Tuesday's Rant: Garden/Patio already replaced with BTS

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. Regular readers will find this rant familiar: that by late June/early July, Target is already shutting down their Garden & Patio section in stores and replacing it with all the BTS (Back To School) supplies. This frustrates me no end, as the Summer has barely started. Likewise, Target.com is already hyping their "College Made for U" College Registry.

So at this point, if you want any patio furniture, head online where the selection is 30% off. I've also noticed in stores that Target is already replacing their straw hat selection with wool and felt caps (???!) so if you need a Summer skimmer, better buy it now before they're all gone.

Lilly lingers, but isn't marked down...

If you look hard, there  is still a smattering of Lilly Pulitzer for Target merchandise left in some stores. But at this point (8+ weeks since launch) Target's design collabs are usually marked down on clearance, and I haven't seen that happen with the Lilly stuff yet.

As I mentioned almost 2 months ago, this jumpsuit (pictured) seems to be one of the items still consistently found in stores, usually mixed in on the racks with other jumpsuits and maxi dresses by Mossimo and Xhilaration. Other items I've seen recently are the pineapple thong sandals, string lights, juice glasses and the ever-present nail files. And if you're wondering why/how returns are still trickling in (despite the 2-week return window for this collab) I've been told by readers that they've been able to return Lilly items by accepting store credit vs. a refund of their original payment method.

If you're still craving a little Lilly - but don't want to pay full price - my fellow blogger The Recessionista advises that the brand will hosting an Extending Summer Since 1959ish exclusive one-day promotion to celebrate the summer season and 4th of July holiday. On Friday, July 3rd, a special one-day promotion will be offered in-store and online. Gifts with purchase include:

• Spend $200 and receive a limited edition beach towel
• Spend $1,000 or more and receive 5 limited edition beach towels

Three New Brands Added to Target Collective

Back in March Target introduced Target Collective, the retailer’s first curated design-focused collection tailored just for men. Now Target is adding three new brands to the collective: bag makers Stone and Cloth, clothiers with a purpose Parks Project and eyewear experts Shwood. And this time, they're bringing apparel and accessories for both men AND women to the mix. You can check out all the offerings by Target Collective here on Target.com.

Double-Take: Arteriors vs. Threshold

It's time for another double-take, where we take one item from Tar-shay and match it up against a lookalike - yet pricier - designer piece. Today we're looking at two nautical-inspired rope lamps which would make a lovely accent piece in a room with casual or rustic decor. But one is by Arteriors (available at Interior Homescapes) and will set you back a whopping $600, whereas the other one is by Threshold (at Target) and costs just $44.99. Which one is which? The answer appears in the comments section below.

The Eddie Borgo for Target Lookbook

A little over a month ago I told you about Target's next designer collab, which will be with Eddie Borgo. Now A Bullseye View has posted pics from the collection's lookbook, which you can view here. Target dubs the collection of customizable necklaces, charms, bracelets, belts, and bags as "Inspired by the craft culture of 60s and 70s"....creating "astronomical style opportunities for everyone from DIY divas to the edgiest fashionistas, with its unique mix-and-match pieces and hand-assembled geometric parts."

Priced from $7.99 to $49.99, the Eddie Borgo for Target collection will be available at select Target stores and on Target.com beginning July 12th. While some of the pieces are pretty, I agree with fellow blogger The Budget Babe that this collab is no bargain. While individual pieces are affordable, the whole point is to mix, match, layer, and design your own creations... which can certainly add up fast. Case in point: these 3 customized bracelets (shown) add up to almost $100 total.

Housewarming Gift Ideas from Target...

A Bullseye View has posted 3 great ideas for housewarming gift baskets, all made with products available at Target, of course! They include suggestions for the "first time home owner", for "the expanding family" and for "the empty nesters" (shown here). The white geometric vase pictured is by Nate Berkus and I actually gave it to my mom on Mother's Day and she absolutely loved it.

The Look for Less: Joss & Main vs. Threshold

Turtle motifs keep popping everywhere, like this fun little "Gretchen Trinket Box" shown on the left from Joss & Main. It's cute, but a little spendy at $55 (on sale from $99.85!). But you can get a much more wallet-friendly version with the Threshold "Tortoise Decorative Dish" (at Target) for just $14.99.

The Look for Less: Joie vs. Mossimo

Kudos to Every Little Penny for finding this lookalike sandal. The simple natural leather thong shown on top is by Joie (available at Zappos) and will set you back a steep $125. But you can get the look for less with the "Ainsley" sandal by Mossimo (at Target, shown on bottom) for just $19.99. Yes, Mossimo's version is in a darker tan color, but the style is virtually identical.

Jessica Alba to launch "Honest Beauty"

Racked reports that The Honest Company - Jessica Alba's startup now valued at $1 billion - is getting into the beauty biz. The brand, which is sold at Target and got its start with non-toxic, eco-friendly diapers, has expanded into other categories like household cleaning products, soap, lotions, and baby gear. Alba posted the news earlier this week, but the only detail she revealed is that Honest Beauty will launch this fall.

I assume that Honest Beauty will be sold at Target stores and on Target.com (just like all the other Honest brand products) but be sure to follow them on Facebook or on Instagram if want more updates on this upcoming line.

Wednesday's Rave: Nite Nite Munki Munki

I am obsessed with these adorable PJs from Target! The brand is Nite Nite Munki Munki, and a little research shows this is the budget version (at half the price) of the MunkiMunki sleepwear line at Nordstrom.  

Although stores have been spotty with carrying them, I've found the full selection available on Target.com. They come in fun prints like little Winnebago campers, knitting sheep, and the "dancing chickens" (shown here, with a close up of the print so you can see the detail).  In addition to nightshirts, they also have sleep pants, shorts, and coordinating solid ribbed tank tops. And best of all, they all come in a super-soft fabric blend that's heavenly to the touch.

Tuesday's Rant: Target.com No Longer Carries Petites

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. So this rant was supposed to be about the lack of petite maxi dresses at Target this season. In years past, I was able to buy cute maxi dresses online (like the one shown here) in petite lengths which was perfect for vertically-challenged people like me. However recently I noticed that neither Merona nor Mossimo were offering maxis in petite lengths anymore, which frustrated me.

Then I became even more irritated when I did a search on Target.com and found NO petite sizes whatsoever! They seem to have disappeared entirely. In fact, the only "petites" I can find on their site is in hosiery and lingerie. What gives, Target? Have you pushed out Petites to make way for your new Plus Size offerings?

CVS and Target Sign Agreement

CVS Health and Target announced today that they have entered into a definitive agreement for CVS Health to acquire Target’s pharmacy and clinic businesses for approximately $1.9 billion. Through this agreement, CVS Health will acquire Target’s more than 1,660 pharmacies across 47 states and operate them through a store-within-a-store format, branded as CVS/pharmacy. In addition, a CVS/pharmacy will be included in all new Target stores that offer pharmacy services. Target’s nearly 80 clinic locations will be rebranded as MinuteClinic, and CVS Health will open up to 20 new clinics in Target stores within three years of the close of the transaction.

Sale Alert: Furniture & Home Decor

Attention shoppers! If you've been wanting to spruce up your nest, now's the time. Target has just put most of their Home Decor department on sale for 30% -50% off in stores. And online, Target is running a "Home Brand" sale (up to 30% off) on merchandise from Threshold, Safaveih, Inspire Q and more.

Target's "A Fit for Every Body" Campaign

Racked reports that Target's newest swimwear campaign uses the tagline "A Fit For Every Body," and instead of models, Target is once again partnering with bloggers for a video and photoshoot. For this campaign, Nashelly Messina of Fabulatina, Nikki Minton of My Style Diaries, Sarah Boyd of Simply Stylist, and Chantè Burkett of Everything Curvy and Chic all wrote sponsored posts about their experience finding a Target swimsuit with the help of Target stylist Zanna Roberts Rassi. In the campaign, Rassi asks each blogger about their favorite parts of their body and their challenging areas. Then she explains why she picked out each suit for each blogger.

Blogger Messina explained why she thinks the campaign will resonate with shoppers: "It's not just about not working with models or bloggers that look like models. It's about partnering with average sized women who are relatable and aspirational. Consumers are ready to see themselves in campaigns and thankfully Target understands that."

And Burkett wrote in her blog, "Being the only plus size girl in this swimsuit campaign really challenged my confidence, and to be honest I never felt more confident in my life. Target wanted to showcase real women in swimsuits and if this isn't real I don't know what is. Finally a major brand who wanted to showcase someone who looks just like me, yes that is me but you guys understand where I'm coming from."

However, I'm questioning why Target only featured ONE plus-sized body in this campaign - ?
If Target truly cared about showing a range of sizes and body types, they should have done just that.

New at Target: Q Drinks

The other day at Target I noticed something new: Q Drinks in 4-packs of slim cans. There were three varieties - Ginger Ale, Ginger Beer and Club Soda - although Q Drinks' website shows that they also make a "Kola", Tonic, and a variety of fruit flavors. It turns out that Q Drinks is owned by Schweppes, so they have a long history in the beverage industry.

According to their website, Q Drinks are "...clean, crisp, completely un-generic beverages that enhance the finest spirits and stand proudly on their own. We use the best ingredients we can find — organic agave from the Mexican countryside, quinine from the slopes of the Peruvian Andes, ginger from the fields of Southeast Asia, and salt from the Himalayas." Q Drinks also eschew "unpronounceable ingredients" and "high fructose corn syrup."  

Father's Day Gift Ideas from Target

Target has a bunch of stuff on sale for Father's Day (June 21) this week, including polo shirts and shorts at 40% off, and watches and shoes at 20% off. They also are running deals on selected electronics. 

Or you could splurge on something from the Target Collective (shown here, which I told you about back in March) dubbed a "curation of well-made, limited offerings from desirable brands." You can check out the offerings from the Collective here, but keep in mind you should order soon if you want your gift to arrive by Father's Day.

New at Target: WD.NY

Poking around the clearance racks at Target, I keep seeing this brand pop up: WD.NY.  Looks like Target.com has a whole brand shop supporting this line, with offerings for both men and women. This brand sounded familiar to me, and sure enough, after a bit of research I found that WD.NY is also sold at department stores like Macy's, Dillards and Belk. Target's version is dubbed "WD.NY Black", and retails at a slightly lower price point. Target.com also has several items from this line on clearance, like this pretty pink beaded top on sale for just $19.98.

Target replaces SVP of Store Operations...

According to the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, Target's head of store operations has left the company and has been replaced by an employee who started her career with The Bullseye more than 20 years ago.

Bryan Everett, senior vice president of store operations, announced his departure May 20 with a tweet. Everett started as a store team leader in Indianapolis in 2002, according to his LinkedIn profile.

Everett has been replaced by Cindy Hudson. Hudson started on the sporting goods floor when she was only 20, and rose to vice president of asset protection, according to an interview she did with workingmother.com.

Fab Find: Watermelon Doormat

Kudos to the The Budget Babe for discovering this fab find: this super-cute watermelon slice doormat from Target. At only $12, it's a pretty fab deal, too. I couldn't find it anywhere online, but I've already seen it in a couple of stores, so get yours before they sell out for the summer!

Coming Soon to Target: Self Checkout

Yesterday I noticed in horror (as I'm not a fan of the concept) 4 new "self checkout" lanes being installed at my local Target. Now after doing a little digging online, I found out that "self checkouts" at Target aren't anything new; they actually debuted them a while ago in some areas (close to their Minneapolis headquarters) and then launched a "new and improved" self checkout system last August. But this is the first time I had ever seen them at a store in Northern California.

I also found some online forums with very lively discussions on how well they do - or don't - work. There were arguments on whether they take coupons; some folks said they did, and others said they only took certain coupons. And allegedly if you are trying to purchase one of Target's "BOGO" deals (which they seem to run all the time) the register won't recognize it and you'll need to call over a clerk to help you.

Most distressing to me is the fact that these new self checkout lanes are taking the place of the former "express lanes" (for 10 items or less) at my local store, meaning we'll no longer have express lanes. I just think this is a bad idea all the way around. What do you think, readers? Are you a fan of "self checkout" lanes, and if so, do you think they're a good idea at Target?

Wednesday's Rave: CeraVe Therapeutic Hand Cream

My mom recently recommended CereVe Therapeutic Hand Cream to me,  and once I tried it, I was hooked. My hands (and cuticles) get SO dry, especially in Summer, so I'm constantly on the hunt for an effective hand cream that works AND won't leave a greasy film behind. This hand cream delivers on both counts. And since it keeps getting sold out at our local CVS and Walgreens, I was thrilled to discover today that Target carries it - both in stores and online.

Target's Mad for Plaid...

The calendar hasn't even reached the first day of summer yet, but Target already wants us to start thinking about Fall. The Bullseye is planning a "plaid takeover" this Fall, bringing tartan touches to everything from home goods and must-have fashions to plaid Coke bottles, shampoo bottles, ChapStick tubes, dog leashes, Band-Aids, paper towels... the list goes on and on. Target’s plaid takeover begins in August and will continue through October, and prices range from $1.99-$179.99.

And to prove they're even more mad for plaid, Target has tapped designer Adam Lippes to create more than 50 items inspired by buffalo plaid for the Adam Lippes for Target collection of apparel, accessories, pet goods and home furnishings.  Adam Lippes for Target launches at all Target stores and on Target.com on Sept. 27th, and you can read more about this designer collab here on A Bullseye View. 

New at Target: Peanuts Summer Collection

This Fall the Peanuts gang will make a splash on the big screen in the beloved comic strip’s much-anticipated feature film, "The Peanuts Movie."  So to celebrate the upcoming movie debut - as well as the comic strip's 65th anniversary - Target has introduced a collection aimed at summer family fun. With more than 100 exclusive products starring Charlie Brown, Lucy and, of course, Snoopy, the items range in price from $1.00, up to $34.99 and features things like tents, beach towels, pool floats, picnic blankets, sippy cups, tableware, toys, and more. They even have 3-packs of Up&Up Suncreen imprinted with the beloved Peanuts characters. 

You can find these products in a special section near the Patio & Garden aisle. But act fast; friends of mine with little kids have warned me that popular items like the tent (shown here at top) and pool floats have already sold out, and even small items (like the sunscreen) are flying from shelves.

The Look for Less: Macy's vs. Target

Kudos to eagle-eyed reader JJWalleye for finding this one, proving that it pays to shop around! The cute sparkle-toe espadrille on the left is by White Mountain (at Macy's) and will set you back $59.99. But the one on the right - which is virtually identical - is by Mountain Sole (at Target.com) and is on sale this week for just $31.99 (regularly $39.99).

Fab Find: Hannahmax Cookie Chips

Recently at Target I found these delectable Cookie Chips from Hannahmax Baking. I tried both the Sea Salted Peanut Butter flavor (shown here) as well as the Cinnamon Sugar, and both were delicious. Their tagline is "Tastes like a Cookie, Eats like a Chip", which is true: these are super thin, extra crunchy treats. Plus they're made from hormone-free butter, cage-free eggs, and contain no GMOs.

The only problem is that I found these on a clearance endcap in the Grocery Section for $1.98 bag (down from $3.99 each). The sale price was great and all, but now I can't find them at Target anymore. I think these cookies were part of Target's latest Made to Matter promotion which hit stores 5-6 weeks ago. Hopefully Target will stock these regularly, but if not, it looks like they are carried at many other stores (including Safeway, Fred Meyer, Whole Foods, Vons, and Raley's).