and the pharmacy will match Wal-Mart’s
people recognize the Target bulls eye (Behind the Bullseye). This seems to show that
Target is well known, but Target is not for everyone. Target does target its market
towards consumers with the income of $50,000 or greater (Robin), because Target does
have higher prices than Wal-Mart. Since Target’s prices are higher, lower income
consumers do find if more difficult to purchase items there. However, losing the lower
income bracket does not affect Target in anyway. As seen in the beginning of the year,
Target was excited to announce that it made $50 billion in sales in 2005 (Biesada).
Therefore, Target is growing and continues to grow by adding new stores, but its growth
does not affect the way Target feels about its customers or the way the customers feel
about Target. Target shoppers are more brand loyal, are treated well, and because of this,
are willing to pay more for what they get (Wal-Mart vs. Target Customers).
Target does create a need for its customers. Because Target is seen as an upscale
discount store, customers are more likely to go there and by their clothing, furniture and
appliances. They can buy trendy and stylish clothing at a lower cost than many retail
stores.
In conclusion, Target is the second most preferred discount retailer, only coming
They seem to know and understand their target market, giving them an edge for future
growth.