Boycott begins at Target amid concerns over rising checkout costs
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As the golden years grace us with wisdom and experience, we also become more attuned to the ebb and flow of the economy and the impact it has on our daily lives.
For many of us, shopping is not just a necessity but a strategic endeavor to stretch our hard-earned dollars.
That's why the latest news from Target has caused more than just a ripple of concern among shoppers, especially those of us who have learned the value of a dollar.
The retail landscape is shifting, and Target, a beloved shopping destination for many, has found itself at the center of a storm.
A 40-day boycott has been initiated by consumers who are responding to a significant change in the company's direction, particularly its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
This comes at a time when the retail giant is already navigating the choppy waters of new tariffs and looming price hikes.
The boycott, spearheaded by Jamal Bryant, a prominent megachurch pastor from Atlanta, began as a response to Target's decision to roll back its DEI programs.
Bryant's call to action was clear and resonant, urging the community to divest from a chain that, in his words, “turned its back on our community.”
Aligning with the start of Lent, the boycott is a statement of solidarity and a push for corporate accountability.
Target's changes to its DEI programs came after President Donald Trump's executive orders aimed at dismantling federal DEI programs, which the White House claimed would “protect the civil rights of all Americans and expand individual opportunity.”
“Billions of dollars are spent annually on DEI, but rather than reducing bias and promoting inclusion, DEI creates and then amplifies prejudicial hostility and exacerbates interpersonal conflict."
While these orders did not directly impose new regulations on private companies, they did encourage compliance with anti-discrimination laws.
On January 24, Target announced it would end its program focused on supporting Black employees, customers, and businesses—a program that gained momentum after the tragic death of George Floyd in 2020.
The company also eliminated its hiring goals for minority employees and terminated an executive committee focused on racial justice.
Despite the backlash, Target has introduced a new strategy called “Belonging at the Bullseye,” which it says will continue to foster a sense of belonging for its team, guests, and communities.
"Belonging for all is an essential part of our team and culture, helping fuel consumer relevance and business results," Target expressed in the statement. They also emphasized the value of “staying in step with the evolving external landscape.”
The controversy has led to a noticeable drop in customer traffic, as reported by Placer.ai. While other factors such as weather and economic conditions may have contributed, the data indicates a clear decline following Target's step back from DEI.
The data “shows a clear drop in traffic in late January into mid-February following the company’s step back from DEI,” Joseph Feldman, an analyst at Telsey Advisory Group, said to clients through a note.
Target’s decision to scale back its DEI initiatives follows a broader trend among major corporations, including Amazon, Google, Meta, and Walmart, which have also rolled back similar policies.
However, Target has encountered the most intense criticism from DEI supporters. Shoppers have taken to social media to protest the move, while Anne and Lucy Dayton, daughters of one of Target’s co-founders, have publicly denounced it as a "betrayal."
Amidst this turmoil, Target's CEO Brian Cornell delivered a stark message that has every shopper's attention: “If there’s a 25% tariff, those prices will go up.”
This ten-word warning comes in the wake of Trump's 25% tariffs on Mexican and Canadian imports, signaling potential price increases on everyday items like strawberries, avocados, and bananas.
Source: CBS News / Youtube.
Since Target depends on produce from Mexico during the winter, Cornell believes that the tariffs could force the retailer to increase the prices of fruits and vegetables as soon as this week.
"Those are categories where we’ll try to protect pricing, but the consumer will likely see price increases over the next couple of days," Cornell told the team at CNBC.
What are your thoughts and strategies for dealing with price hikes? Share them in the comments below!
For many of us, shopping is not just a necessity but a strategic endeavor to stretch our hard-earned dollars.
That's why the latest news from Target has caused more than just a ripple of concern among shoppers, especially those of us who have learned the value of a dollar.
The retail landscape is shifting, and Target, a beloved shopping destination for many, has found itself at the center of a storm.
A 40-day boycott has been initiated by consumers who are responding to a significant change in the company's direction, particularly its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
This comes at a time when the retail giant is already navigating the choppy waters of new tariffs and looming price hikes.
A 40-day boycott of Target has begun following the company's decision to scale back its DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) initiatives. Image source: CBS News / Youtube.
The boycott, spearheaded by Jamal Bryant, a prominent megachurch pastor from Atlanta, began as a response to Target's decision to roll back its DEI programs.
Bryant's call to action was clear and resonant, urging the community to divest from a chain that, in his words, “turned its back on our community.”
Aligning with the start of Lent, the boycott is a statement of solidarity and a push for corporate accountability.
Target's changes to its DEI programs came after President Donald Trump's executive orders aimed at dismantling federal DEI programs, which the White House claimed would “protect the civil rights of all Americans and expand individual opportunity.”
“Billions of dollars are spent annually on DEI, but rather than reducing bias and promoting inclusion, DEI creates and then amplifies prejudicial hostility and exacerbates interpersonal conflict."
While these orders did not directly impose new regulations on private companies, they did encourage compliance with anti-discrimination laws.
On January 24, Target announced it would end its program focused on supporting Black employees, customers, and businesses—a program that gained momentum after the tragic death of George Floyd in 2020.
The company also eliminated its hiring goals for minority employees and terminated an executive committee focused on racial justice.
The boycott was prompted by megachurch pastor Jamal Bryant and aligns with the start of Lent. Image source: CBS News / Youtube.
Despite the backlash, Target has introduced a new strategy called “Belonging at the Bullseye,” which it says will continue to foster a sense of belonging for its team, guests, and communities.
"Belonging for all is an essential part of our team and culture, helping fuel consumer relevance and business results," Target expressed in the statement. They also emphasized the value of “staying in step with the evolving external landscape.”
The controversy has led to a noticeable drop in customer traffic, as reported by Placer.ai. While other factors such as weather and economic conditions may have contributed, the data indicates a clear decline following Target's step back from DEI.
The data “shows a clear drop in traffic in late January into mid-February following the company’s step back from DEI,” Joseph Feldman, an analyst at Telsey Advisory Group, said to clients through a note.
Target’s decision to scale back its DEI initiatives follows a broader trend among major corporations, including Amazon, Google, Meta, and Walmart, which have also rolled back similar policies.
However, Target has encountered the most intense criticism from DEI supporters. Shoppers have taken to social media to protest the move, while Anne and Lucy Dayton, daughters of one of Target’s co-founders, have publicly denounced it as a "betrayal."
Amidst this turmoil, Target's CEO Brian Cornell delivered a stark message that has every shopper's attention: “If there’s a 25% tariff, those prices will go up.”
This ten-word warning comes in the wake of Trump's 25% tariffs on Mexican and Canadian imports, signaling potential price increases on everyday items like strawberries, avocados, and bananas.
Source: CBS News / Youtube.
Since Target depends on produce from Mexico during the winter, Cornell believes that the tariffs could force the retailer to increase the prices of fruits and vegetables as soon as this week.
"Those are categories where we’ll try to protect pricing, but the consumer will likely see price increases over the next couple of days," Cornell told the team at CNBC.
What are your thoughts and strategies for dealing with price hikes? Share them in the comments below!
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