Target to Streamline Operations
At a meeting for the investor community on Wednesday, Target presented strategies that the retailer says will transform its business.
“Following a thorough, strategic review of our business, coupled with a careful evaluation of the changing retail landscape, we have identified the key initiatives that will put Target on a clear path to growth,” said Brian Cornell, Target’s chairman and CEO. “We’re focused on our future and building the capabilities that will take us further, faster. Redefining Target will require a renewed emphasis on prioritization and innovation, and above all else, putting our guests first in everything we do.”
Target plans to make the following changes:
• Continued enhancements in technology, supply chain, and inventory management. This will help spur Target’s continued annual growth in digital channel sales of 40 percent, as well as contribute to a total projected sales growth of 2 to 3 percent and comparable sales growth of 1.5 to 2.5 percent in 2015. Target says that guests who shop Target in store and online generate three times the sales compared to guests who shop in stores only.
• Style, Baby, Kids, and Wellness are being prioritized. In 2014, these four categories accounted for more than a quarter of Target’s sales. Other categories, including Grocery, are being repositioned to deliver a more appealing shopping experience.
• Target will tailor its assortment to offer more locally relevant products, with demographics, climate, location, and other guest-led factors driving merchandising decisions. Target will strengthen its data and analytics and technology capabilities to deliver more personalized digital experiences, loyalty programs, and promotional offers.
• New locations will focus on flexible formats like TargetExpress and CityTarget, which cater to rapidly-growing, dense urban areas. Throughout 2015, the retailer will open eight TargetExpress locations across the country.
Cost savings of $2 billion over the next two years will fuel Target’s growth and drive profitability. These savings will be realized through operations, technology, and process improvements; supply chain and sourcing efficiencies; and corporate restructuring. The restructuring will be concentrated at Target’s headquarters. Target says it plans to eliminate several thousand positions over the next two years.
All-American Makers Casting Call for Toy Inventors
The Science Channel’s new TV series All-American Makers is currently casting season two. The series is looking for toy inventors and start-up companies with products that need help coming to market.
The toy industry’s Matt Nuccio of Design Edge is an acting consultant and on-air personality for All-American Makers. He has been given the task of searching the toy industry to find the right products for the series. These products will be analyzed closely on international television as cast members compete for a venture capitalist to invest in their idea. If you would like more information or have a patented idea to submit, visit www.marcportney.com. Make sure to mention “Matt Nuccio” in your description.
ToyBacker.com Launches to Serve Toy Industry
ToyBacker.com is the first crowd-funding website dedicated solely to the toy industry. The company says the site will serve as a hub for toy innovators to share their ideas, gather funding, and bring their products to fruition with the financial support of the consumer. The site launched at the end of January.
“As crowd funding companies like Kickstarter and Indiegogo have benchmarked thousands of fully funded projects, from 3-D printers to nationally distributed feature films such as Veronica Mars, we recognized the need for toy innovators to own their own [forum],” said Carlos Lopez, co-founder of ToyBacker. “As an veteran licensor, fan of toys, and supporter of other Kickstarter projects, I am excited for Toybacker.com to convene innovators and hopefully catapult great ideas.”
Toybacker.com’s crowd-funded, two-tier platform will allow ideas to be developed through direct consumer support. It will also offer any campaigner that gets fully funded the option to have Toy Backer act as direct agents. They will be able to facilitate placement to a sponsoring toy or licensed product company.
Lopez is an industry veteran who has worked with companies such as Marvel, Disney, Nickelodeon, LEGO, and Li & Fung. ToyBacker’s CCO and co-founder, Jason Reilley brings design experience having worked with companies like Revlon, Fab Starpoint, and others since 1994.
ToyBacker says it has support from vendor partners in Hong Kong. The company is now accepting campaign and contributor submissions online.
The NFL’s Kids’ Top 25 Player Sales List
The NFL Players, Inc., (NFLPI) released its Kids’ Top 25 Player Sales List and the Seattle Seahawks’ quarterback Russell Wilson led the pack. The kids-themed list is based on total sales of NFLPI-licensed children’s products from September 1–November 30, 2014. Peyton Manning, Colin Kaepernick, Aaron Rodgers, and Richard Sherman round out the top-five best sellers.
The kids’ list is compiled from the subset of children’s product categories within the NFLPI’s Top 50 quarterly player sales rankings and includes licensees such as Bleacher Creatures, Outerstuff, and Oyo Sports. Here is the NFLPI Top 25 Player Toy Sales Rankings:
1. Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks
2. Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos
3. Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco 49ers
4. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
5. Richard Sherman, Seattle Seahawks
6. Tom Brady, New England Patriots
7. J.J. Watt, Houston Texans
8. Marshawn Lynch, Seattle Seahawks
9. LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia Eagles
10. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints
11. Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts
12. Brandon Marshall, Chicago Bears
13. Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens
14. Johnny Manziel, Cleveland Browns
15. Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers
16. Matt Forte, Chicago Bears
17. Eli Manning, New York Giants
18. Robert Griffin III, Washington Redskins
19. Clay Matthews, Green Bay Packers
20. Jordy Nelson, Green Bay Packers
21. Victor Cruz, New York Giants
22. Nick Foles, Philadelphia Eagles
23. Demaryius Thomas, Denver Broncos
24. Teddy Bridgewater, Minnesota Vikings
25. Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions
Trending on TTPM: Games
TTPM is showcasing what’s trending in each specific product category. Today it’s Games. This trending list is determined by consumers. It’s the number of page views for that item in the previous 30 days and is updated every 24 hours.