Walmart And Target

Shopping is an integral part of our everyday lives. Every person, in some way or another, must shop at some point. There are many places from which to choose. Two of the leading and most important companies out there today are WalMart and Target. Each company has many positive and negative characteristics. Both companies have similar goals but go about achieving in different ways. For instance, both WalMart and Target aim at their marketing at specific demographics and both companies want the patronage of their customers.

Marketing classes point out the importance of demographics to formulating a customer base. Advertising and merchandising are then aimed at the targeted group. While both WalMart and Target have advertising and merchandising plans, it is very evident that they are targeting different demographics. For example, WalMart, with their lower prices, appears to target lower income, small budget people. Target, on the other hand, appears to concentrate on the customer that has more expendable income. This can be seen both in the price and quality difference of similar product items between the two stores. WalMart tends to have both lower quality and lower priced items than Target. For example, WalMart's advertising is known for their "roll-back" items. Target advertising appears to concentrate on a younger, hipper audience. Another way that both stores look to target customers can be seen in the type of in-store restaurant offered. Here again, demographics comes into play, as for example, most WalMarts have a MacDonald's and most Targets have a Starbucks. While both MacDonald's and Starbucks both cater to hungry and thirsty customers, the targeted economic group is evident. Having a customer who is not in a hurry to leave to find a meal also adds to the next objective, which is to develop a loyal patron.

The ultimate objective of both WalMart and Target is to encourage their customers to come back.