Every year Black Friday falls on the day after Thanksgiving, though that date hasn’t stopped some retailers from decking the halls before Halloween. Target, however, says it has a plan to fight “Christmas creep,” the feeling that the holidays (and holiday deals) seem to start earlier every year. Of course the retailer will have deals and sales aplenty—as they do every holiday season—but hearing the fatigue in consumers as the shopping season approaches, the company has said it will take time to celebrate Thanksgiving before fully decorating for Christmas.
“We will have meaningful promotions,” said Mark Tritton, Target’s chief merchandising officer in a briefing last week. “But priced right daily will be our regular drumbeat.”
Of course toys are the big draw, and nothing will be hotter than Star Wars and LEGO this year, two brands that Target has a lock on. The company also boasts that it will have more than 1,700 holiday products in its stores, along with $1 stocking stuffers, making it a great depot for overworked elves and parents alike.
Another way the Minneapolis, Minn.-based chain plans to make the holidays less hectic is by hiring more temporary help. The company reports it will hire 100,000 more workers this holiday season to help make in-store shopping more fluid.
But that doesn’t mean Target is ceding the web to Amazon this year. The company said it plans to go head-to-head with the e-commerce giant by offering free shipping from November 1 to December 23. Fortune also reports that an innovative new “GiftNow” option will help Target get around the awkward dance of buying someone the wrong size or color article of clothing, by sending them an “electronic gift box” for review in advance.
Will these changes result in a more relaxing holiday shopping experience? Time (and Target’s post-holiday financials) will tell. Until then, keep an eye out for the Black Friday deals, which should be announced in the coming weeks.
