Target Canada tackles merchandising, pricing
Mississauga, Canada -- Target Canada is launching several initiatives to improve business performance and better deliver the Target brand experience to Canadian customers. Among the initiatives are a partnership with interior designer and TV host Sarah Richardson, who will launch an exclusive home décor line at Target Canada in fall 2015.
Target is also partnering with home décor and apparel brand Roots, expanding its maternity assortment by 50% in September 2014, expanding cosmetic lineups, launching an exclusive brand of household cleaners called Better Life and the eco-friendly European Ecover line in September 2014, introducing an exclusive appliance line called French Bull, and adding more than 30,000 new items to its assortment between now and Christmas.
Target Canada is also introducing a new price match policy, which includes price matching for any local competitor's flyer or weekly ad (print or online), and price matching for select online retailers, including Amazon.ca, Walmart.ca, Bestbuy.ca, Toysrus.ca, Babiesrus.ca, CanadianTire.ca, Futureshop.ca and Sears.ca.
In addition, customers can now use popular apps, such as reebee and flipp to price match, instead of bringing a printed flyer. Price match can now be completed at the register instead of guest service. Target Canada has also added about 1,000 additional items to its roster of 20,000 items that are regularly shopped, to compare prices with its largest competitors.
Furthermore, Target Canada has undertaken a variety of initiatives to address in-stock issues, including a physical count of inventory at all stores, resulting in a reset of systems, and more accurate ordering and shipping data, as well as better forecasting and allocation of product based on sales history and promotional plans to ensure the right amount of product is in the right place at the right time. The retailer is also adjusting delivery schedules so stores receive merchandise more frequently, and providing new training and processes to headquarters and in-store teams to create good routines and engaging store team members.
The initiatives come on the heels of some leadership changes in spring 2014 and a comprehensive review of its Canadian operations. Target Canada has recently added president Mark Schindele; senior VP of merchandising John Butcher; and senior VP of stores and distribution Janna Adair-Potts. In addition, Target's search for a non-executive chair with deep Canadian experience is ongoing.
"We know we still have work to do, but the entire Target team is focused on continuous improvement so that Canadian guests will have the Target experience they deserve," Schindele said.