Target Raises Minimum Wage

Fortune reports that Target will raise the starting pay of its employees to $9 an hour starting next month. Both Walmart and T.J.Maxx already announced last month that minimum wage for their employees would bump up to $9 an hour. "Our goal is to always be competitive with the marketplace," a Target spokeswoman told the Wall St. Journal.

Coming Soon to Target: Of a Kind

This just in from Racked.com: e-commerce shop Of a Kind has hooked up with Target for a collection of home decor products by American-based brands, including wall art by Dealtry, animal bookends by Wolfum, and coasters, soap dishes, toothbrushes, and pillows by Izola.

All three brands are well-known to Of a Kind shoppers, but Target's national platform will allow the designers to tap into a much larger customer base. The collection is rolling out in 350 Target stores, but there are no plans to stock it online.

For close-up pics of the goods, check out the gallery here on Racked.com.

The Look for Less: Mossimo vs. Manolo Blahnik

I keep seeing this ad for Amazon (far left) both online and in print, including a full page spread in Sunday's NY Times. What strikes me (in addition to all the pretty Spring dresses!) are the minimalist sandals worn by each model, in a perfect nude-hue that goes with everything.

You COULD splurge and buy the Manolo Blahnik "Chaos" sandal (shown far right) for $725 at Barney's New York. Or you could save a LOT of hard-earned cash and buy the similar Mossimo version at Target (middle pic) for just $29.99.

Double-Take: Horchow vs. Target

It's time for another double-take, where we take one item from Tar-shay and match it up against a pricier designer piece. Today we're looking at two pretty, silver-stacked sea urchin lamps. They look pretty similar, but one is from Horchow and retails for $245 (on sale right now for $184) whereas the other one is from Target and only costs $79.99. Which one is which? The answer appears in the comments section below.

New at Target: Kardashian Beauty

I almost didn't share this story, as I'm not a fan of the K-clan. But starting this month, Kardashian Beauty will debut in Target’s beauty aisle.

The Kardashian Beauty professional-quality hair tools include the 3-in-1 Curl, Wave & Smooth Iron, the 1” Flat Iron and a Hair Dryer ($89.99 each). All are equipped to add shine and tame frizz, whether you’re going for straight & sleek look or a cascade of waves. “The design and functionality of Kardashian Beauty is the result of years of working with the world’s most talented hairstylists,” said Khloé Kardashian.

For insider tips on the best ways to use these hair tools, read this interview with Khloé on A Bullseye View.

New at Target: Method Scented Soy Candles

Attention Method fans! The beloved brand has just debuted a new line of scented soy candles, available exclusively at Target. The collection includes the following fragrances: French Lavender, Wild Poppy, Beach Sage, Apple Slice and Vanilla Bean.

Each candle retails for just $6.99, with a burn time of up to 24 hours. And each one comes in a pretty glass jar (which I'm hoping has the label just "stuck" on vs. printed directly to the surface, because then you can peel it off and reuse it for a votive holder or small vase).

Target Announces New Return Policy

According to CNN Money, Target has a new, more liberal return policy that will allow customers to return certain store-branded items up to one year after the date of purchase. Previously, the limit to receive a full refund was 90 days.

The policy covers brands owned exclusively by Target, including clothing lines Cherokee, Merona, Mossimo and C9 by Champion, as well as packaged foods by Archer Farms, kitchen goods by Chefmate and baby products by Circo. It also applies to brands designed or distributed by Target, such as the maternity line by Liz Lange and cosmetic products by Sonia Kashuk.

Target's return policy states that most unopened items in new condition will receive a refund or exchange. The retailer has also extended the amount of time customers have to return items purchased as part of its gift registry program to one-year from 90 days. Target offers gift registries for new babies, weddings and graduations.

The goal is to offer a shopping experience that's "inspiring and rooted in ease," said Target's chief merchandizing officer Kathee Tesija. "Our enhanced return policy offers our guests convenience we think they'll appreciate," said Tesija.