Target Launches Specialty In-Store Boutiques, 'The Shops' (VIDEO)

Just when we thought we couldn't love Target any more--thanks to their newest designer collaboration with Jason Wu--the mass market retailer announced today that its launching "The Shops."

Using the shop-in-shop design (like the designer shops you see in department stores like Bloomingdales) Target will fill mini in-store shops with handpicked specialty boutiques from around the country.

Which means, the yummy candy shop in your small hometown in Pennsylvania or the amazing clothing store you stumbled upon while vacationing in Miami could get the opportunity to sell at one of the biggest retail chains in the country.

And in order to provide shoppers with rare and unique goods, Target made it a point to select boutiques outside of New York City and Los Angeles.

Brian Robinson, director of fashion and design partnerships at Target, explained today at a press conference that the concept is "meant to create a sense of discovery -- what every one of our customers love when they come to Target."

Launching both in-store and online on May 6, "The Shops" will debut their first round of boutiques--The Candy Store in San Francisco, beauty chain Cos Bar, Boston's Polka Dog Bakery, Privet House (home decor accessories) in Connecticut, and The Webster (clothing and accessories shop) in Miami Beach. After six weeks Target will switch out the current shops with a new group of boutiques.

It's like a merry-go-round of amazing!

You'll find everything from a $1 nail files to a $160 ottoman. In addition, the selected boutiques will offer limited edition items created for the project.

Those fearing a Missoni-esque meltdown can rest assured--Target says it has teams working "around the clock" to make sure they're ready for the masses. Phew!

In more fabulous news, The Associated Press reports that Target will also test out mini-Apple shops in 25 of its stores. Sadly no other details have been revealed.

Check out the video below for all the amazing details about "The Shops" and the first group of boutiques. We can't wait!

Comments

[sf girl]

03:17 AM on 05/10/2012

Why is this in "Black Voices?"

[WilmaJune]

11:41 PM on 01/15/2012

Target promised Free Shipping for Online Orders Over $50. A $73 item came up on my screen with a Shipping Charge so I did not order the item. It still charged the credit card. It took 3 months to get everything straightened out.

[TRACYBURTON]

04:54 PM on 01/15/2012

don't know how I feel about this....

[Jennifer Kley]

04:45 PM on 01/14/2012

I love, love, love Target. Love it. Love them.
I guess these boutiques will be something like Vera Wang's at Kohl's.
Whatever the case, I will be shopping at Target at 80 years old. I'll wear fitted t-shirts and glittery flats. Yes, I will.

http://thecubiclerebel.wordpress.com/

[sportscardmarket]

09:18 PM on 01/13/2012

This guarantees that I will stop coming into their stores.

[fredhstclr]

07:18 PM on 01/13/2012

shop at TARGET , help the French economy

[MNJim]

12:54 PM on 01/15/2012

Target is not owned by a French company----that is a false internet rumor. It is headquartered in downtown Minneapolis about 1 mile from my house. It was part of Dayton -Hudson Department Store Co until Target Stores became the largest operating division. At that point the corporation then changed its name to Target Corporation. Later, Target sold off the department stores to Macy's---unfortunately. Target is a publicly traded company listed on the NYSE.

[bass12041956]

07:11 PM on 01/13/2012

When Target starts honoring our troops, then, I might start buying from the French owned store, but until then I will have nothing to do with Target stores.

[sf girl]

03:20 AM on 05/10/2012

Do you work for Walmart or something? Target is a U.S company - it is not French-owned. Stop with the ridiculous rumors.

[sundevco]

07:06 PM on 01/13/2012

Please fire that woman who does the TV ads. She is about the most annoying woman I have ever seen.

[Very Unhappy]

05:52 PM on 01/13/2012

Target should have someone retreive there carts from there lots so costomers don't have to have there vehicles damaged while shopping at there stores.After a resent trip to target I found a $1000
dollar shopping cart dent in my new truck. Not very happy with there responce, Which was ( To Bad )

[leo moon]

06:13 PM on 01/13/2012

Perhaps Target should also offer spelling lessons.

[dav0001]

06:18 PM on 01/13/2012

So are you implying that no other store anywhere in the world is negligent about getting shopping carts from the parking lots? Personally I've found it happens more with grocery stores. Not one specific as you're saying. You're harboring a grudge against the store for the damage to your car doesn't mean it's a common occurence. Do what I do. Drive a clunker like mine. Then if it gets dinged it's no big deal. You won't even notice.

[baldbiker2]

04:51 PM on 01/13/2012

Great, more overpriced Chinese stuff at Target.

[LonaMarie]

05:56 PM on 01/13/2012

Could be worse, could be stuff at Walmart

[RFlo]

06:46 PM on 01/13/2012

chinese? these are local shops.

[baldbiker2]

01:53 PM on 01/14/2012

Nope, they are not locally owned shops, they are just in-store concepts that look like a store within a store. But, all owned by Target unless they are leasing in store space to other retailers. Or, they are allocating space to certain manufactureres to highlight their products in which Target is oprobably charging a fee for the space to sell their goods in Targets stores. Reguardless, it'll be mostly Chinese goods.

[sadiemae1214]

04:06 PM on 01/13/2012

It's going to be like going to the mall without going to the mall.

[thomgrisso]

03:27 PM on 01/13/2012

Forgive me for being old ... But this is the way things were for many years ..They called them De.......part.....ment Stores! Hmm Like Macys Brooks Brother suits in one place , Tommy Hilfiger in another DKNY and Coach in yet another ... This is until the cut-rate french owned companies came along.or was it Chinamart ...

[sonjadr]

04:43 PM on 01/13/2012

So correct! How I've yearned for the department stores of old where they had stores within the store - books, appliances, furniture, restaurant, food, etc., etc. These were in major better dept. stores like Gimbles, Rich's, Marshall Field, Carson's, Dayton's, Donaldson's, etc., etc. Then these great stores got taken over my Macy's, mostly, and they are cookie cutter and mostly clothing - boring!? Even my husband enjoyed going to department stores then - now he won't step foot in one! I hope that Target will start a trend and department stores will become more interesting again!!

[MNJim]

12:57 PM on 01/15/2012

I miss Dayton's...especially at Christmas shopping time. It was so cool to go there to shop.

[cre8f1]

02:43 PM on 01/13/2012

Hope it works well for them. At least better than their grocery option, whose on-sale prices are higher than all other stores' regular prices.

[Rhonda Lutz]

03:55 PM on 01/13/2012

but the price match makes it worth while .......

[sadiemae1214]

04:02 PM on 01/13/2012

Target has that also? I know Walmart does.

[parkerntx2]

05:45 PM on 01/13/2012

most of the cashiers don't know how to do this function in many of the stores.

[sonjadr]

04:45 PM on 01/13/2012

I don't agree. Target has good prices on food in my town. Often I find food items cheaper there than in the grocery store and even Walmart. And, I buy my paper products there because their prices are the best. I have their debit card and get 5% off everything I buy there, too.

[tonyaxsmithey]

02:33 PM on 01/13/2012

Boycott Target for its promotion of sharia law and anti American practices.

[leoganz]

12:27 PM on 01/21/2012

Aaahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!

[tangelan]

01:09 PM on 01/13/2012

This sounds like a really good idea. Except for the shop baking dogs.