Target: A marketing analysis to understand critical approaches that the company has undertaken

Running head: TARGET: A COMPANY ANALYSIS 1 

Target: A Company Analysis 

Student’s Name 

Institution 

Target: A Company Analysis 

Introduction 

Target Corporation remains as the second largest department store operating within the United States and has grown towards becoming on the most recognized brands in the country. Target Corporation is ranked at number 39 under the 2018 Forbes Fortune 500 list of prominent companies, which is a clear indication that the indeed the company seeks to position itself effectively. According to Target's company records; it operates more than 1,800 local stories stretched out within different locations throughout the United States with the sole expectation being towards capturing a more significant market share. Target Corporation, which is ranked number eight in terms of size, is a department store retailer located in the Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Target Corporation (Target), established in 1902, is a universal product dealer selling commodities via its stores alongside online channels (Grayson & Hodges, 2017).   Target’s wide-ranging merchandise outlets provide a food assortment, involving perishable goods, dry grocery, frozen and dairy items. Its online channels incorporate a collection of merchandise, incorporating a variety of products found in its outlets, together with a variety of extra colors and sizes sold only online. The corporation’s owned brands include but not limited to Archer Farms, Market Pantry, Sutton & Dodge, Boots and Barkley, Room Essentials, Embark, Xhilaration, Smith & Hawken, Gilligan & O'Malley, Knox Rose, and Spritz. Target competes with Best Buy, Amazon.com, Dollar General Corporation, Costco Wholesale Corporation and CVS Health Corporation among others (Grayson & Hodges, 2017).   

The focus for this report is to embark on a marketing analysis of the company as a way of trying to understand some of the critical approaches that the company has undertaken in trying to establish itself as a leading brand within the United States. 

Main Products/Services 

Target Corporation operates as a department store retailer that has been involved in the stocking of differentiated products that clients may want within the consumer markets (Andreoli, 2018). Over the years, the company has been involved in the process of expansion of its stores with the sole focus being towards ensuring that it would be able to accommodate other products that include furniture among others. Additionally, the expansions were seen as crucial ways through which the company seeks to reestablish itself within the United States market taking into account the competition that it faces from other department store retailers including Walmart among others. The expectation for the company has been on increasing the range of products that it offers to help build overall capacity for it to achieve prospective results in matching consumer demands within the diverse market structures. 

Marketing and Marketing Strategy 

Target Corporation, being a department store retailer, believes in the need for it to focus on marketing as one the relevant ways through which to advance its position within the consumer market (Wilson, 2017). The company has been involved in a wide array of marketing campaigns aimed at providing clients with information on the products that it offers in its stores countrywide. The marketing approaches that the company has taken include advertisement on mainstream media, as well as, use of social media as one of the essential avenues for enhanced publications (Joseph & Sharaf, 2016). Generally, this has helped towards positioning Target Corporation as a leading brand in the market, as it has helped in creating demand for its products with more and more consumers having a clear understanding of the fact that the company remains committed to providing quality products. 

The chief marketing strategy that the company has adopted to help deal with the competition that it faces is cost leadership with the aim of ensuring that clients would be able to access the same products but at a cheaper cost (Corrigan, Craciun, & Powell, 2014). Target was noted as one of the companies, operating within the United States, that has been able to advance overall efficiency towards promoting cost leadership as part of its marketing approach. The company reflects more on trying to build that proactive approach through which to ensure that the products it offers are priced slightly lower than a majority of its competitors. Generally, this means that clients are much more likely to get value for the products that they purchase through Target when compared to those that they purchase in some of its key competitors. 

The Products 

One of the critical approaches that Target Corporation has taken within the last few years has been to work with manufacturing companies directly with the sole intention being towards ensuring that the quality of products matches consumer demands. Target, being one of the largest retail stores in the United States finds itself at a significant disadvantage when dealing with cases where the quality of products that it offers reduce (Joseph & Sharaf, 2016). Thus, this has prompted the management to come up with a structured approach allowing it to engage with the individual companies offering these products. Additionally, the company also expects to receive a guarantee from the different companies that indeed the qualities of products that they offer match the consumer demands. The ultimate impact of this is that it has helped towards building overall capacity for the company in defining its success within the United States consumer market. 

Product Mix 

The product mix that can be associated with Target Corporation is somewhat significant taking into account that it deals with differentiated products depending on the needs and expectation from individual clients. The company operates as a retail store that seeks to stock products depending on the need and demand from the clients. In the event that clients may have different requirements from the products that it shares, it embarks on a process of having to ensure that it meets these demands (Corrigan, Craciun, & Powell, 2014). That has played a critical role in providing that the company is well positioned towards effectively competing in the consumer market. Additionally, this has also ensured that the company can establish itself as a preferred retailer for a majority of consumers. 

Product Strategies 

The primary product strategy that Target Corporation reflects on product quality considering that it seeks to create a front through which to ensure that the products it delivers to its clients meet not only their demands but also meets quality demands. Target Corporation has experienced significant challenges in dealing with issues of product quality considering that some of the retailers that it deals with tend to produce low-quality products (Hirsch & Strawser, 2014). Thus, this forced the company to adopt a policy that seeks to ensure that each of the products offered through the company remains of high quality. Providing high-quality products is essential for the company, as it helps towards promoting confidence among individual consumers, as well as, acts as a guide for them to come back to the store in the future. That has forced the company to focus much of its attention on the quality of products that it delivers to determine the overall demand among its clients. 

Sales Methods 

Target Corporation, being a retail store, focuses more on providing its clients with discounts as a way of ensuring that it would be able to build on its overall capacity to meet market demands (Hirsch & Strawser, 2014). The company has been involved in creating revenue through the discounts offered considering that they have played a key role in boosting sales significantly. Additionally, the company has also been involved in running promotions for its clients with the aim of awarding individual shoppers with shopping vouchers among other items. The expectation of this is that the company has been able to build on its capacity to deliver positive results in meeting some of its sales targets. 

Ethics, Social Responsibility, and Concentration 

Target’s Ethics 

Target’s huge levels for conduct imply that the corporation is committed to maintaining legal observance and working with integrity and ethical considerations. The commitment is the foundation of its unique culture that solidifies Target’s competitive advantage while supporting the superior experience clients anticipate. In Target, a ll conditions of employment must be founded on a person’s ability to do the task, not on the basis of individual traits, such as sex, ethnic origin, faith, or personal beliefs (Carroll, 2015). The corporation ensures that they provide a workplace where their staff works without distress or intrusion caused by harassment, bias or any other unsuitable behavior. The balance among codes, leadership, and rules culture is an excellent approach that facilitates ethical behavior within Target. The corporation has formal written policies that put it in a position to benefit from reduced ambiguity (Carroll, 2015). Target further mediates the influence of written codes with the influence of solid leadership and therefore pacing itself in a position of avoiding disadvantages of written codes. 

Target’s ethical guideline informs workers that when clients share their personal details such as name, location, credit card figures, social security numbers, the guests anticipate Target to keep the information secure. If the confidence is broken, it can damage the company’s status and the connections with clients. Moreover, if someone asks employees to share information, they must verify who they claim they are and ensure they are certified to receive the information. Principally, the Target team members should know and adhere to the information Protection and Policy (Quarshie et al., 2016). Target does not use any form of forced labor, which implies any work or service conducted involuntarily under threat of bodily or other penalties, including prison, indentured or bonded labor. 

Moreover, Target respects the freedom of movement of its employees and does not restrict their movement by regulating identity papers, confiscating money deposits, or taking any action to prevent employees from ending their employment (Kolk, 2016). Target understands that operating ethically and with honesty is fundamental to upholding its status with team members as a grand workplace, with guests as a preferred shopping outlet, and with communities and stakeholders as a responsible commercial citizen. Target begins with the basics: obeying international, federal, national and domestic laws and rules related to business. Employees must obey regulations. Team members are expected to, regardless of level or responsibility, to conduct themselves with the greatest individual and professional integrity on a daily basis (Kolk, 2016). Target Corporation is dedicated to performing business ethically and morally. All team members should act at all times with sincerity alongside veracity. The company expects employees to provide good ruling and a sense of uprightness to the business choices. Whereas it is not feasible to enumerate all rules and regulations to be followed or clashes of interest or forbidden commercial practices to be shunned, Target’s Business Conduct Manual operates to specify the company’s anticipations for team members’ behavior and assists them make the correct decisions (Wang et al., 2016). The members are required to comprehend the entity’s rules and adhere to them. 

Target’s Social Responsibility 

Target is committed to supporting communities via giving which is always a cornerstone of the corporation’s business and a perception that guides majority of its choices. Each year, the firm provides 5% of its profit to the society, which totals over $3 million every week (Target Corporation Inc. n.d). Target knows that offering its time, resources, and talents are uniformly essential as the profit the corporation gets. The entity’s team members provide many hours helping in numerous regions annually. With the objective of developing a strong, vigorous and safe community it desires for its team members together with clients, Target works directly with associates and agencies. In fact, the company has challenged itself to attain   corporate responsibility objectives   in the fields of learning, surroundings, team member safety, and issues related with volunteering. The aims are Target’s roadmap in future times. According to Quarshie and colleagues (2016), the company is devoted to assisting over 365,000 team members in the world lead better lives and attain their objectives, understanding that their various ideas, commitment, and talent make Target and its regions alike the best they out to be. 

Target helps team members’ routes to wellbeing and safety using   resources, benefits, and service projects   for suitable team members, local partners alongside their dependents. The company cultivates leaders and endows in members’ prospects through career enhancement alongside connecting opportunities. In 2001, Target collaborated with   Feeding America   in their battle to stop food shortage in the United States (Kolk, 2016). In regards to this project, Target offered millions of pounds of food every year, offering millions of foods to needy families.   Throughout the year, its stores offer education grants to domestic K-12 schools to sustain educational road trips, early childhood training schedules and involvement in arts. 

Target’s team members provide hundreds of thousands of helping hours in their domestic communities all year, making their surroundings safer, better places for all people. The company further provides numerous opportunities to assist them to get involved, from refurbishing basic school libraries and giving food to the hungry, to reacting to calamities and reading with students. For over two and half decades, Target Corporation has bonded with public safety organizations through its Target & BLUE TM   project to develop connections and enhance efforts that improve neighborhood security (Grayson & Hodges, 2017).   Annually, Target teams distribute information, knowledge, and resources with community safety groups to support programs that keep the surrounding cities safe. Whether its teams are offering their time at surrounding events or merging domestic agencies with communities via programs such as Heroes & Helpers, Target is focused on assisting cities to make steps toward an elevated standard of safety (Carroll, 2015). 

MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP ANALYSIS 

Strategic Planning 

Target Corporation is the leading retailer providing on-trend and high-quality merchandise to consumers at attractive prices in guest friendly, clean and spacious store. Target Corporation opened their first store in Roseville in 1962 (About Target, 2015). The company has gone through some ownership, management, and personnel changes but still committed to providing guest with a one-stop experience by delivering outstanding value and differentiated merchandise with its brand promise of Expect More, Pay Less (Rooney, 2012). Ultimately, the primary strategic planning goal of Target Corporation is to carter for their consumer's need and makes shopping process more enjoyable, and affordable. 

Target corporation managers use strategic planning to identify courses of action and choose appropriate organizational goals (Target, 2015). The company believes that their target role in retail entails knowing what customers need and want and delivering high-quality products at a reasonable price. Also, target brands allow their guest to shop merely because they know they are getting a unique product of high quality (Rooney, 2012). Target Corporation ensures that shopping is enjoyable, affordable and accessible by ensuring that its team members receive a list of setups and breakdown. Besides, these plans show Target Corporation employees what sections of the store should be changed to serve guest wants and need better (About Target, 2015). For example, Target Corporation employee will receive a report when spring is approaching showing how to replace existing items with spring items and a breakdown of the display. 

Target Corporation key strength include brand. Target Corporation brand name with bull's eye and the red color is famous, and this has made the company to become a powerhouse with merchandised and on-trend designs which attracts younger consumers (Rooney, 2012). Furthermore, Target Corporation continues to bring new merchandised and designers to attract loyal consumers as well as young consumers with there Up and Up brand. Also, outstanding customer service is strength that Target Corporation has (Shop with confidence, 2015). For instance, answering any questions asked by customers, greeting customers and guest when they are shopping in Target Corporation stores and helping the consumers with their cartwheel app to keep them ahead of their competitors. 

On the other hand, Target Corporation weakness revolves around their low quality, low-cost merchandise, and Wal-Mart. Despite having about 1,800 stores, Target Corporation competitor Wal-Mart has over 4,100 stores in the US. Besides, Target Corporation also has the image for high prices than Wal-Mart. Moreover, Target Corporation has closed number stores in Canada due to limited international visibility. 

Conversely, Target Corporation opportunities are endless. The company has the capability of continuing to expand its relationship with designers hence attracting younger consumers. This serves as a huge marketing advantage since the company has the image better quality merchandise over its competitors (About Target, 2015). The company also plans to expand internationally, through online and website retail store. Target Corporation employees are always at the front line whenever the guest enters the store. 

Company Strategies 

Target Corporation strategies include continuing working with various designers to offer inventive and new merchandise to its consumers (Target, 2015). The company is also working on developing new plans to hinder another security threat. Additionally, gaining trust from consumers is another company plan that Target Corporation wants to achieve. The company management also has a strategy of creating smaller stores to win to gain entry to more neighborhoods and locations and increases more consumers. The company strategy is also to focus on expanding specific products and specific departments and get away from merchandise mentality. 

Target Corporation main company strategy is to take care of its data breach result that occurred in the fall of 2013 (Burg, 2014). The security breach is still in the mind of some of its consumers whenever they shop at Target Corporation. This has been reflected in the sales. The company failed to handle the security breach in a customer friendly way (Burg, 2014). The company is working hard to clear the security firewall to prevent the possibility of another security breach. This will enable the company to gain back customer trust. 

Another company strategy that Target Corporation is addressing is increasing ease of online shopping and growing trend of smaller stores (Shop with confidence, 2015). The company already has an excellent user-friendly website as well as various benefits from its red card offering 5% discounts and free shipping. Besides, the issue remains wit mortar-and-brick building. Target Corporation is concentrating on what made it one of the leading retailers who are its home goods and fashion. The company is eager and ready to listen and address what their customer's say to stay ahead of the competition. 

OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT 

Company operations 

Target Corporation has efficient supply chain management because the company operates in nearly 2,000 retail stores currently. Target Corporation retail stores are sourced through thousands of vendors (Target, 2015). Additionally, Target Corporation merchandise finds its way to these stores through 22 regional distribution centers in the US. Target strategy regarding imports is to distribute most of them though much small distributions centers on the West and East coast and then transport the goods via rail or truck to the distribution centers. The company has also hired outside consultants to revamp its distribution system and to introduce electronic inventory to replace manual operations (Target, 2015). 

Target Corporation employees working in supply chain management before the conversion relied on manual faxes for sourcing function purposes. Now, Target Corporation has a new system which links trading porters in a centralized online system allowing the company to concentrate on shipments and their doors in the early stages of the comp0any supply chain (About Target, 2015). This has enabled Target Corporation to take advantage of re-route transportation and multiple transportation options when needed and schedule shipments in full trucks. This has also allowed the company to continue providing its consumers with differentiated products at affordable price. 

Information System and Technology 

Target Corporation has signed an agreement with Microsoft. This will enable the company to store inventory sale point's information which is retrieved from the cash register in a virtual storage cloud. Additionally, the data will help Target Corporation support its inventory and marketing managers as well as rely on fewer expenses to track consumer demand. The company is investing in new store technology to make shopping even better for its consumers (Shop with confidence, 2015). Recently, Target Corporation has come up with a host of powerful technology to make it more convenient and more accessible for consumers to shop. Besides, technology is crucial in making sure that the company delivers more of its products both online and in stores. The company is also excited to upgrade its stores ready for their guests. 

Target Corporation store team members are now able to assist her guests to buy online. Due to improved technology, Target Corporation guests are now able to place an online order to find the item they want. The company has developed a new app called checkout that can be used by team members to take guest payment via credit card readers attached. This application combines the best technology and supply chain enabling Target Corporation to expand online assortments to help customers find whatever they are looking for. 

ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL ANALYSIS 

Financial Performance 

The financial report of Target in fiscal year 2017 shows that the company is recovering from its previous decline. Its total revenue in fiscal year 2017 as reported in 2018 has increased from 69,495,000 to 71,879,000. In comparing these increase figures, it is important to point out that the company suffered a major decline in revenue as it registered a revenue of 73,785,000 in 2016. Similarly, the recovery trend of target reflects in its net income from its continuing operations with an increase of 2,928,000 in 2017 from 2016’s 2,669,000. In 2015 however, net income from its continuing operations was 3,321,000. 

The same trend is shown in the net income where it increased to 2,934,000 in 2017 from 2,737,000. Again, the company is recovering as it used to register a net income of 3,363,000. The relative similarity of the trend of the gross revenue to its net income indicates that Target is doing the same operational efficiency as there is no marked in difference in its operational cost. Compared to other retail market players, Target can be considered to be the smallest player in terms of revenue and market share. Wal-Mart dominates the retail market industry with a total revenue of 500,343,000 in 2017 (as reported in fiscal year 2018). This is almost 700% more than Target. In addition, the increase of revenue by Wal-Mart is consistent as it registered 485,873,000 revenues in 2016 from 482,130,000 in 2015. The trend however, is not reflected in its net income from continuing operations as it is marked by steady decline with only 10,523,000 in 2017, 14,293,000 in 2016 and 15,080,000 in 2015 respectively which means that Target is more efficient than Wal-Mart albeit its net income is still small compared to the giant Wal-Mart. In between these players is Costco which registered total revenue of 141,576,000 in 2017, 129,025,000 in 2016, and 118,719,000 in 2015 respectively. Also, the increase in revenue is marked by steady growth unlike with Target that has to recover from a dismal 2015 performance. The same increasing trend is reflected in its net income which tells that its operation is the same as before. 

Graphical Illustration of Revenues 

Target 

Wal-Mart 

Costco 

Financial issues that have impacted the organization 

The financial ratios of Target show that the company is efficient in the use of its resources and is giving high returns to its shareholders. If there is some aspect of the company’s financial and operational that needs to be improved for it to be at par with its competitors. It would be its Gross Revenue. Its gross revenue is just very small compared to Wal-Mart and Costco. Target’s small market share and low net income compared to its closest competitors is attributed to its low gross revenue. This means that Target is not as big and ubiquitous as Wal-Mart and Costco whose total revenue is many times over that of Target. It is also worth notable that Target is paying higher interest rate compared to competitors. This interest expense is higher compared to its competitors which is 6.13 % of its total revenue compared to Wal-Mart’s only 4.45 %. Its cost of money is higher despite its small size compared to its competitors making Target less competitive. In terms of operational efficiency, it is at par with its competitors Wal-Mart and Costco. 

The issue that beset Target is no longer financial performance. It is a good steward of its resources and operates fairly efficient relative to its competitors. Its gross revenue is just very small compared to its competitors. The comparative revenue is small (which is 700% less than Wal-Mart) which is attributed to its smaller and fewer stores compared to ubiquitous Wal-Mart and Costco. Also, there are other things that drive sales which are not reflected in the financial statement such customer service, marketing, and training. 

Financial Ratios of Target 

Profit margin 

Profit margin is the ratio is the ration which indicates how efficient Target is in converting its gross revenue to net income. Its formula is net income divided by gross revenue. 

Target 

Wal-Mart 

Costco 

Profit margin ratio shows that it is Target that is the most efficient among its competitors. It registered the highest profit margin of 4.08 % in 2017, 3.94 % in 2016, and 4.84% in 2015 respectively. Wal-Mart may be the biggest retail store with the highest gross revenue but it paled in comparison to Target in terms of profit margin. It only registered a profit margin of 3.05 % in 2017, 2.81 % in 2016, and 3.05% in 2015 which is smaller compared to Target. It indicates that its size made it inefficient. Costco, on the other hand, also has a small profit margin which are only 1.98 % in 2017, 2.08 % in 2.21 % in 2015. Clearly, it is Target that makes the highest net profit relative to its gross revenue despite of its small size. 

Current ratio 

Informs of the liquidity of the company whether it could cover its liabilities when its creditors demand payment. The current ratio should be over 1 for it to meet the demands of its creditors. 

Target 

Wal-Mart 

Costco 

Current ratio also shows that Target has enough current assets to cover its liabilities should its creditors demand immediate payment as its current ratios are all over 1.0. It registered a 1.41 current ratio in 2015, 1.41 in 2016, and 1.47 in 2017. Wal-Mart, on the other hand, shows a different story as all of its current ratios are below 1.0. It has a dismal current ratio of only .76 in 2015, .86 in 2016, and .93 in 2017. Relative to Target, Wal-Mart would not be able to meet its obligations should its creditors demand payment despite of its size. Of all the players, it is however Costco, that registered the best current ratio with 2.05 in 2015, 2.08 in 2016 and 2.13 in 2017. 

Management Effectiveness 

Return on assets and Return on Equity (2018) 

Return on assets ratio tells how effective Target is efficient in generating revenue with its given resources. It showed Target to be efficient in generating revenue with its assets as it generated 6.38% and also provided high return on its shareholders with a return of 29.17% which is considered high in the industry. 

Recommendations 

After a careful analysis of Target Corporation, the research recommends investors to consider putting their money in the firm given its attractive trends in the industry. The industry is doing well financially and thanks to its mergers and acquisitions, it has a prospect of elevating its profits in the future. Looking into the future, investors should check the power of competitors and what the company is dong to address issues of competition. It is worth noting that competition is a major factor that determines whether a company will remain relevant in the industry for longer periods. Investors should also assess the strategies the company is putting in place to ensure they minimize its expenses as related to profits. It should be noted that the minimization of expenses is fundamental in the long-term success of a firm. Predicting the future trends in the industry might be a difficult undertaking but this particular company has been in the market for long periods and therefore investing in it would not represent a risky venture. Selling of shares happens when their value goes up. Nonetheless, investors can also opt to dispose their shares when marketing trends indicate tough times ahead. For instance, in case the company starts making losses, investors will be advised to sell their shares and find a profitable venture. Shares can also be sold in case the competition in the market stiffens leading to the company to liquidate or sometimes leave business for a specific period of time. Nonetheless, investing in Target Corporation appears a profitable venture. 

Conclusion 

The report embarked on a marketing analysis of Target Corporation by trying to understand some of the critical approaches that the entity has undertaken in attempting to establish itself as a leading brand in the United States. Target is one of the corporations around the world that is heavily committed to assisting the local communities. Such a feat is achieved thanks to the corporation's high adherence to ethical standards that govern the world in which they conduct business. The ethical considerations of the organization necessitate that employees behave in the most appropriate way possible when serving clients and all other people within society. Ranked the eight largest departmental retail stores in the world, the corporation is renowned for its numerous volunteering projects in the United States. 

Target works towards ensuring safety and better lives for the surrounding people. Ethically, employees are required to keep clients’ information, such as address, name, and credit card numbers among other details confidential to maintain the company’s reputation. Given the fact that the firm is the largest of its kind in the world, it is fundamental that its operations be tailored towards ensuring it maintains its position. The current financials of the corporation indicate that the firm is doing well as far as the generation of profit is concerned. Despite the fact that the management of the firm has in recent years been facing problems, the corporation is gradually stabilizing which means that investors are free to put their money in the venture. 

References 

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Andreoli, B. (2018). Strategic Analysis of Target Corporation. Journal of Business Marketing, 14 (3), 15-19. 

Burg, N., (2014, January 17). Five lessons for every business from Target’s data breach. Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/sites/sungardas/2014/01/17/five-lessons-forevery-business-from-targets-data-breach/ 

Carroll, A. B. (2015). Corporate social responsibility: The centerpiece of competing and complementary frameworks. Organizational Dynamics ,   44 (2), 87-96. 

Corrigan, H. B., Craciun, G., & Powell, A. M. (2014). How does Target know so much about its customers? Utilizing customer analytics to make marketing decisions.  Marketing Education Review ,  24 (2), 159-166. 

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Hirsch, K., & Strawser, B. (2014). When a drip becomes a flood: Lessons learned from Target Corporation’s first large-scale business disruption.  Journal of business continuity & emergency planning ,  8 (2), 114-121. 

Joseph, A. M., & Sharaf, J. (2016). Building target corporation's customer loyalty programme through Tesco's club-card scheme.  TRANS Asian Journal of Marketing & Management Research (TAJMMR) ,  5 (12), 61-69. 

Kolk, A. (2016). The social responsibility of international business: From ethics and the environment to CSR and sustainable development.   Journal of World Business ,   51 (1), 23-34. 

Quarshie, A. M., Salmi, A., & Leuschner, R. (2016). Sustainability and corporate social responsibility in supply chains: The state of research in supply chain management and business ethics journals.   Journal of Purchasing and Supply Management ,   22 (2), 82-97. 

Rooney, J. (2012). Behind The Brand: A Tour Of Target With New CMO Jeff Jones. Forbes.Com, 6. Retrieved from http://eds.b.ebscohost.com.proxy-library.ashford.edu/eds/detail/detail? sid=21fee1ec-dde8-47f6-a637- TARGET 9 824759d88593%40sessionmgr113&vid=2&hid=121&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdm U%3d#AN=77918688&db=bsh 

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TGT Income Statement | Target Corporation Stock. (2018, December 03). Retrieved December 3, 2018, from https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/TGT/financials?p=TGT 

Wang, H., Tong, L., Takeuchi, R., & George, G. (2016). Corporate social responsibility: An overview and new research directions: Thematic issue on corporate social responsibility. 

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Appendices 

Target Income Statement 

Walmart Income Statement 

Costco Income Statement 

Target Balance Sheet 

Walmart Balance Sheet 

Costco Balance Sheet