A sign of the times: Target is bracing for the holiday season, and even revealed that it chartered its own container ship to ensure that there will be gifts under the Christmas tree this year. Wow! Yes, you read that right, the store known for its bullseye logo and designer collaborations, had indeed chartered its own cargo ship to transport merchandise to the US as a means to sidestep the global shipping crisis. Now that’s commitment.
The Minneapolis-based box store revealed that it had taken that proactive response to the Covid-19-related global shipping crisis just to stay on top of holiday orders. Now that is no joke! In an article published to their press site on September 1st, the U.S. juggernaut revealed that it has been “thinking ahead” to anticipate the challenges of this year’s holiday season (and for that we are grateful!).
The release states that the corporation “chartered our own container ship to regularly bring Target merchandise from overseas ports to the U.S. As co-managers of the ship, we can avoid delays from additional stops and steer clear of particularly backed-up ports.” Wow! But that’s not all. “Once products arrive stateside, we’re partnering closely with our vendors and transportation partners to move it quickly to our stores, keeping our shelves well-stocked and ready for guests.”
Still, the company urges shoppers to start checking earlier than previous years due to the extreme challenges that coronavirus and the global economy. They ordered “larger upfront quantities of items” so that you can shop for your needs in the fall and holiday season. Not an early bird? The company says it will work with its vendors to “fast-track orders to ensure products arrive right on time.” Here’s hoping!
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How serious are they about doing holiday shopping early? The chain just revealed on September 30th that it will kick off holiday deals on October 10th, including a price-matching pledge for "early-bird shoppers," and will bring back the winter edition of their semi-annual "Deal Days" again this year. Let the countdown begin!
So, how are customers responding to the announcement that seemingly sends a chill up every mother and father's spine that's trying to get their hand on a specific wish list of holiday items this year? Mike Augustyniak, a local meteorologist based in Minneapolis noted on Twitter this week that the big box store *still* does not appear to be immune to supply chain challenges 18 months into the pandemic--which perhaps does not bode well for its best-made holiday season plans.
Here’s the 2021 @Target experience in one photo. Insane. You know what stores don’t look like this? Local grocers. Is big-box grocery dunzo? pic.twitter.com/IcNSNhTN5Q
— Mike Augustyniak (@MikeAugustyniak) September 27, 2021
"Here’s the 2021 @Target experience in one photo," he wrote on Twitter on a September 27th photo showing a nearly-empty spice shelf. Yikes!
