Target, Inc.

MINNEAPOLIS — Target has disclosed the location of its first 24 stores in Canada. As previously announced, Target purchased the leasehold interests of 189 sites currently operated by Zellers Inc., and plans to open 125 to 135 stores in Canada, the majority of which will open in 2013.

Target plans to open stores in the following locations in March/early April 2013:

• London Westmount, Westmount Shopping Centre

• Kawartha Lakes, Lindsay Square Mall

Minneapolis -- Target Corp.’s plan to open 125-135 stores in Canada is rapidly taking shape, as the retailer has released the locations of its first 24 stores in the country.

As previously announced, Target purchased the leasehold interests of 189 sites currently operated by Zellers Inc.

The majority of Target’s initial two dozen stores will open in early 2013, and include four locations in Toronto (Centrepoint Mall, Cloverdale Mall, Shoppers World Danforth and East York Town Centre).

MINNEAPOLIS — Joe Namath he’s not. Target chairman, president and CEO Gregg Steinhafel assured investors last month that December comps would exceed November’s 1.8% increase, but then Thursday morning reported a disappointing 1.6% increase and a reduced profit forecast.

NEW YORK — Many retailers reported solid sales gains for December, but the deep discounts and promotions that shoppers have come to expect cut into profits. A range of retailers, including Target and The Children’s Place, reduced their earnings outlooks. Overall, retail sales rose 3.4% at the 22 retailers tracked by the Thomson Reuters same-store sales index, compared with the 3.3% analyst forecast.

Just in time for the Consumer Electronics Show next week in Las Vegas, Market Research Solutions (MRS) is out with a new report that provides unconventional insights into the 2011 holiday season and outlook for 2012.

The Tampa, Fla.-based research firm surveyed 272 department managers in early December at such retailers as Walmart, Target, Best Buy, Hhgregg and dominant regional players to gain a unique perspective on a category of business that is the most dynamic in retail. Among some of the key findings MRS provided exclusively to RetailingToday.com were:

New York City -- Many retailers reported solid sales gains for December, but the deep discounts and promotions that shoppers have come to expect cut into profits.  A range of retailers, including Target and The Children’s Place, reduced their, reducing their earnings outlooks. Overall, retail sales rose 3.4% at the 22 retailers tracked by the Thomson Reuters same-store sales index, compared with the 3.3% analyst forecast.

New York City -- The nation’s discounters and department store retailers turned in mixed results for December, with many chains citing unseasonably warm weather that sapped demand for cold-weather merchandise.

“Cold-weather categories, which are highly profitable and represent approximately 25% of our business in December, were down mid-teens on a percentage basis,” said Tony Buccina, vice chairman, president – merchandising, The Bon-Ton Stores, whose December same-store sales fell 0.7%. The company widened its loss forecast.

ATLANTA — Goody is launching for 2012 its first-ever heat styling products that are slated to hit Target and Walmart shelves in March.

The new collection is comprised of the Goody Heat Flash Dry blow dryer, Smart Temp blow dryer and Wave Creator styling iron.

Customer experience analytics firm ForeSee today released the results of their seventh annual Holiday E-Retail Satisfaction Index, and Target was ranked 29.

The difficulties Target experienced with the relaunch of its website early last fall and subsequent fall off in traffic couldn’t have come at a worse time, as total retail online sales hit new highs during the holiday season.

Online sales increased 15% to $35.3 billion From Nov. 1 through Dec. 25 compared with the same time period the prior year, according to the online measurement firm comScore.