RCS-261 Target Audiences for Retail Stores

By definition a target market when talking about retailing is a segment of consumers that is most likely to purchase the products and services offered by a particular retailer. This is very important when taking into consideration the type of merchandise that will be sold, the price range, the environment and the sales associates. This can easily be determined by gender, age, income and leisure activities for a few examples.

When I took the SRIC-BI/VALS Survey I got placed under the two categories: experiencers and innovators. I really wasn't surprised of the outcome because I like to try new things when it comes to merchandise. I like to have on of a kind pieces and for people to not always know where my garments are from by mixing vintage pieces with other finds I make. The website description that I got from the outcomes that best described me was the following: image is important to Innovators, not as evidence of status or power but as an expression of their taste, independence, and personality.

For our retailer on Tuesday we had GNC. I think that someone that shops there could also be considered an experiencer. Trying new things can definitely go beyond fashion and go with health. Trying different kind of vitamins and pills are important so the rest of society can see if they work out they way they are intended to.

RCS-261 Research on Retailer

Target Corporation

The American retailing company, which is now known as Target was started in 1902 in Minneapolis, Minnesota by George D. Dayton. When it first started it was called Dayton Dry Goods Company. 1962 is the year of the first actual Target store opening in Roseville, Minnesota, with using a concept developed by John F. Geisse entering as a discount merchandising company. Then in 1968 Target introduced it's bullseye logo to make it more modern and began expanding it in the midwest. Between 1982-2000 Target expanded to both the east and west coasts.
Currently Target is listed as the 5th largest retailer in the United States. It's also ranked 31st on the Fortune 500. Target is considered a competitor of other similar retailers such as Wal-Mart and K-Mart in selling merchandise such as clothing, housewares and food at cheaper prices.

As of 2008, Target had 366,000 employees. And as of October 2007, there were 1.591 stores throughout the Unitest States. By 2010 they plan to have 2,000 stores nationwide and expand to Hawaii. Now there are also SuperTargets, much similar to the Super Wal-Mart concept.