In July, Target's foot traffic fell by 3.8%, marking its sixth consecutive month of decline. Analysts point to mismanagement of retail basics as a significant factor, overshadowing the impact of reduced DEI initiatives that began earlier this year. Observations from retail veterans indicate that issues like empty shopping cart corrals and understocked shelves suggest a lack of attention to essential services. The persistence of these problems underscores that maintaining operational standards may be more critical to Target's performance than the controversy surrounding its DEI strategies.
Target has experienced a year-over-year decline in foot traffic for six consecutive months, with July reporting a 3.8% drop according to Placer.ai.
Walter Holbrook, a retail veteran, emphasizes that Target's struggles with basics, such as maintaining a full shopping cart corral, are more critical than its DEI issues.
Neil Saunders, a retail analyst, noted that Target stores continue to struggle with basic inventory management, showcasing empty fixtures and missing essential products.
Both Holbrook and Saunders argue that while DEI initiatives stirred controversy, the core issue appears to be Target's failure to manage fundamental retail operations.
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