How Target’s Prepping Supply Chain to Deliver Holiday Joy All Season Long
A Bullseye View | September 1, 2021
From back-to-school essentials to holiday gifting, Target continues to navigate unprecedented supply chain challenges to provide the safe, joyful shopping experience during the busiest season of the year. Each product on Target shelves has a story that started months before. This year, that includes ordering larger upfront quantities of items of the fall and holiday seasons and in some cases, working with vendors to fast-track orders.
Over the last year, Target teams have navigated multiple challenges across the supply chain, and the proof is in the numbers. At the end of Q2, ending inventory was up more than 26% from the same time last year, meaning an additional $2.5 billion in product rolling into fall.
As the second largest U.S. importer, Target has chartered its own container ships to regularly bring Target merchandise from overseas ports to the U.S. As co-managers of the ship, delays can be avoided and steer clear of particularly backed-up ports. Once products arrive stateside, its partnering closely with vendors and transportation partners to move it quickly to stores, keeping shelves well-stocked and ready for guests.