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Target Stores is a division of Target Corporation. The discount retail chain in the United States has 1,272 stores in 47 states that operate under the mastheads of Target, Target Greatland and SuperTarget. The first Target store opened in 1962 in Roseville, Minnesota. That store will close on January 8, 2005 so that it can be demolished to make room for a SuperTarget in its place.
In order to create a niche for itself, Target is known for differentiating itself from competitors like Kmart and Wal-Mart by offering more upscale, trend-forward merchandise. In fact, Target refers to itself as a "discount department store" instead of just a discount store. To further differentiate itself, Target does not play Muzak in its stores, the stores are typically cleaner and more organized than its rivals, and it calls its customers "guests".
The Bullseye logo of Target is one of the most recognized corporate logos in the country.
Many of Target's biggest fans often refer to the store as "Tar-zhay" (pronounced in pseudo-French accent), a reference to its staunchly middle-class clientele.
There is also a Target operating as discount department store under the same logo and a similar style in Australia with over 150 stores which mean around 1422 stores worldwide. The brand in Australia is owned by Coles Myer and is not connected with Target Corporation USA. Target USA does not and never has operated stores outside of the United States.
The Target corporation has a policy of philantropy and has been a vigorous member of the "keystone program". Under the program, companies aim to donate between 2 and 5 percent of their federally taxable incomes to charity. Target has a standard no-solicitation rule at its properties.
Exemptions were traditionally made for the Salvation Army to station its red kettles outside Target stores during the Christmas season. The Salvation Army has a standard policy of donating proceeds from the red kettles to the community from which they were derived on the basis of need, with the most needy receiving help first. They are also one of the charities with the lowest management overheads. Volunteers ringing the bells along the red kettles are sometimes
It was determined for the 2004 Christmas season that the Salvation Army would no longer be allowed to station bell-ringers or the traditional red kettles at Target stores. The Salvation Army estimates that they generate 8% of their revenue from red kettles stationed outside Target stores.