Is the Target Boycott Really Effective?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Target foot traffic falls for the eighth consecutive week after the retailer ended its DEI programs. Meanwhile at Costco, which kept its DEI programs, foot traffic has been up for 13th straight weeks.

https://fortune.com/2025/04/01/target-dei-demise-boycott-foot-traffic-down-eighth-consecutive-week/

IMO they’re losing the “omg get this viral clothing item!!!” Influencer-type posts to Amazon and Walmart. I see a lot of shopping accounts hyping up Walmart clothes lately. That combined with the protests over the ending of DEI programs combined with consumers just watching their wallets more means that fewer people are shopping at Target in general.

Costco is all over this though. Uggs dupes that are genuine shearling, lululemon sweatshirt dupes for $11.00, they’re eating Targets lunch and paying people well and being an ethical company at the same time…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Target foot traffic falls for the eighth consecutive week after the retailer ended its DEI programs. Meanwhile at Costco, which kept its DEI programs, foot traffic has been up for 13th straight weeks.

https://fortune.com/2025/04/01/target-dei-demise-boycott-foot-traffic-down-eighth-consecutive-week/

IMO they’re losing the “omg get this viral clothing item!!!” Influencer-type posts to Amazon and Walmart. I see a lot of shopping accounts hyping up Walmart clothes lately. That combined with the protests over the ending of DEI programs combined with consumers just watching their wallets more means that fewer people are shopping at Target in general.

Costco is all over this though. Uggs dupes that are genuine shearling, lululemon sweatshirt dupes for $11.00, they’re eating Targets lunch and paying people well and being an ethical company at the same time…

Yep Costco is getting a lot of designer dupes and hype for their clothes as well. Target has become junky and low quality and the prices on their clothes aren’t even great. You can find some hidden gems but not as many as 5-ish years ago.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's hard to keep up with this nonsense. So people are actually boycotting Target because they eliminated racist DEI /affirmative action policies?

This is almost as bad as maga maggots nonsense.

Yes people are actually choosing not to spend money in a store that went back on their commitment. But the Supreme Court says money is speech so no, it’s not nonsense, it’s a clear non-violent message to Target to do better, and to retailers like Costco that maintaining those programs is financially beneficial.

“maga maggots nonsense” would be if they held a riot.

It sounds like you are ideological and lack critical thinking skills if you actually think that affirmative action isn't discriminatory. You don't even seem to acknowledge who has been tearing up cities recently. There are ways to become less intellectually lazy, but it has to come from within.

LOL, NP here. You may wanna point that finger back at yourself. DEI is not affirmative action. I worked in the field and have first-hand knowledge of it. DEI is very different and has nothing to do with individual hiring or quotes. So, there is someone intellectually lazy or lacking, but it is the person in your mirror.

You are right. DEI is worse than affirmative action since DEI expands on the AA.

DP. DEI benefitted white women most. Sadly, for all women.

And disabled people.

And veterans.

My local Target is one of the few places (maybe the only one) with special parking spaces for wounded veterans — spaces that were added long after the regular handicapped parking spaces. They should paint over them now and let anyone park there since they’re no longer into DEI. It was performative anyway. Those spaces were almost always empty.

Or maybe redo them as regular handicapped parking spaces so that a wider range of people who need them can access them.

No, DEIA includes accessibility, ie handicap spots. Paint over those too

[Anonymous]

Target saw foot traffic fall for the eighth consecutive week, extending a losing streak that began just a few days after the company announced it would end its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) program in late January

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m hiding strong! I really wish they’d just do the right thing because I liked shopping there, but they can go out of business for I care now.

This is me too.

[Anonymous]

I’m sure the tariffs will really help Target’s bottom line. Loyalty to Trump has clearly been a winning play for them.

[Anonymous]

Exactly, pp. Walmart and Amazon getting crushed by the 125% China tariffs. Let’s see how they fare. So far, both CEOs are silent, as far as I know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Target saw foot traffic fall for the eighth consecutive week, extending a losing streak that began just a few days after the company announced it would end its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) program in late January

can you post a link?

My own anecdata, sample size one: I haven't been back to Target or Amazon (never really shopped at Warlmart) and joined COSTCO for the first time in my life.

[Anonymous]

I have not been to Target since they eliminated DEI. It was my bored one shopping. I spent a lot there. Now I have had a 0 balance in my Target credit card for 2 months. They will notice people like me. They are very metrics focused.

I have found it a pain to get all of the things I used to get at Target (cleaning supplies, etc). I end up paying more for the grocery store, but I refuse to substitute Walmart for Target because they are worse.

[Anonymous]

Samesies. No Target for me at all, and I’ve never shopped at Walmart. It’s harder, yes, but so very worth it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Target saw foot traffic fall for the eighth consecutive week, extending a losing streak that began just a few days after the company announced it would end its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) program in late January

can you post a link?

My own anecdata, sample size one: I haven't been back to Target or Amazon (never really shopped at Warlmart) and joined COSTCO for the first time in my life.

“For nine consecutive weeks, foot traffic at Target stores declined while stock prices took a hit as investors expressed concerns about consumer boycotts and global trade tensions. While economists cautioned against linking consumer activism directly to financial downturns, civil rights leaders and DEI advocates are still recognizing what they call a potent response to Target’s anticipatory compliance with Donald Trump’s agenda.”

https://www.forbes.com/sites/richardfowler/2025/04/10/inside-the-target-boycott-how-black-consumers-are-using-their-economic-power-to-demand-change/

[Anonymous]

I would usually be all.over a new target collaboration, but now that I realize everything they do is performative, I don't care anymore. Haven't bought anything at target since December.

[Anonymous]

I was just shopping at Costco. The place was packed in the middle of the week. It's always busy on weekends, but now many people like me are doing most of their shopping there. I cancelled Amazon Prime and have stopped all Target shopping. There are so many alternatives. I like finding new places to buy things, and yes you can get things at good prices if you shop around. I try to buy from local small businesses. I never shop at WalMart--that's like stealing from poor people.

[Anonymous]

Trump has screwed over the economy so much in pursuit of personal gain that it’s hard to tell why a stock is nosediving anymore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Target saw foot traffic fall for the eighth consecutive week, extending a losing streak that began just a few days after the company announced it would end its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) program in late January

You should see the stock trend since January. It's shocking that it has decreased every week.