Target, Inc.

Target’s relationship with the Peterson Milla Hooks ad agency is ending soon but Ad Age reported on details of a final campaign set to air soon for the new Missoni line of apparel and accessories due to hit stores this month for a limited engagement. According to Ad Age, the new campaign includes a 30 second spot shot in Milan that features Margherita Missoni, granddaughter of Missoni’s founders.

So far so good. The third quarter at Target is off to a solid start as Target reported a 4.1% same-store sales increase that was squarely in the middle of the company’s guidance range, which called for an increase in the low to mid single digits.

MINNEAPOLIS — The first month of Target’s third quarter is off to a solid start as the company reported a 4.1% same-store sales increase squarely in the middle of guidance that called for a low to mid single-digit gain.

MINNEAPOLIS — Target has announced new beauty exclusives that are hitting shelves for fall 2011.

Hair accessories brand Goody is bringing exclusively to Target in October its fall Regency collection, which features 32 pieces, including headbands, hairpins, clips and elastics. Prices range from $2.19 to $8.99.

Highlights of new offerings include:

• Ruched Flower Salon Clips ($5.99)

• Infinity Beaded Head Wrap ($6.99)

• Metal Flower Salon Clip ($6.99)

MINNEAPOLIS — Target is ushering in fall with Sonia Kashuk’s latest collection at Target, including shades and makeup brushes in a chic new print.

The Sonia Kashuk 2011 fall collection includes:

• Brush Couture Five-Piece Brush Set ($14.99): The five-piece brush set comes in a chic black-and-white tribal print and includes a powder/blusher brush, crease brush, synthetic concealer/foundation brush, small eye shadow brush and smudge brush.

SHADE ADDITIONS

The increases in average transaction size and customer traffic that Target credited with driving its 4.1% same-store sales increase during August is unwelcome news for Walmart. This is especially true since the biggest gains continue to come in categories where Walmart is traditionally strongest and is intent on demonstrating price leadership.

As if escalating tensions with Target weren’t enough of a large format competitive concern for Walmart, Dollar General remains on a roll with its 9,641 value-oriented and conveniently located stores.

The company sounded like it lifted a line from Target’s August sales release earlier this week when it reported second quarter results that exceeded expectations due to an increase in customer traffic and average transaction size.

New York City -- BJ’s Wholesale Club, Costco and Target all beat Wall Street expectations in August, helped by consumers seeking out emergency supplies and clean-up items as they prepared for and then dealt with Hurricane Irene.

BJ's Wholesale Club’s same-store sales jumped 11.5% in August, beating analysts' predictions for a 7.8% increase. The retailer said that gasoline sales contributed about 3.6 percentage points to the increase, and hurricane-related sales contributed another 2.5 to 3 percentage points.

By Jane Fazzalari

Since the global standards organization GS1 first announced its plans for DataBar — a new labeling system that stores massive amounts of product data — retail industry stakeholders have been discussing its potential impacts. Major retailers such as Target and Walgreens have already started replacing the standard UPC code on their coupons with DataBar bar code and updated their POS systems according to accommodate the new labelling system.

Target may want to rethink its space allocation for the sporting goods department in light of the success the company is having with its Fan Central initiative. Granted, Fan Central is a licensed apparel program within the sporting goods department, but EVP merchandising Kathee Tesija described the success the program is having as “remarkable” during a recap of key merchandising initiatives earlier this month in a meeting with financial analysts.