At Target, our partnerships with small businesses and emerging brands go far beyond the products on our shelves. Through programs like Target Takeoff, Forward Founders and Target’s In the Circle Symposium, we help entrepreneurs learn new skills, make connections and build the confidence they need to grow. We also work closely with the many suppliers who support Target’s day‑to‑day operations — from guest research to construction — because when they thrive, our whole business does, too.
Suppliers play a big role in helping Target serve guests every day, and making sure they have the support they need has been a priority for us. Since 1998 our supplier engagement team has helped small and diverse suppliers understand how to work with a large retailer and prepare for such opportunities, all while building the kind of long-term relationships that make a lasting impact. It’s all about helping great businesses succeed while strengthening the communities we serve.
Here are two examples of what that looks like in action:
Supplier spotlight: Southpaw Insights
Founded by Jessica Broome, PhD, in Brooklyn, New York, Southpaw Insights is a certified woman- and disability-owned small business enterprise. After meeting Jessica at an entrepreneurial event, our supplier engagement team helped open the door to a pilot project — and that work grew into a broader partnership where Southpaw supported Target teams with research and analytics. Southpaw’s expertise and fresh perspective helped us better understand our guests.
We’re expected to do excellent work, but we’re also treated like true experts and thought partners in the process. That combination has shaped our experience in a really meaningful way.
As the partnership grew, Target helped elevate Southpaw through more visibility and support, including sponsorship for the brand at the 2025 Disability:IN Conference. Southpaw says the experience helped build credibility and spark new business conversations, building momentum beyond the event. Jessica also shared her expertise as a speaker at Target’s In the Circle Symposium and Women-owned in Retail event.
Supplier spotlight: Taylor Brothers Construction
Our long-term partnership with Taylor Brothers Construction, a certified Black-owned business, shows what steady collaboration can make possible. The relationship began in 2004, when Taylor Brothers managed construction for a Target store project in Columbus, Ind. Since then, Taylor Brothers has supported more than 1,000 Target projects across the country, ranging from new stores and remodels to special projects and distribution centers. More than 20 years later, Target’s supplier engagement team and Taylor Brothers continue to work closely together, including partnering to help and educate other suppliers.
What truly sets Target apart is the combination of operations and a people-first culture. For over 20 years, we’ve experienced a partnership built on clarity, trust and mutual respect.
The impact extends beyond the build. Taylor Brothers is also a strategic partner in Target’s ConstructReach initiatives, supporting efforts to make construction a more accessible and desirable career path. Through ConstructReach, more than 100 people nationwide have chosen construction as an alternative to college, helping strengthen the industry’s future workforce.
The bigger picture
Behind every guest experience at Target is a network of suppliers who bring expertise, reliability and fresh thinking. By building relationships that last, Target helps small businesses succeed while strengthening how we operate.
Want to learn more?
Visit our Suppliers page to learn about Target’s supplier standards and find out how to connect, whether you’re interested in selling products, providing services or non-retail goods, or exploring Target Plus.
