"Target may be in the crosshairs of the culture wars, but the brand's relationship with Taylor Swift still stands in 2025. The release of "The Life of a Showgirl" again brings a suite of special editions to Target as exclusives, luring Swifties to spread their cash around to pick up their favorite variants. But between the retailer's faltering reputation and a smorgasbord of album options, will Swifties take their business elsewhere?"
"In March, Atlanta pastor Rev. Jamal Bryant called for a "Target Fast" to punish the company for turning its back on Black-owned businesses and Black consumers. "When Target broke its promises to our community - pledges made after the murder of George Floyd - we acted," Bryant wrote on the TargetFast website. "Our response was not rooted in cancel culture, but in moral clarity.""
"When Target didn't respond, what began as a limited 40-day boycott extended indefinitely, adding a call for the resignation of Target's CEO. Boycotts don't always end up hurting a company's bottom line, but Target has been feeling the pain well into 2025. Target's DEI retreat in 2025 compounded its previous decision to mute its Pride Month collection, which the company had sold for years."
Target faced reputational damage and declining foot traffic in 2025 after abandoning longstanding diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and stopping participation in external diversity surveys. The company paused its Pride Month collection and held a DEI retreat, prompting conservative backlash and alienating many LGBTQ customers. A boycott initiated by Rev. Jamal Bryant expanded from 40 days to an indefinite campaign and included calls for the CEO's resignation. Target's share price has slumped and sales have been pressured. Taylor Swift's The Life of a Showgirl includes Target-exclusive special editions that could attract Swifties, but boycott sentiment and competing album options may limit the boost.
Read at Fast Company
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]