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Target's sales slump for first time in 6 years. Executives blame "strong reaction" to Pride merch.
CBS ^ | August 16, 2023 | Aimee Picchi

Posted on 08/16/2023 2:04:16 PM PDT by Morgana

Target's quarterly sales declined for the first time in six years, with one company executive blaming the drop on the "strong reaction" to its Pride merchandise. Target faced a backlash against its LGBTQ+ merchandise earlier this year, with some conservative shoppers vowing to boycott the store.

The retailer's sales at stores open at the same time a year ago declined 5.4% in the second quarter, the company said on Wednesday. On a conference call to discuss the results, executives, including CEO Brian Cornell, primarily blamed wider economic issues for the drop, such as pinched consumers who are cutting back on spending amid higher inflation and the resumption of student loan payments this fall.

But some executives also pointed to the Pride backlash as an issue that ate into sales. "The headwinds were incremental, including the strong reaction to this year's Pride assortment," Chief Growth Officer Christina Hennington added on the call.

Amid criticism in May from some customers over merchandise featuring rainbows and the word "Pride" commemorating the fight for LGBTQ+ equality, the retailer pulled some items off its shelves after employees encountered threats and harassment. Last month, seven U.S. state attorneys general sent a letter to Target warning that some of the clothes sold as part of the company's Pride month campaigns might violate their state's child protection laws.

The backlash meant that "many of our store team members face a negative guest reaction to our Pride assortment," CEO Brian Cornell said on the conference call.

Target's Pride merchandise line isn't new; the retailer has offered it for over a decade, Cornell added. But he said that this year workers "began experiencing threats and aggressive actions that affected their sense of safety and well-being while at work."

(Excerpt) Read more at cbsnews.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Society; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: childabuse; children; divinewrath; groomers; grooming; homosexualagenda; pedophilia; poeticjustice; retail; target; trans
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1 posted on 08/16/2023 2:04:16 PM PDT by Morgana
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To: Morgana

That’s what you get for pandering to less than ten percent of our population!


2 posted on 08/16/2023 2:07:06 PM PDT by No name given (Anonymous is who you’ll know me as )
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To: Morgana

So the tuckable swimsuit for men who think they are women didn’t boost sales?


3 posted on 08/16/2023 2:13:38 PM PDT by Dilbert San Diego
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To: Morgana

Or money is running low for some of their customers.

31 straight months of plus 2% inflation can do that.


4 posted on 08/16/2023 2:17:13 PM PDT by unclebankster ( Globalism is the last refuge of scoundrel)
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To: Dilbert San Diego

are you referring to the dylan special?


5 posted on 08/16/2023 2:17:14 PM PDT by joshua c (to disrupt the system, we must disrupt our lives, cut the cable tv)
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To: joshua c

LOL yes that’s the one. Dylan’s favorite.


6 posted on 08/16/2023 2:20:09 PM PDT by Dilbert San Diego
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To: Morgana

Embrace the suck, Targhetto. It’s only just begun.


7 posted on 08/16/2023 2:23:01 PM PDT by Fireone (What happened to Obama's chef?)
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To: Morgana

Target’s sales slump

Xi not going to like that export sales drop.


8 posted on 08/16/2023 2:27:07 PM PDT by Vaduz (....)
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To: Morgana

9 posted on 08/16/2023 2:32:20 PM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of Colorado scenery and wildlife, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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It was them targeting children with the pedo agenda products that angered people.


10 posted on 08/16/2023 2:41:14 PM PDT by Darksheare (Those who support liberal "Republicans" summarily support every action by same. )
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To: unclebankster

You got something there but the LGBTQ controversy is the gasoline on the fire so to speak IMHO.


11 posted on 08/16/2023 2:46:18 PM PDT by Nextrush (FREEDOM IS EVERBODY'S BUSINESS-REMEMBER PASTOR NIEMOLLER)
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To: Morgana

Keep the pressure on Target, till they are no more, and go bankrupt. All we need to do is cut their profit margin to zero. Even if they make cuts, we keep on cutting their profit margin down. Till total income is less than expenditures and obligations.
Their prices are high and their quality is so so.


12 posted on 08/16/2023 2:51:42 PM PDT by Getready (Wisdom is more valuable than gold and harder to find.)
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To: No name given

Probably 1% real “can’t stop myself” gays. The rest think that any new trend is probably righteous and are willing to try anything.


13 posted on 08/16/2023 2:54:55 PM PDT by Getready (Wisdom is more valuable than gold and harder to find.)
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To: Morgana

Notice that none of these corporate douches that made these decisions has been fired.

Even in the case of Bud, only lower level scapegoats were fired. While the CEO claims that he didn’t know anything about the marketing of their best selling product.


14 posted on 08/16/2023 2:57:21 PM PDT by Reverend Wright ( Everything touched by progressives, dies !)
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To: Nextrush

You got something there but the LGBTQ controversy is the gasoline on the fire so to speak IMHO.

************

True statement.

It’s a combination.


15 posted on 08/16/2023 2:59:45 PM PDT by unclebankster ( Globalism is the last refuge of scoundrel)
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To: Morgana

There’s nothing at Target that you can’t find at Walmart. They’re really crappy little stores anyway. So, you can kiss my money goodbye Target. You won’t be missed.


16 posted on 08/16/2023 3:03:40 PM PDT by Bullish (Either we don't see it coming or they don't... But somebody's got it coming.)
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To: Dilbert San Diego

Tuckable swimsuits were not just for men but for young boys too. That’s where the real outrage boiled up.


17 posted on 08/16/2023 3:07:02 PM PDT by hinckley buzzard ( Resist the narrative.)
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To: Morgana

Activists like to parade around whatever they’re pushing. A lot of us are sick and tired of it.


18 posted on 08/16/2023 3:22:46 PM PDT by cymbeline
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To: Bullish

I agree. Unless you happen to shop at one of the combat zone Walmarts, Walmart’s just as good. Target has been one of the most out and proud woke corporations. Now they can reap what they’ve sown. Profit margins in retail are slim anyway. I most heartily hope they redline


19 posted on 08/16/2023 3:28:18 PM PDT by j.havenfarm (22 years on Free Republic, 12/10/22! more then 6500 replies and still not shutting up!)
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To: Dilbert San Diego

It is about time some normies have begun to wake up.


20 posted on 08/16/2023 3:34:39 PM PDT by joma89 (Buy weapons and ammo, folks, and have the will to use them.)
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