Target (Australia)

Target Australia Pty Ltd is an Australian company that operates over 250-store Target department stores in its chain. It is owned by Coles Myer. They sell clothing, cosmetics, toys, homewares, electrical and electronics goods. Rights to the Target Logo and name were granted to Myer Emporium Ltd. (now Coles Myer), by the Dayton Hudson Corporation (now known as Target Corporation). Target Corporation is the worldwide trademark owner of the Target logo and name with respect to retail stores. The small difference in the name is the use of lower case letters in the name versus all upper case in the United States, and the addition of a period at the end.

History

In 1925, George Lindsay and Alex McKenzie started to launch stores across Victoria that sold dress fabrics, manchester and furnishings, with the first one in Geelong. They had a policy, (which is still used now) "Half the Profit, Twice the Turnover". By 1968, they had 14 stores across Victoria. Later that year,the-then Myer Emporium Ltd (now Coles Myer), bought it with the idea of re-inventing the chain as a "discount department store" and the company was subsequently renamed Lindsay's-Target Pty Ltd. In March 1973, it was renamed again, into, Target Australia Pty Ltd. In August 1985, the Myer Emporium Ltd and GJ Coles & Coy Ltd merged, becoming the largest Australian Corporation - Coles-Myer Ltd (see Coles Myer). In 1996, Target Australia and Fosseys merged together, and their first speciality store Baby Target was born. Then in 1998, their second speciality store, Target Home opened. All Fosseys stores were later re-named Target Country, which became the third specialty store.

In 2001 Target Australia announced its first ever loss, to the sum of $43m.New Senior management was put in place, and Target has since repositioned itself in the market from a discount department store (competing with Coles Myer stablemate Kmart and Woolworths Limited's Big W), to a stylish, value-for-money alternative to a selective store. Store fittings and layouts have been altered, and Target now competes with retailers such as Jeans West, Sportsgirl, and various other specialty stores targeted at the teenage, to early thirties market. Target's current CEO is Launa Inman, who took out the title of Telstra Business Women of the Year in 2003, a result of her achievements as an apparel retail buyer for the company. Her position saw Target's $32 million loss at the end of 2000 into a $68 million profit 18 months later.

Baby Target

Baby Target stores started appearing in 1996 as Target's first speciality store. They sell numerous baby-related products.

The concept was not as successful as Target had anticipated, and only two Baby Target stores still operate (one in Victoria the other in South Australia).

Target Country

In 1999, Fosseys stores were turned into a new type of Target Store, Target Country. Target Country stores are in rural areas and is just like a regular Target, except smaller. It is Target's third speciality store. As of 2006, there are 104 Target Country stores throughout Australia.

Departments

Target Australia stores contain the following departments:
*Ladieswear
*Menswear
*Childrenswear
*Cosmetics
*Sound (CDs, DVDs, Console Games, Cameras, Phones)
*Electrical
*Toys
*Sporting
*Browngoods
*Home Decorator
*Furniture
*Manchester

Services

Target Australia provides the following services for their customers:
* Shopping trolleys
* Layby (see Terms & Conditions below)
* Rainchecks
* Price Check Points
* Parcel Pick-Up
* Home Delivery (service fee applies)
* Inter-store Transfers (limitations apply)
* Gift cards (Target exclusive & Coles Myer Gift Cards)

Layby Terms & Conditions

* Minimum Purchase: AU$20.00
* Layby Period: Eight weeks (with fortnightly payments)
* Service Fee: AU$2.50
* Initial Deposit: 10% of total Layby cost

Motto

Target's marketing strategy employs the catch-cry "100% Happy". This is featured in-store and in advertising to the present day. Previously, the company used "We're Not Happy, Unless You Are", after "Target - for Fashion, Quality and Value".

Annual sales

Target has two major sales a year; its annual "Massive Home Sale" and the popular "Toy Sale" (which is marketed as "Australia's Biggest Toy Sale") which is always held during July. Seasonal launches such as the "Denim Nation" and "Free Fusion" campaigns for clothing are also undertaken throughout the year.

Management

Target's Head Office (HO) is located in North Geelong, Australia and homes the company's Senior Management, Administation and Buying Teams. In-store marketing techniques, such as stock merchandising and presentation are set out to guidlines from Head Office. The location holds Target's Customer Support service line which is available during in Australian business hours.

Senior Management

* Managing Director
** District Manager (assigned to a "region" of Target stores)

Store Management

* Store Manager
** Merchandise Manager or MM
** Operations Manager
*** Business Manager or BM (Ladieswear, Menswear, Childrenswear, Entertainment, Homewares)
**** Trainee Business Manager or TBM (Ladieswear, Menswear, Childrenswear, Entertainment, Homewares)
**** Register Supervisor

Pronunciation of the name

The name of the store is pronounced by some in a tongue-in-cheek manner as tah-ZHAY (IPA: ) because "French" clothing is perceived as "fashionable," although if it were actually a French name, a proper Francophone pronunciation would be tarh-ZHEH (IPA: ), with a uvular 'r' and an unaspirated 't'. This pronunciation is also common for, and most likely originated with, the American Target stores.