TARGET

BOSTON — For the second year in a row, Dollar General has topped Kantar Retail’s opening price point survey, narrowly beating out Walmart. 

MINNEAPOLIS — A new store pickup program and price matching are among the ways Target is looking to attract customers during the holiday shopping season, the mass merchandise retailer said Thursday.

Target is introducing the new pickup program, which began rolling out in select stores this month and will be available nationwide by Nov. 1. The program allows customers to buy items online or through their mobile devices and then pick them up the same day at a Target store where the item is in stock.

MINNEAPOLIS — Target is hiring a former CIA officer to give parents tips on looking for presents for children who might not be forthcoming about what they want.

The mass-merchandise retailer said it had hired Jonna Mendez as a "kids' gift detective." Mendez will appear in videos with popular mom bloggers who will work with her on looking for presents.

SAN FRANCISCO — Target is creating a new ranking system that evaluates personal care and cleaning products based on ingredient safety and disclosure of environmental effects, as well as asking the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics to collaborate with it in developing a standard for cosmetic safety next year.

CHICAGO — What helps build loyalty, but is not considered a loyalty program? What is fun, exciting and rewarding, and at the same time strategic, planned and designed to drive trips and/or purchases?

Gamification. It’s the latest buzzword among brand marketers, and it’s gaining traction as early adopters begin to revolutionize the way customer engagement is done.

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario — Target is offering a limited-time assortment of wigs in collaboration with designer Chris March — as well as costumes for kids and pets, and accessories for adults — as part of its Halloween offering this year, the mass-merchandise retailer said.

"Halloween is such a fun time of year for kids and kids at heart," Target Canada SVP merchandising John Morioka said. "We want our Canadian guests to know that Target is the wallet-friendly destination for Halloween this year."

CHICAGO — You can say the big winner was literally out of this world.

Unilever’s Axe Apollo Astronaut floorstand, designed by RockTenn Merchandising Displays, was named the Design of the Times 2013 Platinum Award Winner by Path to Purchase Institute judges, during a special awards ceremony Wednesday evening, here at the annual Shopper Marketing Expo. 

CHICAGO — When collaborating with Target to develop a unique, behavior-changing program, keep one thing in mind — there’s no “silver bullet.”

That was a key takeaway for attendees of Wednesday morning’s seminar, “Inspiring and Winning the Target Guest in Healthcare — A Differentiated Approach,” a key part of the educational lineup here at the Shopper Marketing Expo at Navy Pier.