Bah Humbug!

No, this is NOT in reference to the wonderful vacation I just had.
It is in reference to the fact that as of a couple of weeks ago -- Sept. 17th, in fact -- my local Target store (in Sunny California, where it's still topping out around 82-degrees) had already put up CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS for pete's sake! Bah humbug indeed!!

Blogger's Holiday

Believe it or not, in addition to writing this blog I also have a full-time job... which is how I can afford to shop at Target so much ;-)

But after enduring a very busy period at my company and working 12-hour days for the past 4 months, I'm taking a long overdue summer vacation. And to make it a true vacation, I'm heading to the beach to unwind and unplug -- which means no computer or blogging for a while. Apologies for the hiatus, but I promise to be back in October - relaxed and refreshed - with daily Target posts.

Pick of the Week

It's pick of the week time: each Sunday I pick one great buy from Target's Weekly ad (in the Sunday newspaper) and highlight it here on my blog. Today's pick is the Rival Crock-Pot 4qt. slow cooker, on sale this week for just $16.99. Now that we're heading into fall, this Crock-Pot will be perfect for making pot roasts, stews, casseroles and other hearty fare. And to find a whole slew of slow-cook recipes, check out FamilyCrockpotRecipes.com.

John Derian for Target

After scoping the blogosphere this morning, I guess I'm the last person on earth to learn this news... but apparantly Target has tapped John Derian to design a new stationery and home decor collection. Derian, known for his artisan decoupage techniques, will bring his affinity for nature to his new limited-edition (and also wallet-friendly) collection for Target.

Who is John Derian, you ask? Well, there's a very brief bio on Target.com, so for more scoop check out this NY Times article. He has a devoted following to his stores in NYC and Provincetown, Massachusetts, who are drawn to the old-world charm of his designs. His retail stores carry decoupage paperweights, vases and serving dishes — one-of-a-kind pieces covered with layered images of flowers, animals and antique script sealed under handblown glass — that are coveted but also come at a price. Paperweights the size of your thumb start at $30, and larger items can cost several thousand dollars. So this budget-line for Target will be warmly welcomed, where Derian’s Old World aesthetic will be available to a much wider audience and at a much lower-price point. Look for the John Derian collection of stationery, wrapping paper, coasters, photo albums, plates and home decor at Target starting on Sept. 7th, including this melamine bird tray (pictured) for about $17.

Chai on clearance at Target

Richard Chai's Go International collection is now on clearance for 30% off at Target. While the selection of leftovers at my local Target stores was sparse, there's still a wide variety of items left at Target.com.

While I wasn't a fan of Chai's collection overall, this long cardigan (pictured, on sale for $27.99) is a good pick for those cool Autumn nights coming up. In addition to this "Washed Indigo" color (which looks more like a light charcoal gray if you ask me) it also comes in basic black.

Fugly, part deux

Both Racked.com and TheBudgetFashionista have posted more pics from the upcoming Jonathan Saunders collection for Target... and it all looks like more of the same fugliness that I blogged about last week.

TheBudgetFashionista makes the point that "These pieces may not be for everyone, but that’s kind of the point of some of these Target/designer partnerships". However, I think Target needs to widen their reach a bit to appeal beyond the 18-24 year-old art-student types (which frankly is the only demographic I can see wearing this stuff).

Consumer Alert: Target recalls Circo baby socks

Target is recalling a line of socks as they may pose a choking hazard to babies. The Circo Rosette Bobbie Socks, sold exclusively at Target, are being recalled as a ribbon on the sock can detach and a child could swallow it. Target had recieved four reports of the ribbon detaching, but no injuries have been reported.

The recalled Circo Bobbie Socks were sold in packs of six (pink, purple, plain white and three pairs with a box), ranging in size from 6- to 12-months, 12- to 24-months and 2T to 5T. The socks are packaged in a green and white sleeve with a Circo-brand logo on the front.

The socks were sold Target stores nationwide from January 2007 to July 2008 for about $6. If you purchased a pair, you're encouraged to bring them back to Target for a full refund. For additional information, contact Target at (800) 440-0680 between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.target.com.

Christina Aguilera's greatest hits CD, exclusively at Target

(From the Associated Press)

Christina Aguilera has become the latest musical act to release an album exclusively through one retailer. The multiplatinum singer announced Wednesday that her greatest hits CD "Keeps Gettin' Better — A Decade of Hits" will be released only at Target. The CD, out Nov. 11, will feature two new songs as well as rerecorded versions of two other hits, "Genie in a Bottle" and "Beautiful."

"I can't believe it's been over 10 years since my first album and it was really exciting to put all of my favorite songs in one collection for my fans," said Aguilera.

Aguilera is following a growing list of acts who have struck exclusive deals with retailers. Wal-Mart has had huge success with similar deals with The Eagles, Journey, and Garth Brooks; AC/DC's October release of "Black Ice" will be available only at Wal-Mart, its affiliated Sam's Club and the band's Web site. The Eagles comeback album, "Long Road Out of Eden," was the third-best selling CD of 2007 with 2.6 million copies sold.

Target exclusively released John Legend's "Live from Philadelphia" in January and has had other exclusive releases of special edition albums by the likes of Alicia Keys and Carrie Underwood.

Wednesday's Rave: Dean Harris for Target

It's a rare occurance these days that a much-hyped guest designer at Target actually lives up to all the hoopla. That rarity is here, my friends, and his name is Dean Harris. Known for putting a fun twist on natural materials and nature-inspired themes, Harris has brought his magic to Target at down-to-earth prices. And in short, the collection is AMAZING and definitely worthy of a rave. Seriously, there isn't one piece out of this collection I wouldn't want to own and wear. I already bought the delicate green-quartz necklace as well as these cutout-pattern gold-plated sterling hoop earrings (pictured at left). And my next purchase will probably be these silver dangle-leaf earrings, or the twisted-vine hoops. Honestly, I can't decide....I want it all!

Rogan Gregory now 75% off at Target.com

MadisonAvenueSpy reports the following:

It's a little known fact that Target aggressively marks down merchandise to move them out quickly. Part of the reason why Target is such a wonder company is because it's amazing inventory turnover --a financial measure of how quickly goods move through the company. It's the envy of most retailers at 8.7 times a year. Saks, on the other hand, has a annual inventory turnover of 3.86 times.

So what does all this mean for you? It’s simple: this classic strapless little-black-dress by Rogan is a steal at just under $10 on Target.com, and the rest of the leftover Rogan merchandise is a whopping 75% off.