Sami Hayek for Target

Target somehow keeps finding space for a steady stream of new designers. One of them, Sami Hayek, is doing some beautiful things in home furnishings. But what really catches the eye are some of his small-space pieces designed to streamline clutter. "My new collection at Target reflects my core design beliefs, which include structure, humor and a commitment to sustainable design," says Hayek. This clever lamp (pictured, at $29.99) sums it all up nicely, with a base designed to de-clutter desks of paper clips, rubber bands and other doodads. A desk (at $149.99) tops the price list and is sized about right for a small apartment or studio, and at the low end of the line is a mini-composition book (at just 99 cents). Hayek’s bedding collection is already available on Target’s website and the rest of the collection should be hitting stores soon. And yes, in case anyone was wondering: Sami Hayek IS the brother of actress Salma Hayek.

Bring on the bright whites

Nothing screams summer quite like a pair of crisp, white jeans. They speak of barbecues, sandals, fresh-squeezed lemonade and long lazy weekends. And now that Memorial Day is behind us, you can finally wear your stark whites, right? Well, just so we’re clear: the old “no-white-after-Labor-Day-and-before-Memorial-Day axiom” is about as passe as a $3 gallon of gas. It got tossed out about the time that those fickle fashion folks made a rule that there would be no rules. So go ahead, work those white jeans. And save some cash while you’re at it; the Converse One Star jeans (the pair on the right) are cuter, IMO, and are about 1/4 the price of the others shown.


At left: Madewell’s rail-straight jeans, $110 at www.madewell1937.com.
And at right: Converse One Star cropped denim, $27 at select Target stores nationwide and at www.target.com.

Update: Chai for Target confirmed

To pick up from my post from last week, it’s been confirmed by StyleDash that first, Richard Chai’s Go International collection will debut at Target in August, and then Jonathan Saunders’ line will follow around October. I would assume that’s the final roster for desiger offerings this calendar year… unless Target tries to squeeze in one more brand name for a holiday collection.

Wednesday’s Rave: Isaac Mizrahi Bridal

A few weeks ago I blogged about a lovely wedding dress by Isaac Mizrahi I had found online by accident. That led me to further check out the bridal collection by Isaac Mizrahi for Target, and I’ve got to tell you, they have some beautiful offerings. I am especially loving this cowl-neck silk gown (shown) that is very reminiscent of the one Carolyn Bessette wore at her wedding to JFK Jr. back in the early 1990’s. It looks like Isaac has a whole line of bridal gowns, bridesmaid dresses, veils, shoes, wraps and handbags to choose from. Sure the cuts are classic, and the colors are fairly limited, but for the June bride-to-be on a budget, Isaac’s bridal line is a great option.

Tuesday’s Rant: Mixing Clarins and Clearasil at Target

On Tuesdays I take the opportunity to rant about something I do NOT like (or understand) about Target …because although I love them to death, they ain’t perfect. Today’s rant is about Target’s selling strategy in the Beauty Aisle. Now with the economy the way it is, it’s no surprise that Target’s sales are slipping a bit. All signs are showing that American consumers are trying to be responsible with their money in the slowing economic environment, cutting back on frivolous vanity items in lieu of necessities. That said, I’m trying to figure out why, then, is Target aiming for an even HIGHER demographic in their beauty aisle these days? First they dabbled in high-end haircare products, adding luxury brands like Aveda and Sebastian to the shampoo shelves. Then they started selling their own version of the Bare Escentuals makeup kit, which usually retails for upwards of $60 at fine retailers like Sephora. But now Target – at least my local outpost – has gone so far as to offer “Professional Skincare”. This so-called section is selling department store brands like Origins, Clarins, and even StriVectin (at a whopping $135 a tube!). Keep in mind, Target is not discounting these products; I looked up several retail prices and Target’s pricing is in line with other retailers. Which has me asking, what’s the point? They cannot offer ALL the products in a niche line; a quick glance at this section showed just a smattering of the many products that Origins offers. So is this going to be viewed as a “plus” to the richer demographic, who can now pick up select luxe skincare products at the same place they buy their toilet paper and cat food? Or is this simply going to frustrate patrons of those luxe lines who cannot find their favorite product (and if they do, find it at the exact same price as at Macy’s).

Target should stick to selling Clearasil, Cetaphil, and other drugstore brands, with the occasional offering of Boots (the UK brand), Soap & Glory (the budget collection from Bliss Spa) and other niche, wallet-friendly lines. Forget trying to compete with Sephora, Target; it’s only going to confuse your customers.

Monica Botkier for Target

Target has spilled the beans about whom they’ve tapped for their next handbag line. Monica Botkier, best known for her tough, motorcycle inspired bags (pictured) will be the next renowned designer launching a limited-edition capsule collection for the mass retailer. The Botkier for Target collection will be available at select Target stores nationwide and at Target.com July 21 through Sept. 14, 2008, which means it will follow the hideous Joy Gryson for Target collection currently available in stores. Let’s just hope that it’s better than the Gryson offerings. Then again, I was hoping that Gyson would be better than the Loeffler-Randall line…..and that didn’t happen. But hopefully my luck (and Target’s designer bags) have improved since then.

Pick of the Week

It's pick of the week time: each Sunday I pick one great buy from Target's Weekly Ad and highlight it on my blog. Today's pick is something that caused me to do a double-take. To be honest, this pic is not from the Weekly Ad. But it could be, because I'm having a really hard time telling the difference between these Victoria's Secret PINK Brand boardshorts (pictured, at $32.50 regular price) and the Mossimo ones from Target (on sale for $12 this week). I know these shorts well: my Pilates instructor wears them all the time....the pricier Victoria's Secret ones, I mean. So when I see her later on this week, I'm going to be sure to tell her about these just-as-cute (but at a fraction of the price!) shorts at Target.

Mossimo Supply Co. Shorts, sizes XS-XXL: on sale for $12 this week at Target.

Life’s a Beach

This fun article on beach-house style inspired me to show off this beautiful, breezy collection from Victoria Hagan in cool blue-and-white summer hues. Check out the stunning coral figural in the middle, which looks like something out of the Pottery Barn catalog (at half the cost). Prices below, all well under $100, and all available at Target.

Top Row, from left:
Hamptons Graphic Pillow - $29.99
Marianne Lamp - $41.99
Cable Knit Throw - $34.99

Middle Row, from left:
Newport Table - $69.99
Faux Coral - $24.99
Delft Floral Ball Fillers - 3 for $9.09
Bar Harbor Ceramic Balls - 3 for $12.99

Bottom Row, from left:
Bandana Accent Pillow - $16.99
Claudia Vase - $13.99
Cape Side Table - $79.99

Target Donates $500,000 to China Earthquake Victims

Target Corporation has donated a total of $500,000 to support the earthquake recovery efforts in Central China.

Donations of $250,000 were made to both the Red Cross Society of China to aid in basic relief efforts and to Save the Children to provide assistance to affected areas with a focus on providing emergency education and safe spaces for children.

“We extend our heartfelt sympathies to all the communities affected by the earthquake and our appreciation to all those who are assisting with relief efforts,” said Laysha Ward, vice president, Community Relations, Target.

Rogan ain't the only organic at Target

Lest you think that Rogan Gregory’s much publicized eco-friendly line is the only organic offering at Target, allow me to correct you. Target is also carrying this fun line of men’s t-shirts made from organic materials. And as an added bonus, the majority of the shirts feature prints or wording that help further the cause: ideas of Earth, peace, nature and wildlife, and basically all things green.

Question Answered: Jonathan Saunders for Target

At least I got one question answered from my last post. Confirming rumors that have been swirling for months, Target's finally officially announced that Jonathan Saunders will be one of the next Go International designers. From the press release: "Saunders will launch an exclusive collection available at most Target stores nationwide and online at Target.com/go. The collection of women's fashion will launch in early October and be available throughout the month."

Chai for Target: Fact, or Fiction?

Can anyone confirm the rumor of Richard Chai designing for Target? Several reports on the blogosphere have announced that Richard Chai will be the twelfth installment of their popular Go International collection, but I haven’t heard confirmation of that fact yet. Chai has an impressive background: he worked at TSE Cashmere, and also helped launch Marc by Marc Jacobs. He was also the Ecco Domani Fashion Foundation winner and launched his own eponymous line in 2004. His limited edition women’s line for Target was rumored to be released in early August.

Which begs another question: when exactly, then, will the Jonathan Saunders for Target collection be released? [as was reported by WWD way back in January].

Bring on the fugly fashions…

Target has just released images of their second Go International Private Label collection (all designed in-house). The brightly-colored, floral-print-intensive line is supposed to help tide customers over once the current Rogan line sells out and until the next big-name collaboration hits stores. Last time around, I was completely underwhelmed with the Private Label offerings... and if the cheap fabrics, odd color-combinations, and strange construction issues continue, this one will be no different. I mean, just look at this example: the shorts look totally boring and standard issue, like you got them at Old Navy. And the boxy top looks like it was made out of great-grandma’s apron. No thanks, I’ll pass.

Wednesday's Rave: Lume Luxe

I've just discovered Target's own line of high-end fragrant candles called Lume Luxe, and let me tell you, they smell amazing! They come in exotic names like Tuscany, Morocco, Provence (lavender-based) and Santorini (described as “Sea salt and ocean”; to me, it seems to have a lot of green and blue notes to it). As a bonus, these gorgeous candles (housed in glass jars) come beautifully boxed in display-worthy packaging. I wish I could find a pic to show you, but Target doesn’t seem to carry the Lume Luxe line on their web site. [Lume Luxe is very similar to the Jo Malone line, so I’ve posted a picture of her candles here instead].

But the real reason that I’m raving about Lume Luxe this week is because they’re currently on clearance for 30% off! So catch them while you can, because I’m not sure whether Target will re-introduce these with new/difference fragrances or just clear them out permanently. I plan to go back and buy several more both for myself and to give away as hostess gifts.

Tiger-taunter charged with shoplifting Target

The younger of two brothers who survived the Christmas Day tiger attack at the San Francisco Zoo was charged today with five felony counts of shoplifting video-game equipment from Target stores in the East Bay.

Paul Dhaliwal, 19, was arrested March 27 by San Leandro police after a security guard at the Target at the Bayfair Center mall saw him hiding two Nintendo Wii controllers in his pants, police Lt. Tom Overton said. An investigation led police to conclude that Dhaliwal stole similar equipment from a Target store in Livermore back on March 24 and from the chain's Hayward store March 25 and again March 27, Overton said.

Dhaliwal was charged with three counts of commercial burglary and two counts of grand theft in connection with the incidents. In the San Leandro incident, store security guard Michael Marucut told authorities that he saw Dhaliwal stuff the controllers down his pants and followed him as he walked past the cash registers, a police report said. Dhaliwal "was uncooperative and immediately began to resist" when Marucut and other security guards confronted him outside. The San Leandro incident happened the same day Dhaliwal and his brother Kulbir Dhaliwal, 24, filed a claim against the city of San Francisco, seeking unspecified monetary damages in connection with the tiger attack. The city has since denied the claim, paving the way for an expected lawsuit. The Dhaliwals contend that they suffered serious injuries and emotional harm when a 243-pound Siberian tiger named Tatiana escaped its enclosure and mauled them near closing time at the zoo Dec. 25. The tiger killed Paul Dhaliwal's close friend Carlos Sousa Jr., 17, of San Jose before police shot and killed the animal.

You can read the rest of the store here but the bottom line is this: this punk kid (and his friends) taunted the poor lion, Tatiana, causing her to defend herself, which unfortunately led to the death of one of the youths. The SFPD has already led a full investigation, and has proof of this. And this story is just further evidence that this kid is a delinquent and deserves to be thrown in jail.

Tuesday's Rant: Target's misguided lawsuit

Today’s rant is gleaned from this article from CNN about transforming trash into fashion treasures. Overall, this is an innovative – and eco-friendly – idea. Unfortunately, Target didn’t see it that way when the company Tinbuk2 used a recycled Target bag on one of their totes. Target sent Timbuk2 a “cease and desist” letter last September when they discovered that some of their Lamitron bags contained the Target’s bull's-eye design.

"We encourage and promote recycling efforts, including ones that use our recycled bags," said Target in a written statement to CNN. "However, in this particular case we believed that the prominent use of our bull's-eye design mark implied a sponsorship or affiliation with Timbuk2 that did not exist at that time." Target said Timbuk2 has cooperated.

So Timbuk2 scrambled to identify and remove the offending bags from its limited collection of prototypes. Perry Klebahn, Timbuk2's CEO, acknowledges that Target wasn't technically wrong. "The onus was on us to talk to Target and get them to say OK, in this particular case, to grant us a license. If we really are going to make use of this, we should be responsible as the manufacturer."

But I say, shame on Target in this case. Sure, it’s a company’s responsibility (and right) to protect it’s logomark in order to not dilute their brand. But when a company is using it in such an honorable and ecologically sound way, they could certainly bend the rules, or at least be flexible. This is not the first time I’ve heard of Target taking extreme measures (like litigation) to protect their brand integrity. However, in my opinion, Target is taking itself a little too seriously here. C’mon, Bullseye... lighten up a bit!

Target Taps “Bizarre Foods” Host

Target is partnering with food personality Andrew Zimmern, host of the Travel Channel's Bizarre Foods show, for its SuperTarget Meal Adventure Guide.

The guide will be a series of recipes and meal ideas provided by Zimmern. It will incorporate products from Target's private label brand, Archer Farms, which includes some 2,000 products across a variety of categories. Additionally, the guide will feature recipes that use other ingredients stocked at SuperTarget deli, dairy, organic produce and bakery departments.

"Andrew will show our guests how to combine the fresh, flavorful food found at SuperTarget to bring unique meals to the dinner table," Greg Dupler, svp-merchandising at Target, Minneapolis, said in a statement. "With his expertise our guests will now have the opportunity to try new recipes that they may not have thought of before."

Zimmern's recipes will begin appearing on cards in SuperTarget stores in July, and will also be available online at Target.com.

No Raves for Rogan

After blogging about it incessantly, I was finally able to view (in store, and in person) the highly anticipated Rogan Gregory Go International line, which debuted at Target today. And I hate to say it, but my feelings are mixed. On the positive side: the line seems to be well thought out, well-constructed, and the most cohesive Go International line since Patrick Robinson’s collection from last summer. You can tell that Rogan spent time planning out and creating this collection, and that he had fun bringing his eco-wear to the masses. However, these are hardly clothes one can actually wear, unless you are A) a teenager, or B) a size zero starlet (which is probably why the Hollywood set went ga-ga over his collection last week).

While I love the look of the clothes, they are for a select (and skinny) few. Take a look at the swimsuit offerings; even by swimwear standards these suits are skimpy. Then there’s the shorts, which look more like hotpants from the 1960’s. And the few pieces I’d actually wear, like this slouchy sweater or drapy blouse are made of materials so translucent that there’s no way you can wear them without a cami underneath (which, given the beauty of the fabrics, takes away from the overall look).

And then there’s this dress (pictured) which looks NOTHING like this in real life. First off, it’s longer than mini-length (which is not such a bad thing) but it doesn’t have cap sleeves – it’s actually sleeveless. Buyers beware if you’re buying this dress online, sight unseen.

I wanted to love Rogan, really I did. But I don't. All I can say is that if you’re really young and really thin, go for it. The rest of us will have to wait for Target to come up with designer offerings that appeal to a wider audience.

Pick of the Week

It's pick of the week time: each Sunday I pick one great buy from Target's Weekly Ad and highlight it here on my blog. Today's pick is weather-generated.... because baby, it's HOT outside! [at least here in sunny California, where it's been in the triple digits for 4 straight days]. This week Target has a nice selection of tower and box fans on sale -- from brand names like Holmes and Honeywell -- at 10-20% off. At this price, you can practically afford a fan for every room... which believe me, you'll need this summer if you aren't fortunate to have air conditioning!

Tower and box fans (by various makers) starting at $10.99, on sale this week at Target.

CSI Target

Did you know that Target has its own crime lab??

Target Forensic Services is a crime lab as sophisticated as any run by a police force. But this one happens to be owned by a retail chain. The $63 billion (in revenues) company got into forensics as a way to combat shoplifting and such crimes but has taken its skills far beyond the department store. Its seven-person team of investigators, most of them former law enforcement officials, spend 70% of their time fighting theft, fraud and personal injury cases involving Target's 1,600 stores. But the lab is also frequently tapped by city, state and federal law-enforcement agencies, including the Los Angeles Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, to solve big cases.

Target installed cameras in most of its stores in the 1980s, but that wasn't enough to really make a dent in store thefts. "We had a volume of evidence from our cameras but no expertise," says Fredrick Lautenbach, the retailer's crime lab manager. He says the company also didn't want to rely on overburdened police departments to help it solve problems with theft. So in 2003 the company created its own lab, and now much of their equipment is similar to what you find in government crime labs. But, says Craig Thrane, a video analyst for the retailer, "Target investigators can work more quickly."

And Kate hearts Target, too!

The runway-ready "Underworld" star Kate Beckinsale and director/hubby Len Wiseman stocked up on kids' gifts at Target a few months back -- filling up two cartfuls full of treats!

Jennie Garth hearts Target

While this isn’t the most flattering shot, here’s a pic of actress Jennie Garth and her middle daughter Lola Ray (age 5) leaving a Target store in Los Angeles last month. Dad is actor Peter Facinelli, and in addition to Lola, they also have two other daughters. Looks like mother and daughter “heart” Target as much as I do!

It was recently announced that Jennie will reprise her role as Kelly Taylor and join the new Beverly Hills, 90210 spin-off on the CW network. While she won't be a regular cast member, she will have a re-occurring role as a guidance counselor at her alma mater, Beverly Hills High. Garth, 36, was most recently seen on the previous season of Dancing with the Stars.

Express follows Target’s lead

Express has become the latest store to hook up with a designer - following the Target model – by introducing the Celia Birtwell collection of flowing blouses and boho dresses. Birtwell is an English textile artist who designed many of the groovy prints and patterns her onetime husband, Ossie Clark, used to dress shagadelic celebs from the '60s and '70s. Pictured here are some of her original sketches from 1969.

Birtwell’s line - made entirely of silk - includes six blouses and three dresses, and will be priced higher than much of the other offerings found at Express. For example, Birtwell dresses are $129, whereas the store's other dress options tend to be in the $70-$80 range.

Wednesday's Rave: Target's College 08

I probably have "college on the brain" because my nephew is excitedly anticipating going off to school in the Fall and that's all I hear about from him these days. So when it comes time for him to stock his dorm room, I'm definitely going to steer him towards Target's College 08 section called "Life Lessons" on Target.com. It's full of great tips like 'how to use electricity safely' (hint: surge protectors) and 'how to live with a tiny closet' (being a clotheshorse, that'll be a hard one for him). The site also has handy checklists on what you need to properly outfit your dorm room. Right now, we just have the site to look at, but as it grows closer to back-to-school time, Target will mail out their annual College catalog. Last year's theme was "Brave new Dorm" (pictured). And even though it's been an awfully l o n g time since I was in college, I always enjoy browsing the catalog, as they usually offer affordable versions of more trendier furnishings.

Rogan Gregory. For Target. On eBay.

With all the fuss over Rogan Gregory’s Go International collection for Target, I started wondering today if the limited edition offerings that debuted at Barney’s last week had made it to eBay yet. And sure enough, it has; click here for a smattering of shirts, tanks and totes (complete with exorbitant shipping costs).

Tuesday's Rant: Discuss among yourselves...

I don’t have a particular rant this week… but the folks over at Slave to Target do. Check out their post on what they WISH Target would carry (but don’t) and feel free to weigh in on the discussion.

Everything’s coming up roses... and daisies, and pansies, and tulips

Floral motifs are a huge trend this season, and you'll find all sorts of pretty posies on everything from furniture and frocks to shoes and shoulder bags. For example: how cheery is this paper embellished with a festive red flower? It's part of Target's new collection of paper products, photo albums, notebooks and scrapbooks from artist Ayomi Yoshida, who specializes in printmaking. This boxed set is $8.99, though it looks and feels (the paper is nice and thick) more expensive than it is.

Pick of the Week

It's pick of the week time: each Sunday I pick one great buy from Target's Weekly Ad and highlight it on my blog. Today's pick is something that caught my eye immediately, because although we don’t use it every day, it’s saved our household out of many a pickle over the years. It's a Shop-Vac. Now don’t laugh: although they look bulky (and they are) and clumsy to use (which they aren’t) they are invaluable at picking up messes you’d rather not use your hands for. Case in point: the bird bits and feathers that our cat Rusty left as a “present” in our living room. [Ewww!....I know, gross, sorry]. Or when the kids break a glass in the kitchen; it’s so much easier to use the Shop-Vac then to risk getting a cut picking it up piece by piece. Or just yesterday, when my hubby made a new headboard for our son’s bed, and the Shop-Vac was there to pick up all the sawdust. 9 times out of 10, a regular household vacuum can handle the situation (and someday I’ll blog about the virtues of my Dyson, which I love). But for those particularly icky jobs, it’s the Shop-Vac to the rescue. And if you have the room in the garage or basement to store one, it’s well worth the investment, believe me!

Shop-Vac: on sale this week at Target
2-gallon wet/dry for $24.99
10-gallon wet/dry for $44.99

Rogan’s Target preview causes frenzy at Barney’s

From the news reports dripping out of NYC, you’d better get in line NOW if you hope to catch any of Rogan Gregory’s collection when it hits Target next week. Ok, I’m exaggerating…sort of. But plan your buying strategy early, because shoppers (at least the lucky New Yorkers privy to previewing the line at Barneys) went nuts for this line yesterday. Racked.com did a whole play-by-play that you can check out here. Bottom line is, almost the entire selection flew off the shelves within an hour of the store’s opening. Meaning, this line promises to be the BEST offering by the Go International line that Target’s ever done. What’s left of Barney’s stock (rumor has it there was a small reserve in back) will continue to be sold at the NY flagship store through tomorrow. Then, Rogan for Target is slated to launch at Target stores nationwide on May 18th.

Target matches Wal-Mart's prescription drug prices

Wal-Mart stores implemented another phase of its low-price prescription drug program this week, and in response Target followed suit with price reductions of its own. In addition to offering a 30-day supply of many popular generic prescription drugs for $4, Wal-Mart is now offering a 90-day supply for $10. And now, so is Target.

In response to the price cuts, Target said that it "understands the challenges guests are facing in the current economic environment." But Target doesn't position itself as the "low price" leader like Wal-Mart does. Its marketing is more upscale, as is the appearance of its stores -- even while carrying much of the same merchandise. So why is Target matching these prescription drug price cuts? To try and prevent losing customers to Wal-Mart, of course.

Dean Harris for Target

Target has announced their next designer collaborator, Dean Harris of Dean Harris Jewelry. Per the official press release, the Dean Harris for Target collection is slated to hit stores August 17th. Who is Dean Harris, you might ask? Well, he was voted Best Accessory Designer by the Council of Fashion Designers of America just a year after he started designing jewelry, which is pretty darn impressive. And his nature inspired pieces have been featured in runway shows and worn by numerous celebrities, so it’ll be exciting to see what he brings to Target. Pictured here are a pair of earrings (gold with black diamond buds) from his regular line, available at pricier retailers such as Barney’s.

Wednesday’s Rave: Nick & Nora for Target

One of the things I like best about Target is when they take known designers or brands (such as Michael Graves, Liz Lange, and Smith & Hawken) and bring them in-house for their own budget-friendly lines. Another example: Nick & Nora for Target. The Nick & Nora brand of fun, whimsical-print sleepwear has delighted celebrities for years; everyone from Oprah to Farrah Fawcett loves these PJs. Now in researching this post, I was surprised to learn that the Nick & Nora company has unfortunately gone out of business; meaning, you can no longer buy the original, higher-end line unless you luck out and find them on clearance online. However, they did license the rights to some of their iconic prints to Target for their sleepwear line, so that’s where you can find plenty of cozy items for bedtime, from fuzzy slippers to Nick & Nora’s signature flannel pajamas. And this week, these cute PJs (pictured) are on sale for $14.99 (down from $24.99) – just in time for Mother’s Day!

Rogan Gregory, in-depth

The Wall St. Journal has done an in-depth piece on Rogan Gregory’s line for Target (debuting first at Barney’s). Among the highlights: Mr. Gregory (pictured here with Bono and his wife) -- a designer at the forefront of the eco-fashion movement -- uses only 100% certified organic cotton and other natural fibers in his collections. For his contribution to Target’s Go International program, Mr. Gregory says his collection is a way to make the organics-apparel movement more democratic by making it more affordable to the masses. Fabrics made from natural fibers (like silk and linen) and 100% certified organic cotton cost 15% more than non-organic fabrics, while finished garments generally carry a 5% premium, he says. Mr. Gregory said Target's buying power allows him to sell his collection there for less, while still using more "dynamic fabrics." His designs in the Target collection feature less hardware and embellishments than his pricier lines."Target has the resources that enabled us to innovate," he says. "A mill would say we couldn't order a certain fabric unless we could promise certain volume. Target leveraged its volume to get what it wanted."

Tuesday’s Rant: Having to buy jewelry IN the jewelry department...

On Tuesdays I usually take the opportunity to rant about something I do NOT like about Target …because although I love them to death, they ain’t perfect. This is a minor rant, but it still bugs me: it used to be that if you bought something in the jewelry department at Target – specifically, something from the counter display, where they keep their “nicer stuff” – you were free to take it with you in your cart while you went upon your merry way to do the rest of your shopping in the store. Well, no more... at least not at my local Target. Now you’re forced to buy it there on the spot; no carrying it around in your cart while you mull over whether you really need another $14.99 Subversive bangle (pictured). I laughed when the salesgirl stopped me from taking the bracelet and putting it into the cart, and insisted I had to pay right then and there. I said “really??” and she said “yeah, new policy”. I laughed again when she then stupidly asked me if I wanted a BAG for it, and pointedly asked “if you don’t give me a bag, how is anyone going to know that I ALREADY PAID FOR THIS?!”. Maybe this particular Target has had problems with shoplifting, and this is an attempt at curbing it. All I know is that is that this new policy is ANNOYING, and will definitely sway me from any impulse shopping in the jewelry department!

Elisabeth Hasselbeck to design kids line for Target

Elisabeth Hasselbeck has revealed that she is currently designing a children's clothing line for Target stores and that she also has a few children's books in the works. Elisabeth told TV Guide “I am working on a children's clothing line. There might be some onesies available at Target soon. And hopefully, we'll get some children's books out within the next year. I may be talking politics and celebrities on The View, but I am a designer and artist by nature.”

Elisabeth is married to NY Giants quarterback Tim Hasselbeck, and together they have a two year-old daughter, Grace, and a 6 month-old son, Taylor.

Pick of the Week

It's pick of the week time: each Sunday I pick one great buy from Target's Weekly Ad and highlight it on my blog. Today's pick is something I got as a wedding gift 4 years ago, thought I’d never use, but ended up being one of my favorite kitchen appliances. When my Aunt Joanne insisted on getting me a KitchenAid standing mixer as a shower gift, I thought A) you’re spending way too much on me, and B) I’ll never use it. Well “A” is still right, but “B” proved totally wrong. Because it’s conveniently always “there” on my kitchen counter, and so easy to use, I’m constantly whipping up goodies (like the Meyer Lemon cake I made just yesterday). And my husband loves it, too; he uses the bread hook to make dough for homemade pizza, and recently bought the meat grinder attachment to make our own ground beef for burgers. My KitchenAid ended up being one of the best wedding presents ever, and this week it’s on sale at Target for only $249.99 (by comparison, Williams-Sonoma’s is $299) plus you get at free $25 Target Gift Card with purchase.

KitchenAid power stand mixer with 4.5 quart stainless steel bowl, flat beater, dough hook, and wire whip.
Available in bright red, dark gray, and white.
$249.99 this week at Target, with bonus $25 Target Gift Card.

Emma Bunton & baby Beau visit Target

Emma Bunton (aka, Baby Spice of the Spice Girls) must be taking tips on life in the US from Victoria Beckham as she ventured out -- baby in tow -- for some budget-shopping at an LA-area Target last month.

In an almost identical scene to Victoria's recent sweep of the popular store Emma arrived with baby Beau to browse the store famed for its low prices. She seemed particularly interested in the baby clothes department, as pictured here.

Dressed in an eye-catching yellow coat and jeans, Emma attracted little attention as she trawled the aisles in search of bargains.

Attention grads: Target wants you!

If you’re graduating from college this Spring and based in the Midwest, you might want to check out job openings at Target Corporation. According to this Forbes article Target projects it will hire 3,358 recent grads this year in areas like product design/development, merchandising and marketing, finance and accounting, human resources, and information technology.

Departure of rare collection hits a sad note…

A couple of weeks ago I blogged about Target’s CEO, Robert Ulrich, founding a musical instrument museum in Arizona. Come to find out, a good portion of the new museum’s collection was purchased from the current inventory at the Claremont Colleges’ in Southern California. The Fiske Museum at Claremont is sad to see the collection go, as am I; my nephew, Vincent, will be attending one of the Claremont schools (Pitzer) this Fall, and it would have been neat for him to get to see these rare exhibits in person. On the bright side, though, it’s great that the collection will have a permanent place to call home.

Miley surfaces.... at Target, of all places

In her first appearance since her semi-topless Vanity Fair photo scandal, Miley Cyrus popped by a Target store in Nashville yesterday. Asked how she is doing, she replied, “Good, thank you.” As for the semi-topless pics, she remained mum. "No comment," she said.

Over the weekend, Cyrus released a statement apologizing for the racy spread, saying she was "embarrassed" she took them. She has since been holed up at home in Nashville, where she is working on pre-production for the latest Hannah Montana film.

“The Office” star loves Target, too!

Check out this article from the NY Times; it looks like Mindy Kaling, one of the stars and primary writers on NBC’s hit show “The Office” loves Target, too! “Easter is a very pervasive holiday,” said Ms. Kaling, complaining that some of her favorite stores, such as Betsey Johnson and Target, were closed. Also, check out Mindy’s cute blog called “Things I Bought That I Love”.