New York - Target plans $2 billion in cost cuts over the next two years through corporate restructuring and other improvements.
The goal: to make the Minneapolis-based discounter more agile to compete in an increasingly competitive landscape and appeal to shoppers who are increasingly buying and researching on their mobile devices.
As part of the restructuring plans, Target plans to eliminate several thousand positions at its corporate headquarters over the next two years and establish centralised teams based on specialised expertise.
Target also plans to invest between $2 billion and $2.2 billion in capital expenditures for the current fiscal year. That's in line with what it spent a few years ago, but this year, about half, or $1 billion, will be spent in investment in technology. That's a big shift from past years when most was spent on new stores and renovations of its fleet of about 1 800 stores.
“We have to be more nimble, more agile. We have to create a more innovative culture,” Brian Cornell, Target's CEO told analysts Tuesday at a meeting in New York to outline growth plans.
Cornell took over the helm last August and is charged with reclaiming the retailer's image as a purveyor of cheap chic fashion merchandise. He replaced Gregg Steinhafel, who resigned last May amid a massive data breach that hurt sales and profits. Even before Cornell took the helm, Target had begun to reassess its operations, sprucing up its baby departments and adding mannequins to its fashion areas. Cornell wants to double down on a handful of areas like fashion, children's products and home furnishings. It is also reimagining its grocery area and wants to focus on products unique to Target.
The moves come after Target lost its way during the Great Recession when it expanded into groceries. That helped drive traffic but diluted its cheap chic image. The company was also dragged down by its botched foray into Canada two years ago. And Target was behind other rivals in e-commerce services.
In January, Cornell made the decision to shutter the Canadian business in order to focus on revving up sales in the US. And the company is expanding its services like shipping goods from store to speed up deliveries. It also cut in half its minimum online purchase to qualify for free shipping, to $25. Target said shoppers responded to its no-minimum free-shipping offer during the holidays.
So far, the early efforts are paying off. The discount retailer recorded stronger-than-expected sales during the holiday season as shoppers bought more clothing and other items.
In extended after-hours trading, shares of Target added 13 cents to $78.13.
Sapa-AP