A Wren Says

Target is still trying to win back customers. That means getting new perspectives. Preferably in a ski chalet or fine dining establishments in upper New York. Or so it was written.

 In a piece that came out from CNBC, spokespeople from the brand spoke of how the creative team was seeking inspiration. Sales were down because everything was too boring. They took trips to resorts for inspiration. Maybe the article was highlighting the most extravagant locations and there were more. Even still, I personally thought it was a bad look.

As we eek closer to a real bonafide recession, that excess seems out of touch. And being out of touch has been the problem. The issue wasn’t that its product selection just wasn’t luxe enough. The issue was that it wasn’t want the people wanted. To know what that is, you need to listen to the people.

To be fair, Jenny Breeden, Target’s senior vice president of product design and packaging, spoke of wanting to be at more places to meet customers, like tailgates. And as Target continues its turnaround process, I hope that they will use those moments to truly listen for things to change. And that they will pay attention to the real issues that turned shoppers away in first place. Maybe that means heading off to the French Alps, or maybe it means asking questions and being prepared for some scathing answers.