On Target
On the subject of retail, we reached to DIG360 Consulting’s David Ian Gray, a retail analyst, for his thoughts on Target’s Canadian troubles, and if he thinks that will make other US retailers think twice about expanding up here. “It will impact the decisions of those who are lazy and don’t do their homework on the market,” David says. (There's homework?!)
Target’s issues are well known, he adds--they expanded too fast; store presentation didn’t distinguish them enough from Zellers; logistics issues meant Canadians used to the bounty of selection in the US stores were disappointed in what they found in the Canadian stores; they need to get price points further down where they might still be higher but not “exorbitantly” higher than their US counterparts. “Maybe there was a bit of arrogance there, but they will sort it out,” David says. “Target will be fine in Canada.” In the image is Target Canada prez Tony Fisher.
