Target Debuts Next-Gen CE Departments: Blu-ray Featured

[Tekman]

Minneapolis — Target rolled out its latest CE department prototype yesterday with the soft opening of 61 new stores around the country.

The redesigned departments are larger, feature a number of assortment upgrades and place renewed focus on the TV wall.

The retailer enhanced the impact of the TV wall by making it taller (by 18 inches) and longer (by eight feet), and by adding an overhang shelf to reduce glare from store lighting. The larger wall accommodates an expanded LCD assortment, which is highlighted with improved “Why to Buy” signing. Target is also using lower profile gondolas within the department’s core area to improve TV wall sightlines, while also providing greater shelf access to shoppers.

Other enhancements include:

· A service counter that will be upgraded with an interactive “consumer electronics advisor” kiosk next April;

· A 4-foot section of Sony Blu-ray hardware and software;

· A new dedicated run of home theater systems with additional “better” and “best offerings such as the Bose 3.2.1 HTiB;

· An 8-foot section of photo gifts from Kodak Gallery and Shutterfly, plus a run of digital picture frames and an expanded selection of cameras;

· A new run of kitchen electronics;

· An expanded assortment of computer peripherals, and;

· An incremental run of value video game software

http://www.twice.com/article/CA6488779.html

[darinp2]

Anybody know if any Targets in the Seattle area (especially east or north) got the new treatment? I would like to check it out.

--Darin

[martinp1]

since one of my friends work @ my local target ill ask her bout this. since i never buy from there.

[funkybudda]

this is great news, certainly a good counter against the BB and CC flipping over to the HD DUD side. Im gonna check out the 2 target located near my area this weekend...

[WickyWoo]

Sony paid for that space in their stores.

BB and CC are not "flipping to the dud side". Toshiba paid for space in their ads.

Samsung bought a full 2page spread of BB's sunday ad all last october that featured their TVs and Blu.

Sony and Samsung pay for the Blu endcaps in your BB, just like Sony computer entertainment pays for that PS3 demo station and Microsoft pays for the Xbox one, and Fox and HBO pay for their own dedicated sections in the TV DVD area.

[The Big Blue]

So these first 61 are "new" stores and not existing?

[davidPS3]

Originally Posted by darinp2

Anybody know if any Targets in the Seattle area (especially east or north) got the new treatment? I would like to check it out.

--Darin

Hey,

Call the Redmond store. That is their test store for our area. The store just went thru a major face lift and remodel this past summer. I know that the electronics section was done, but it looks like it could be redone again they way it was left after the work was done.