New at Target: Threshold

Back in May I alerted you that Target was planning to introduce a new home decor line called Threshold.  And yesterday at the hair salon - while flipping through the latest issue of Latina Magaine - I saw a lovely leather and flannel oversized tote to hold magazines and newspapers.  It was featured in an article about home organization, and lo and behold, the nifty tote was by Threshold at Target.

Alas, I can't find the article on Latina's website, and Target doesn't seem to have the tote available online yet.  However, I notice that they do have a bunch of others Threshold items.  Some items that showed up in the search are listed as "Target Home", which makes me wonder whether Threshold is simply the new name for Target's home decor, and if the Target Home name will go away - ?

PS: shown here is the closest thing I could find online - a tweed tote by Crate & Barrel.  Unfortunately, the tote is no longer available.

Double-Take: Kate Spade vs. Merona

It's time for another double-take, where we take one item from the Bullseye and match it up against a lookalike - and much pricer - designer piece.  This time we're looking at suede wedge pumps, which looks to be a popular style for Fall.  While both of these black suede pumps may look similar, the big difference is the price.  One is the "Allie Sport" style from Kate Spade (available at Neiman Marcus) and will set you back a whopping $255.  The other is the "Melinda" style from Merona (at Target) and will only cost you $29.99.  Which one is which?  The answer appears in the comments section below.

Wednesday's Rave: Sonia Kashuk's Completely Organized Bag

As someone who likes to switch handbags several times a week, I need to get my hands on one of these things!  Sonia Kashuk's new Completely Organized Bag helps you bring order beyond your makeup bag with this hold-everything purse organizer. With convenient compartments for your cell phone, keys and beauty must-haves, your everyday essentials will be at your finger tips with this case that fits easily into your purse or tote. The water-resistant nylon is simple to clean, and will protect your bag while helping it hold its shape. Available only in Target stores (not online) the Completely Organized Bag is just $14.99.

New at Target: Spotify gift cards

Starting this week — and for the first time in the U.S.— Spotify gift cards will be offered for sale at Target stores across the country. The perfect gift fot the music lover in your life, the cards will be available in amounts of  $10, $30 and $60. 

Spotify Premium subscribers can use gift cards to access millions of tracks, off-line playback, full mobile access, and — best of all — no ads. “We are excited to be working together with Target to offer people an easy way to give the gift of music,” says Ken Parks, Spotify CCO and Managing Director, North America. “Whether you want to listen to your favorite artist over and over again, easily share your playlists with friends or be inspired and discover emerging talent — you can do it all with Spotify, wherever you are.”

Beware: text scam offers free Target gift card

FoxNews Atlanta is reporting there's a text going around offering a free gift card from Target.  The only problem is, it's not legit.

A new text scam tries to lure you in with a very inviting offer to claim a $1000 gift card. The text appears to come from the well-respected company Target, but it doesn't.  And while the offer looks real, it's not.  Once you click the link, you're then asked to give up personal information.  Most likely, this is an identity theft scam from "smishers" trying to gain vital information like bank account numbers, private passwords and Social Security numbers.

If you receive one of these texts, delete it immediately.  And for more safety tips, check out this Bullseye View article on "outsmarting the smishers". 

Has Target phased out Dwell Studio?

Dwell Studio debuted at Target way back in 2008, and hasn't really had any major new offerings for a couple of years.  I do remember seeing a bunch of Dwell Studio kitchen merchandise - tableclothes, table runners and napkins - on clearance a couple of months ago. And after trying to look for Dwell Studio bedding at my local Target store the other day - and not being able to find any - it occured to me the Bullseye might be phasing this line out.

In checking Target.com, there's only a handful of Dwell Studio things left, and all of them baby items.  Perhaps the retailer is simply making way for the upcoming Nate Berkus Collection for Target, set to debut in October.

Target beats Walmart in monthly price battle...

Target  is living up to the second half of its "Expect more. Pay less." slogan by winning the latest round in its pricing battle with retail rival Walmart. Target this month had lower prices than Walmart for the first time since October, according to research conducted by Bloomberg Industries.

The chain also led by its widest margin since the monthly study began two years ago. The study examined the gap in average price across a basket of 150 like items at stores within 5 miles of each other.

The discounters are fighting for U.S. customers who are still dealing with high unemployment and slow wage growth. Both chains also are facing more competition from online retailers such as Amazon.com, which offers free shipping and is adding distribution centers to speed up delivery time.

Product Review: Conair infiniti Pro Spin Air Brush

Have you seen all the TV commercials lately for the Conair infiniti Pro Spin Brush?  And the infomercial on YouTube?  As well as the countless video reviews also on YouTube?  Well I have, and as a sucker for anything promising to “tame my mane”, I recently bought one at Target. 

Here’s what the thing promises to do: “The infinitiPRO spin air brush from Conair will help you achieve huge volume and lots of shine. Its ceramic barrel features two speeds and three heat settings, so you can create lush contours and curls that suit your style.”

And here’s what numerous testimonials on YouTube told me: that it was hard to use at first, but when you get the hang of it, it works wonders.  That it works best on almost dry hair; to not try to use on wet/damp hair (as you’ll end up with a tangled mess) but if you use it on hair that’s 90% air-dried, it’s amazing.  That it makes your hair shiny beyond belief, and that your hair keeps its shape so that you don’t even need hair product or hairspray. 

And here’s the truth – at least with my hair: it’s not only harder to use than the traditional round brush and blow-dryer method, but it left my hair a frizzy mess as well.  The barrel and handle of this particular product is a full 2”, which is pretty hard to handle if you have small hands like me.  While I got the hang of it fairly quickly, it was hard to keep the brush moving and pushing the right buttons with such a large handle.  I definitely think the tips about using it on almost-dried hair were spot-on, but I never got to the “shiny, lustrous locks” that other satisfied users did.  It did straighten my hair temporarily, but I felt when I was done that I still needed a bit of hairspray to “lock everything” in place.  When I first left the house, it looked pretty good….but by the end of the day, the style fell out, leaving my locks flat on top with dried-out, frizzed out ends.

Needless to say, I’ll be returning this to Target… and thank goodness they accept returns on items like this!  For me, this tool was a waste of time and money.  But it obviously works for some folks, hence all the hype.  What about you, dear readers?  Have you tried a tool like this, and does it work for you?

Target merchandise now showing up at Salvation Army stores...

I've blogged in the past about Target donating unsold items to Goodwill.  But come to find out, Salvation Army stores are now buying overstocked items and returns from Target.  According to this article from the Twin Cities Star Tribune, second-hand stores are now stepping up their merchandise selection to retain the middle-class shoppers who found them during the recession. While the bulk of their business is still selling used goods, most thrift stores also are offering new wares, sometimes by forming relationships with national retail chains (like Target and Walmart).

Roberto Cavalli for Target Australia

Target Australia – which as a reminder, is not affiliated with our beloved Target U.S. – has nabbed another high-end designer for a hi/lo collaboration.  This Fall, Target AU will serve up glamourous fashions from Italian designer Roberto Cavalli.  Known for his sexy, supermodel-ready designs - including a penchant for animal print and embellishment - the Italian designer's collection will range in size from 8 to 16 and be priced from $49 to $129. Shown here are one of the dresses from Cavalli’s collection for Target AU, modeled by Karolina Kukova.

This collab marks the retailer’s reinvigoration of its Designers For Target initiative,  with Italian maestro Cavalli kicking it off.  The collection will be exclusive to Target in Australia, and will launch on October 31. Thereafter, the initiative - which has been occasional at best since its first Stella McCartney collection in 2007, followed by Zac Posen in 2008  -  will increase in frequency to four or five collections per year.

Bargain hunting at Target...

Thank you to reader Heavenknoes for alerting me to this YahooShine article on how to save money when shopping at Target.  Some of the tips looked familiar, and in searching my blog archives, I remembered why: way back in 2008, I wrote this post that linked to a similar article.  Some of the key tips are as follows:

Crack the "secret code" on Target’s famous red clearance stickers.
If you look up in the right top corner of those red stickers, you'll find a teeny-tiny number: 15, 30, 50, or 75. Those numbers equal the percent off the item.

Look for deals on returned online-only items.
Some of the best deals you'll find at Target are returned online-only items that the store doesn't want to bother sending back to their distribution center.  Most of the time they go straight to 90% off because there is no place for them on the store planogram. These deeply discounted items often end up on the end caps of rarely trafficked aisles. I found some great deals on Missoni for Target this way.

Get to know Target's discount schedule.
In general, Target reduces items as follows:
Monday: Children's clothing, baby items, electronics, and office supplies/gift wrap/stationary.
Tuesday: Women's clothing, home decor and domestic items

Wednesday: Men's clothing, toys, food, health and beauty, garden items
Thursday: Housewares, lingerie, shoes, sporting goods, luggage

Friday: Cosmetics, jewelry, hardware, automotive, and home improvement

Read the entire YahooShine article for even more tips and tricks. Also, check out All Things Target for Target coupons and BOGO deals.

Back at Target: Poketo

A little over  two years ago the design house Poketo - founded by L.A. artists Ted Vadakan and Angie Myung - created a limited edition collection for Target. That line included over 20 Poketo artists for a 52-piece collection of bags, wallets, and accessories, which was released in over 1700 stores and quickly sold out.

Now Poketo is back for round 2 - with with a selection of dated planners, desktop and wall calendars - just in time for back-to-school. This collection is available now for a very limited time in select Target stores only; sadly, the goods aren't offered on Target.com.  For the full list of stores plus pictures of the collection, check out Poketo's website.

Diet Coke's new look...

Coca-Cola - in an effort to maintain Diet Coke's #2 spot in the soda market - is giving the brand a new, edgier feel.  They're bringing back a limited-edition design it tried out last fall, MSN Money reports. The design zooms in on the "D" and "k" in the old Diet Coke logo, a bold crop that still retains the familiar silver, black and red colors.

Adweek describres the look as "a modish and (for a global brand) even daring design that refuses to reveal the brand's complete name." You can still find the entire name on a small part of the can.

Coca-Cola tested the design at Target stores in the San Francisco bay area, and knew it was a success when they saw a growth in sales that outpaced the rest of the country.

Merona Dress BOGO: Today Only!

Attention, readers!  Today only (Aug. 17th) Target.com is having a BOGO event on select Merona dresses.  That's right: buy one, and get one free...plus free shipping, too!  For more information, head over to the TargetStyle page on Facebook.

Sneak Peek: The Curiosity Shoppe for Target

TargetStyle's Facebook page has posted a sneak peek of their upcoming The Curiosity Shoppe for Target collection.  Check out the continental-US cutting board and the cute question mark plates!  As a reminder, the next installment of The Shops at Target launches in stores and online on Sept. 9th.

Double-Take: Anthropologie vs. Mossimo

It's time for another double-take, where we take one item from Target and match it up against a lookalike (and pricier) designer piece. And kudos to reader Channyn for bringing this one to my attention!  One of these pairs of gray suede oxfords are from Anthropologie, and will set you back  $79.  Target’s version by Mossimo - on the other hand - is  just $19.99.  Which one is which?  The answer appears in the comments section below.

Kirna Zabete for Target Lookbook

Today is August 10th; do you know what that means?  It means that less than a month from today (Sept. 9th) the next installment of The Shops at Target will debut.  So today I thought we’d take a look at the Kirna Zabete lookbook on A Bullseye View.  After viewing it,  I think that some of the looks are pretty (like this dress, shown here) while others are tacky (like the lip-motif clutch bags and jewelry).  Of course, everything in the lookbook is extremely styled.  Taken on their own, some items – especially the leather biker jacket, leopard trench, and tuxedo jacket  – are both fashionable and functional. 

What do you think, readers?  Is Kirna Zabete a line you plan to buy?

Wednesday's Rave: Method Olive Leaf Body Wash

Regular readers of this blog already know that I love Method brand products.  And today's rave is about a Method product I just bought at Target: the Olive Leaf Body Wash (shown here).  One of the original scents in Method's body wash line, it disappeared for a couple of years before being re-introduced in January. I was already a big fan of their White Tea Body Wash, so when I recently ran out of it I decided to try the Olive Leaf instead.  And I'm glad I did: it has a delicately herbal/floral scent, which is a bit deeper than the lighter & crisper White Tea.  I love both of them, and plan to put both in rotation in my bathroom.

And speaking of Method, I have a bit more news on those Orla Kiely special edition Method soap bottles. They will come in 4 brand new scents:  bay leaf, vanilla chai, primrose, and pear ginger. All will be available in gel and foaming hand wash, and the pear ginger will also be available in dish soap and all-purpose cleaner. I hear that the new hand washes are already hitting store shelves at some Targets, but the actual date for release is mid-August.

Tuesday's Rant: some Target stores now charging for bags

On Tuesdays I sometimes take the opportunity to rant about something I do not like about Target… because although I love ‘em to death, they ain’t perfect. Today's rant stems from a trip I took to the Sunnyvale Target store yesterday - an outlet I don't go to that often, and hadn't been to in a couple of months.  And since my last visit, I discovered that Sunnyvale has become one of those ultra-liberal California cities that has banned all plastic bags by retailers.  Therefore, upon checkout, I was given the choice of A) using my own bags (which I didn't have with me, since I didn't know about the policy) or B) buying paper shopping bags (as shown) for 10-cents each.  And that will be the last time I visit that store.

Now don't get me wrong: I love the environment, and I'm a huge recycler.  I just think that consumers should be given the choice.  I tried to dig for some background information on the web this morning and according to this article from the Twin Cities Star Tribune, Target spokeswoman Katie Boylan said the company "has no set policy on bags." And indeed in most parts of the country, it seems that Target is defaulting to plastic bags at a time many focus on sustainability. It also cites that "many customers say they prefer plastic bags because they can reuse them to store dog waste or line garbage cans."  I fall into that camp: I reuse my plastic bags and then recycle them. 

And I realize I should probably focus my frustration on the stupid local ordinances vs. Target's policy, as I'm sure they were forced to comply with Sunnyvale's new law.  However, they don't have to pass the cost on to the consumer, as according to the aftormentioned article, at Target stores where they DO offer a choice between paper and plastic, they don't charge extra for one or the other.

And the winner is...

The winner of my latest blog giveaway - for the Jonathan Adler for Diet Pepsi straws - is Jacquelyn! Her entry was picked by the random number generator over at Random.org. Congrats, Jacquelyn; I have emailed you for your mailing address, and as soon as I get it, I can send out your prize. And thanks again to everyone who entered and for reading my blog!

Target needs to pick a side and stick with it...

Target can't seem to decide on its stance on gay marriage. A couple of years ago the retailer donated money to a group that was backing an anti-gay-marriage candidate. That angered some people, so to help make ammends it released a series of gay pride t-shirts to raise money to help repeal the gay marriage ban. But soon afterwards, the company seemed to switch positions again, refusing to sell Frank Ocean's new album after he came out of the closet (though Target execs insisted his sexual preference didn’t come into play).

Now the Bullseye has flip-flopped yet again by releasing this ad showing two grooms embracing along with the words, "Build a Target wedding gift registry as unique as the two of you."  Confused?  So am I.  Target just needs to pick a side and stick with it.

Target's Fall 2012 Lookbook...

Target has posted the entire (69 page!) 2012 Fall Fashion Lookbook over at A Bullseye View showcasing their in-house brands like Mossimo, Merona, C9 by Champion, Converse One Star, Xhilaration, and Cherokee. Styled by celebrity stylist Sam Spector, the highlights include tweed jackets, leopard prints, and perfect pairs of utilitarian boots.

My take on the collection?  Most of the looks are just ho-hum, and I’m not a fan of the extreme pattern-mixing.  Furthermore, many of the outfits sport colors and styles that  look downright Spring & Summery vs. Fall-ish.  My favorites are probably panels 26, 37 and 43. To view the selection yourself, click here.

Coming to Target: Orla Kiely for Method

Thanks to the Piewacket blog, I just found out that Target will carry special Orla Kiely designed Method soap bottles this Fall.  If you recall, Orla’s last collab with Target back in 2009 was pretty much a sellout, so I plan to nab these while I can (especially at the wallet-friendly price of just $2.99 each!)

Reader Giveaway: Jonathan Adler for Diet Pepsi Straws

After the positive response I got from Monday’s post about the Jonathan Adler Diet Pepsi straws, I knew I had to use it for my next reader giveaway. So this time around, I’m giving away one canister of 50 limited edition biodegradable straws (as shown close up here in this stock photo, but rest assured that you’ll get a brand new package that hasn’t been opened or handled). According to the package, these were given away free with the purchase of two Diet Pepsi packs at Target, or $7.99 if sold separately.

To win, all you need to do is leave a comment on this post along with your email address by midnight on Sunday, Aug. 5th. This giveaway is limited to U.S. residents only, and the winner (picked at random) will be announced on Monday, Aug. 6th. Good luck!

New Fall Collection of Harajuku Mini for Target...

The Harajuku Mini for Target line (by Gwen Stefani) is still going strong with the introduction of a new Fall collection.  The back-to-school offerings (available now) are a  mash up of all the signature styles the singer-designer is known for—from punky plaid and animal prints to stripes and cute characters. With precious schoolgirl details like bows, pleats and suspenders, the latest set of Harajuku Mini is a mix of rock n’ roll meets boarding school.  To view a slideshow of Gwen's favorites from the line, click here.

Wednesday’s Rave: Springmaid “My Soft Sheet” set

I adore these sheets by Springmaid; they’re called the “My Soft Sheet” set, and they absolutely live up to their name. Right out of the box, they’re super-soft, and they get softer with each washing, but still stand up to wear and tear (unlike other sheets I’ve bought that have gotten softer, but then start to fall apart and wear thin).

So I was thrilled when I found another two pairs on clearance recently at my local Target store.  And then I realized why they were on sale: Target must be phasing them out, as they are no longer available  on Target’s website.  In fact, I’m wondering if Target is discontinuing their Springmaid offerings altogether, as many items from this brand are sold out online. You can still find these sheets in store (for now) and I plan to stock up while they’re still available.