Consumers have sharply criticized two popular retailers for redesigning their stores.
One shopper commented in a public forum that Walmart and Target’s redesign seemed “depressing” and “uninviting” – a sentiment many consumers agreed with.
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“Does anyone else think Walmart and Target’s new design is ugly? How could this be changed?” they asked on Facebook.
“It’s very uninviting,” commented one user.
“Yeah, I’m thinking of the newest Target store around here,” said another. “I’m not so keen on all the grey. I like the stores that still have a lot of red.”
“Modern Walmarts look more like hypermarkets, they are just big and boring,” echoed a third.
“Target still feels like a discount department store, and they do a much better job of merchandising and shelf ends,” they added.
MISSING THE TARGET
In 2022, Target opened new, large-format stores with a modern design, the press release said.
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“The retailer’s larger footprint stores leverage additional space and new design elements to better serve its guests and team members and drive continued growth,” the press release said.
“The new store design features more modern elements that inspire guests, advance Target’s sustainability goals and reflect each store’s local community.”
The redesign will include larger windows and a more inviting floor plan to allow for more natural light, the retailer said.
Target said it wanted to create a “welcoming” and “inspiring” space for guests and team members.
The chain also planned to incorporate community-oriented elements into the design of all stores.
This can include anything from “native landscaping” outside the store to “localized product offerings” inside the store.
Starting in 2023, more than half of Target’s 200 complete store remodels and nearly all of the retailer’s roughly 30 new stores will feature elements of the new design.
In 2024, all Target remodels and new stores will feature the majority of reimagined store design elements.
Major rebranding in retail
Walmart
- In 2023, Walmart announced the opening of 117 remodeled stores across the country, an investment of more than half a billion dollars in 30 states.
- The retailer said it has invested more than $9 billion over the past two years to modernize more than 1,400 stores across the country.
- Each store is designed to provide a more modern shopping experience and improve the lives of its employees and customers from the moment they enter the new premises.
Goal
- In 2022, the retailer optimized additional space and new design elements to better serve its guests and team members and drive continued growth.
- The new store design features more modern elements that inspire guests, advance Target’s sustainability goals and reflect each store’s local community.
- Starting in 2023, more than half of Target’s roughly 200 full store remodels and nearly all of the retailer’s roughly 30 new stores will feature elements of the new design.
- Beginning in 2024, all Target remodels and new stores will incorporate most of the reimagined store design elements.
OTHER CHANGES IN RETAIL
In October 2023, Walmart announced a reopening to celebrate more than half a billion dollars worth of store renovations.
“We have invested over $9 billion over the past two years to modernize over 1,400 stores across the country,” the press release said.
“Each store is designed to provide a more modern shopping experience and improve the lives of our employees and customers from the moment they enter the new space,” they added.
The retailer also redesigned the exterior and interior spaces, introducing “new paint, new signage and more shopping carts that create a friendly, inviting atmosphere.” Target also completely transformed its storefront and introduced a new checkout design based on customer feedback.
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In addition, Target has introduced “activated corners” where customers can experience and touch items up close. For example, they can touch, feel and imagine how a product would work in their own home.
Although none of the retailers explicitly announced a change in their store colors, consumers said they noticed the difference.
The US Sun has contacted Walmart and Target for comment.
Meanwhile, customers have sharply criticized Walmart on social media for eliminating self-checkout systems and refusing to introduce Apple Pay.
Target has also introduced a new self-checkout policy that limits the number of shoppers at the checkout to a maximum of 10 items.
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