Target has been open since 1902. Here's what the retail store used to look like. (2024)

FAQs

What was Target in 1902? ›

The history of Target Corporation first began in 1902 by George Dayton. The company was originally named Goodfellow Dry Goods in June 1902 before being renamed the Dayton's Dry Goods Company in 1903 and later the Dayton Company in 1910.

Banker and real estate investor George Draper Dayton incorporated Target in 1902 as Goodfellow Dry Goods. The following year the name was changed to Dayton Dry Goods Company and shortened to Dayton Company in 1911.

The first Target discount store opened in Roseville, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis–Saint Paul, on May 1, 1962. Present-day properties are roughly 135,000 square feet (12,500 m²) and sell general merchandise, including hardlines and softlines.

Target Corp (Target) is a retailer of general merchandise and food products. The company's product portfolio includes baby and beauty products, clothing, electronic equipment, furniture, grocery, home and pet products, school and office supplies, shoes, sports and outdoor products, toys, and sports equipment.

To help all families discover the joy of everyday life. That's our purpose.

Target's commitment to quality and convenience became a cornerstone of its success. The company focused on improving the shopping experience by investing in employee training, modernizing stores, and enhancing product offerings.

1962 to 1968: A genius start

As you can see, originally, the Target logo had three concentric rings rather than the famous circle and dot that we know today. This mirrored the actual target that marksmen often used. The logo design featured the name written in italics and black on top of the emblem.

So as Target has an easily identifiable logo, changing the color is just a matter of what the people who are updating the looks feel that will show an updated image. Nothing more than that.

Target has been a longtime household name for its addictive shopping experience, but there are a few secrets to the store's almost supernatural ability to get you to spend more money. The key is through the layout and planning of its stores, according to Business Insider.

It has always been owned and headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. George Draper Dayton of Minneapolis built up the Daytons department store chain beginning in 1902 and the Dayton Corporation created Target as a discount alternative chain in 1962.

Who is Target's biggest competitor? ›

The closest competitor to target.com are walmart.com, wayfair.com and amazon.com. To understand more about target.com and its competitors, sign up for a free account to explore Semrush's Traffic Analytics and Market Explorer tools.

marked its first day of trading under the ticker symbol TGT. On Jan. 13, Dayton Hudson Corp. announced it would change its name to Target Corp. to reflect the fact that Target Stores comprise more than 75% of the company's revenues and pre-tax profit.

The data shows that the typical Target shopper is a suburban mother between 35 and 44 years of age. The typical Target customer also has some college education and a household income of $80,000.

Design For All is what sets Target apart from the pack. To us, design means taking the expected and making it extraordinary. Be it products, brands or services — we design every detail to inspire our guests and meet their needs.

Walmart and Target are often compared to each other and have had an ongoing rival since the time they opened. In 1962, the first Walmart was opened by Sam Walton in Rogers, Arkansas. Also in 1962, Dayton Company opened its first Target store in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The company, which changed its name to the Target Corporation, is no longer owned or operated by the Dayton family. The Dayton Hudson Corporation sold B. Dalton, the bookstore chain founded by Bruce Dayton, to Barnes & Noble in 1986 for an estimated $275 million.

Dayton-Hudson Corporation announced in January 2000 a name change to Target Corporation. Acknowledging that Target stores made up 80% of its revenue and that the Target name was better known nationally, Dayton-Hudson believed Target was the name, and direction, of the corporation's future.