Target is one of the largest department store chains in the United States. Now, faced with strong competition, the company is forced to offer essential benefits such as next-day delivery. Target now offers free next-day delivery for regular customers on orders over $35. If you have a Target Circle 360 membership card, there is no minimum spend. This strategy seeks to boost sales, primarily in 35 cities across the country, in order to compete with the giants Walmart and Amazon, the latter an expert in express home delivery.
Target is the sixth-largest retailer in the United States, behind Walmart, The Home Depot, Costco…
According to official company data, Target already offers same-day delivery to 80% of the U.S. population and two-day shipping to 99% of the population. In a press release issued this week, Target said nine metropolitan areas in the U.S. are to be added to the retailer’s list of locations where next-day delivery is available. Target is the sixth-largest retailer in the United States, behind Walmart, The Home Depot, Kroger, Sears Holdings Corporation, and Costco. Some of the cities that will benefit from this service include Charlotte, North Carolina; Cleveland, Ohio; Kansas City, Missouri; Orlando, Florida; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; San Diego, California; St. Louis, Missouri; and Tampa, Florida.
According to Target’s official website, “Consumers get a faster new way to shop as Target expands next-day delivery for online orders to more markets. By the end of October, customers in 35 major U.S. metro areas will be able to receive next-day delivery, often for free, just in time to make holiday shopping faster and easier.” Target details that it will offer free in-store pickup and drive-up options for online purchases. “And next year, we’ll expand to even more areas as our stores-as-distribution-centers model continues to enable fast and cost-effective fulfillment,” the company’s statement reads.
This effort aligns with the company’s strategy to stay relevant and competitive in the e-commerce market
This won’t be the only change within the company, as Target plans to add 20 new metropolitan areas to its next-day delivery roster by 2026. These locations include Cincinnati, OH; Portland, OR; and Salt Lake City, UT. This effort aligns with the company’s strategy to stay relevant and competitive in the e-commerce market; remember that according to official data, Target is the third-largest music retailer in the United States.
The American department store chain was founded in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1962, and since then, the growth potential has been evident. Therefore, the changes are leading the company toward a more competitive level. As the company itself says: “We already reach 80% of the U.S. population with same-day delivery — often within two or three hours — and 99% with two-day shipping.” Amazon is one of Target’s main competitors; in fact, the company founded by Jeff Bezos currently covers more than 140 metropolitan areas in the United States. The company has increased its presence in the delivery sector, increasing the number of locations with same-day deliveries for its Prime members by more than 60% by 2024.
In eight of the last ten quarters, Target has experienced stagnant or declining comparable sales
Finally, it’s important to note that Target has faced difficult times, so this decision could be risky. In the second quarter of the year, the company reported a 21% drop in net income. Target also confirmed that Brian Cornell is to be replaced as the company’s chief executive in February, paving the way for the current chief operating officer, Michael Fiddelke. Furthermore, in eight of the last ten quarters, Target has experienced stagnant or declining comparable sales.
Ultimately, the important thing is that the changes are already here and more are coming, as the company predicts on its website: “Stay tuned for updates: We’ll continue to expand next-day delivery to over 20 additional metro areas in 2026, including Cincinnati; Portland, Oregon; and Salt Lake City.”
