Target

Summary of the Firm

Target is a general merchandise retailer that competes in the discount segment of the market. Target has stores in every state except Vermont, and next year the company will be expanding into Canada, adding 125 to 135 stores in that market. Including U.S. expansion, Target will grow around 10% in the next year. Target competes as a cost leader, pitting it against Walmart and K-Mart as direct competitors, and more broadly against other major retailers ranging from warehouse stores to department stores, discounters like Marshalls, or online retailers like Amazon. The key success factors for Target include operational excellence that allows it to remain price competitive, real estate selection, and the ability of Target to differentiate itself from other retail outlets.

Profitability

In the discount retailing industry, firms generally operate on a model that emphasizes delivering low costs to the customer. Thus, companies have very...
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