Target's newest store is a preview of the chain's future
Targets everywhere are about to get a radical makeover.
The retailer opened the first of a new model of store this week in the Houston suburb of Richmond, Texas, kicking off what the company claims will be its most ambitious redesign to date.
Target has said it plans to pour billions of dollars into remodeling hundreds of its existing locations in the Richmond store's image over the next few years.
As the chain faces more competition than ever from online retailers, the new blueprint puts customer convenience above all else.
That focus starts with two separate entrances into the store, one for shoppers looking for a quick grocery run and the other for longer trips. There's also a parking zone outside where Target employees deliver online pickup orders to customers' cars.
As for the layout inside, Target says the floor plan is more open and the aisles are curved to better draw attention to certain products. The new stores will also be outfitted with new technology that will help employees more easily accommodate mobile purchases on the spot or arrange home deliveries.
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Target has been experimenting with different store formats for years as it's struggled to adapt to a changing retail landscape. Many of these efforts have centered on its grocery business and smaller market-style stores in urban areas and college towns.
The dual-entry design pairs elements of that more minimal model with the traditional Target store without overwhelming customers who might just want to pick up a gallon of milk.
Patrick Kulp is a Business Reporter at Mashable. Patrick covers digital advertising, online retail and the future of work. A graduate of UC Santa Barbara with a degree in political science and economics, he previously worked at the Pacific Coast Business Times.
