Target=genius marketing
Okay for a moment let's overlook the fact that Target was much cooler before they became grocery stores, and we will also look past that frumpy $1 section they've added at the front of the store. (ew...so effing Wal-Mart)
All that aside Target is genius. They are beating Circuit city and Best buy at their own game. The big boxes sell cd and dvd new releases at low prices to get you into the labyrinth in hopes of making you buy from them next time you need a tv or whatever. They make no margin on the dvd and cds to speak of, but see it as an investment in customer loyalty and brand recognition etc.
Target is doing the same thing, but getting their margin often in the same visit. You drop in to pick up Ocean's 12, and grab shampoo, toothpaste, and soda. Target is building loyalty and raising their profile AND making back the margin in the same visit.
All of this is pretty bad news for the few remaining independent music stores out there, who cannot sell at such low prices and stay alive. Consider supporting local or regional indie stores (if they're not dicks) I recommend Waterloo records (www.waterloorecords.com) in Austin. My order for the heroes of the blues cards took 1 day to be delivered, not bad at all.
All that aside Target is genius. They are beating Circuit city and Best buy at their own game. The big boxes sell cd and dvd new releases at low prices to get you into the labyrinth in hopes of making you buy from them next time you need a tv or whatever. They make no margin on the dvd and cds to speak of, but see it as an investment in customer loyalty and brand recognition etc.
Target is doing the same thing, but getting their margin often in the same visit. You drop in to pick up Ocean's 12, and grab shampoo, toothpaste, and soda. Target is building loyalty and raising their profile AND making back the margin in the same visit.
All of this is pretty bad news for the few remaining independent music stores out there, who cannot sell at such low prices and stay alive. Consider supporting local or regional indie stores (if they're not dicks) I recommend Waterloo records (www.waterloorecords.com) in Austin. My order for the heroes of the blues cards took 1 day to be delivered, not bad at all.
posted by Robert_M at 10:12 AM
2 Comments:
I am a dedicated Target shopper and music consumer. But I have never bought a CD at Target --- at least one for myself. The indie stores still get my business because they are aimed at me --- the unrepentant music snob. Yeah, I'd buy the new Fountains of Wayne album at Target, but usually they won't have that. But they'll plenty of the new Jay-Z and other mass consumed pieces of garbage. But I don't sweat them that. I'll still buy cool lamps, garden tools and oranges and shit there.
I take that last comment back. Target.com offers "Welcome Interstate Managers" and "Utopia Parkway" and the self-titled first album. They even have "Long Distance", the latest release by Adam Schlesinger's side project "Ivy." So F me. Target rocks my lame ass --- they even have Hagfish.
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