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NEW YORK — Target Corp. previewed on Wednesday a few of the trends and products it expects will resonate with holiday shoppers and help the retailer build on its recent sales momentum.
Target Corp. previewed on Wednesday a few of the trends and products it expects will resonate with holiday shoppers and help the retailer build on its recent sales momentum.
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The company hosted an event here to show off its holiday offerings in fashion and apparel, baby and kids, and beauty and wellness — categories that as a group notched same-store sales growth in the most recent quarter that was three times larger than the companywide average.
Target has been trying to reinvigorate its merchandise and presentation in those categories as a centerpiece of chief executive officer Brian Cornell’s plan to differentiate the retailer from its big-box rivals and reclaim the cheap-chic reputation for which the Minneapolis-based company has long been known.
Target’s toy aisles this holiday season will be brimming with licensed characters from popular franchises such as My Little Pony, Frozen, the Avengers and Star Wars.
Target is also emphasizing educational games and toys, including a few that fit into the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) curriculum grouping.
Wearable technology is a trend Target expects to perform well, during this year’s holiday season and beyond, as consumers seek out gadgets to help them monitor their physical condition.
Target is partnering with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in a campaign that fits into the retailer’s focus on health and wellness. Target is selling a line of wearable fitness bands geared toward children that keep track of children’s steps and movements and are aimed at encouraging them to stay active. Additionally, the wearer knows he or she is helping to feed malnourished children in some of the world’s poorest regions: Target donates $10 to UNICEF each time it sells one of the bands, which cost $39.99 apiece.
Target this season is also promoting new skin care potions being added to its exclusive beauty collection from designer Sonia Kashuk. The New York designer’s exclusive line at Target also features makeup brushes, fragrances, and a complement of bath and body products.
Home goods from the Nate Berkus collection are also being introduced ahead of the holidays. Berkus is an interior designer and television host who designs bedroom, bathroom and decor items exclusively for Target, which in recent years has introduced dozens of successful limited-edition collections with major designers, including Berkus in home goods, Lilly Pulitzer in women’s apparel, and Jason Wu in shoes, accessories and apparel.
Beginning November 1, Target will be promoting plaid-patterned blankets, throws and scarves among a new line of woolens from brand partner Fairbault Woolen Mill Co.
