retail

Target Aims For Digital Darlings In BTS Efforts

Target-Store-Front-

Hoping to snag its share of back-to-school bucks in an uncertain spending season, Target says it is offering new interactive tools to shoppers, including customizable shopping lists, online deals and digital care packages.

Back-to-college kids, for instance, can go to Target.com/collegehub and go through a checklist, with everything from bed risers to Kindles to blackboard refrigerators. After checking their items, they can then either print the list at home or pick it up at a store kiosk, and share via Facebook. (The Minneapolis chain says some 65 college Facebook pages have added the list.)

It is also offering digital coupons and online-only promotions. From Aug. 4 through 31, for instance, its "1,000 Likes" promotion will be available Monday through Friday; the first 1,000 guests to "like" a deal get a mobile coupon offering up to 40 and 50% off.

advertisement

advertisement

Also new are "U Care cards" -- prepaid cards that friends and family can send to help with the student's wish list. And it is continuing its 10-year-long After-Hours Busing events, providing buses for incoming freshmen at 66 colleges and universities.

For all back-to-school shoppers, it's also extending perks for credit-card use to schools. In addition to the 5% off it currently offers on all purchases with its store REDcard, parents can also designate a school of their choice for a Target donation.

Target shoppers aren't the only ones keen on online coupons this back-to-school season: A new survey from CouponCabin.com reports that 64% of the 3,400 parents it polled plan to use either a coupon or an online code for shopping, with 59% expecting to use coupons for clothing and 37% expecting to apply them to electronics purchases.

And 43% say they plan to do more shopping online, to find better deals, ease the shopping hassle and save on gas.

Next story loading loading..