Target talks omni-channel on Q2 call; to expand buy online pick up in store program

New York -- Target Corp. executives discussed the chain’s omni-channel initiatives on the company’s second quarter conference call with investors. Target’s executive VP merchandising and supply chain, Kathryn Tesija highlighted the company's investments in flexible fulfillment, including plans to expand a program allowing customers to buy items online and pick them up at the store the same day, starting in the third quarter.



Mobile offerings have shown some success as well. Tesija said that Target’s Cartwheel app — launched in June, it allows customers to use mobile phones to find and share deals on Facebook and search for deals while shopping in the stores — already has more than 1 million users who had generated more than $2 million in savings. Among active users of the app, more than 50% had used it to complete multiple transactions.



Target president, chairman and CEO Gregg Steinhafel said Facebook had informed the company that engagement statistics for the app were among the best it had ever seen for an app in beta testing. Currently, the app is among the top 20 in the Apple Store.