Oh what a night! Oh what planning! Oh what fun! Millions of guests have already turned out for Target’s biggest shopping event of the year, celebrating the long-awaited start of the holiday shopping season with family and friends, and scooping up hot doorbuster deals in stores and online. And our team has played excellent host—making sure those guests had the best experience possible. We even got to ring the bell Friday morning at the New York Stock Exchange. Here’s a peek at what’s been happening over the last 48 hours.
Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 23
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With less than two days to go, Target teams across the country are busy getting millions of products ready and making sure their stores look terrific for the crowds of guests on the way. And keeping with tradition, many of our teams take part in fun festivities of their own. Like the team from our Dadeland Station store in Miami, who took a quick break to film their take on the latest internet craze, the #MannequinChallenge.
Thursday morning, Nov. 24
It's all hands on deck as we preview some of our Black Friday deals on Wednesday, seeing our biggest uptick in Cartwheel users. Our tech teams continue to monitor the site, and it ends up being a record-breaking sales day for Target.com.
Thursday evening, Nov. 24
As opening time approaches on the East Coast, Target CEO Brian Cornell and Chief Merchandising Officer Mark Tritton huddle up with the team at our Jersey City, N.J., store. Then, as the clock hits 6 p.m., the doors open and the first guests come pouring in. It’s on!
Throughout the evening, more of our stores across the country open their doors, welcoming millions of excited guests on their way to score major deals. Among the great offers is 30% off apparel and accessories with an additional 15% savings via Cartwheel.
As Jersey City guests get their shop on, Brian gives NBC’s Jo Ling Kent an update on how Target’s event is shaping up for a segment on the TODAY show airing Friday morning. (Check it out here.)
The bears are back! Our doorbuster favorite from last year is a hit once again, and guests line up to get their paws on one before they’re all gone. In fact, even though we increased inventory by 20 percent this year, they're still gone in minutes.
The line outside a Dallas Target store is wrapped around the block. Inside, the Starbucks crew keeps guests in the coffee as they shop.
Our team members are ready with packages and smiles as guests stop in to pick up online purchases via Order Pickup—this is the first year Target offered the service during our Black Friday event.
As guests shop, team members at every store—like Vivianne from our Eagle Rock, Calif., assets protection team—keep an eye out to make sure things stay safe.
On line in Chicago, three guests pose for a pic on @TargetNews for the second year in a row, and they show us their tweet from last year—now a fond memory. Later, they show us their massive Target haul that needs two carts to carry. (Nice work! Meet back here again next year?)
Friday morning, Nov. 25
Up and at ‘em! After the long night of shopping fun, Brian and Mark join Bullseye the dog, CFO Cathy Smith, Chief Legal Officer Don Liu, store team members and families bright and early to ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange.
And the deals just keep coming! All day today and throughout the next week, visit our stores and Target.com for more of our hottest deals of the year, and plenty of fun. Want an early look at how the results are shaping up? Check out the press release, and follow along at A Bullseye View for the latest holiday news and updates.
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