I am a thirty-something white female, which means I spend at least $50 per Target visit as demanded in our rule book. (What’s that? There is no rule book? Well, this law is written somewhere!) I appreciate a good bargain as much as the next girl, but I do like to shop at local boutiques whenever possible. Enter The Shops at Target and my internal debate.
First, a little description for those of you that haven’t witnessed it yet…
I visited my local Target on a Friday afternoon and found two “shops” – Cos Bar and Privet House. By “shops” I mean end caps decorated with signage hanging from the ceiling. Typical Target signage and set-ups were all around. The displays were relatively picked over, but the items that were left looked like they belonged in a Target – totally unnecessary, but adorable and begging to come home with me. Personally, it felt like they took generic Target items, added a new name on them and charged a bit more. Prices were still cheaper than your local boutique, but more costly than other in-store options.
A brief moment of research doesn’t allow me to compare prices from Target and the stores’ company web sites, but it does look like nothing sold at Target is sold in their own stores.
Does this concept take away from the boutique concept? On one hand, it is introducing the individuality of boutique pieces to the general masses. On the other hand, how custom made can anything be that’s created for hundreds of stores? I wonder how much of sales are going back to the shop owners. How much did they have to spend to manufacture enough product to fulfill this order? Is it OK to call it a boutique even if it isn’t local to our area? Does the PR pay off? I know I want to check out these stores if I’m ever in the area, but when will I be in their area?? Readers, what are your thoughts on the issue?
Personally, I shall continue to buy my toilet paper and Alba face soap at Target and my sofa pillows and purses at local favorites. Props for giving it a try though, Target.
