cnbc: Target’s sloppier stores are wearing on shoppers, and its turnaround could hinge on cleaning them up

[Not My Name]

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/11/06/target-store-delivery-pickup-ceo-michael-fiddelke.html

In my opinion, the writing has been on the wall for 17 years.

It's not impossible to come back but Target needs to stop trying to be an online store and B&M with no extra payroll. "Omnichannel" is literal fucking garbage when you offer no extra staffing, and instead actually reduce overall staffing as a result of not excelling at either thing. This is a literal guaranteed death for the company.

It's not too late to focus on stores, staff them and let Target be Target.

But as I've said before, it probably is. No major shareholders are going to tolerate increased payroll expenses even if the long term result is increased sales and increased profitability. They just want profits now and that's it. gg.

 

[balthrop]

We are going to be zoning more and leaving the pulls to rise to such high numbers that the floor will be empty but easier to zone. Perfection.

Well except for OPUs they’ll be INFd to new highs but the floor will be zoned.

 

[flow4areasonuno]

Front end is constantly getting screwed over because they take our people to do OPU and DU. Which means floor people get called for backup all the time. But then we see managers doing grunt work and fulfillment, etc, and I'm like. Wow. Things really ARE bad.

 

[The Dude Abides]

The MBA-ification of businesses always ends in disaster.

 

[dannyy315]

I wish I can say I’m surprised. The Kmartification is in full swing.

 

[redeye58]

Cutting payroll has always been the quick fix but doing it during Q4 is a recipe for disaster.
Target's credo tho: Expect more, pay less.

 

[Ringwraith917]

I'm hoping this means we never get SFS or at least not in the foreseeable future at my store. We've been "supposed to get it" for quite a while

 

[Greenandred]

The major problem is team members are constantly getting pulled to do OPU’s which means leaving vehicles undone and shelves not filled. In market, where I work, this happens daily.

 

[BKop16]

The major problem is team members are constantly getting pulled to do OPU’s which means leaving vehicles undone and shelves not filled. In market, where I work, this happens daily.

It also means most of the TMs on the floor aren't in a position to stop and help guests when they ask.

 

[Him]

staff them and let Target be Target.

This is key 🔑 for the future of Target 🎯. Any store worldwide will flourish if it is just staffed with the right people in the right places. Period.

 

[FlowTeamChick]

After reading the article, I'm not hopeful. Saturday should be a pretty busy shopping day and all the carts were gone from the front when I left for the day. But it sure didn't seem like the store was full of guests.

 

[flow4areasonuno]

I'm so glad Black Friday is dead. I've got a pretty normal shift that day that's only an hour off what I would usually work

 

[FlowTeamChick]

Also glad Black Friday is dead - I often think at this time of year that it's maybe the one good thing that came out of Covid. My shift starts 3 hours earlier than usual, but that's okay. I'm done before noon.

 

[boobooduck]

For once, the article used the right adjective 'sloppy' stores. We have been saying it, let's hope Corporate internalizes it. Although vet employee here, I'll believe it when I see it.

 

[pogfrog]

This is key 🔑 for the future of Target 🎯. Any store worldwide will flourish if it is just staffed with the right people in the right places. Period.

Leadership needs to know how to use their talent. SD that coddle inbound have a party atmosphere and these folks chatter all morning as soon as they push to the floor and leave most of the boats for whoever comes in to close.
We have a fella who transferred in a 5 year vet with global capabilities and they stuck him behind a register/ carts. He’s not considered a cool kid.. the kids , literally, who flirt and flounder around with nothing in their hands most of the night , take breaks together so no one’s on the floor … no consequences. Zone at the end of the night is embarrassing.

 

[Him]

Leadership needs to know how to use their talent. SD that coddle inbound have a party atmosphere and these folks chatter all morning as soon as they push to the floor and leave most of the boats for whoever comes in to close.
We have a fella who transferred in a 5 year vet with global capabilities and they stuck him behind a register/ carts. He’s not considered a cool kid.. the kids , literally, who flirt and flounder around with nothing in their hands most of the night , take breaks together so no one’s on the floor … no consequences. Zone at the end of the night is embarrassing.

In instances such as what you described, One Leader can’t do it alone. Nothing worse than one leader holding poor performing team members accountable and the others letting them slide. Everyone suffers. Guests, other members and other shifts. Nothing makes people more angry than to complete a task only to come BACK to it along with more 💩. If that store 🏬 is to get better, everyone needs to be on board and WANT to do good. Each shift hold their people accountable. If done right, the team will even buy in and coach themselves. I’ve worked for several stores 🏬 and when done right and everyone works together, people actually WANT to come to work. It’s truly amazing One Team One Dream looks.

 

[FlowTeamChick]

For once, the article used the right adjective 'sloppy' stores. We have been saying it, let's hope Corporate internalizes it. Although vet employee here, I'll believe it when I see it.

"Sloppy" is exactly right. It's not dirty or disorganized so much as just sloppy. Which I tend to be at home, but I sure don't like shopping at a store that's a mess.
And once the slide into sloppiness starts, it gets harder every day to clean things up.

As for accountability, it's been a problem at my store since forever. I've learned to just keep my head down, work my shift, leave. I don't get paid enough to feel responsible for the whole store.

 

[Kvothe]

You say "sloppy." I say "steaming pile of garbage."