Rating: 
Summary: A sorry book
Review: Quite possibly the worst book that I have ever read. It is an infomercial from start to finish. At least one comparison as to how efficiently Target is managed compared to other stores actually proves the opposite of what the clueless author intends (If you look at the numbers). It is pure hype with no real value to anyone who graduated high School.
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting look at an interesting company
Review: This book, written by a cousin of designer Cynthia Rowley, covers the basics of the Target Corporation: it's history, it's rise into American discount retail prominence and most importantly, the unique and unorthodox methods and philosophies Target utilizes. Unlike other corporations, Target actually seems to care about quality, value, their employees, and their communities. They donate annually 5% of their before-tax profits and oversees a working environment of trust and respect. The drab writing does not take away from their exemplary philanthropic ventures but it definitely beats the hell out of it. The one glaring problem that Target shares with so many other powerful retailers is their continued use of overseas labor. This often entails low wages, long hours, and lack of respect for the workers. According to the book, Target is concerned but that is not enough to stop them from providing the demand for cheap wares in the States. On a little side note, Americans are so bloody concerned with sweatshop labor and inhuman working conditions but when factories are set up in the States and inevitable costs rise such as union wages and health care benefits, those same Americans say that they refuse to pay for a $50.00 pair of pants made in America as opposed to paying $15.00 for a pair made in Taiwan. As quality rises, so does cost...Anyways, short (only 200+ pages), but current, book written in a rather dull way. Spotlights Target's generosity and caring but also casts light on the continued problems concerning under-paid overseas labor. Rent it from the library or buy it used.
Rating: 
Summary: Designer discount
Review: Walmart officially gets credit for being America's most profitable retailer, but I am convinced this honor should go to Target.
Upper management at the company realized that people wanted to look chic without paying designer prices--and somehow convinced 'big names' to go along with them. What seems like a given was obviously (and still is) radical because Kmart had basically sunk itself into oblivion with insistence on circa 1980 marketing, and Walmart is where you would go for perishable goods. 'Good clothes' instantly makes me think of Target.
The commercials for this chain are very attractive, working in the store logo with young and trendy op art imagery. Wanting to save money can be both fun and hip only if you are shopping at the Target store. People not realizing that Target was a discount merchandiser could honestly believe they were being asked to shop at an exclusive botique. This was entirely the point of their advertising strategy.
The reading for this book is not particularly insightful (being written by one of Target's concept makers), but can provide some thought. Business success depends on the ability to carve out a niche.
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