After serving at Target for 11 years, CEO Brian Cornell is stepping down from the retailer after it faced low foot traffic and backlash to ending its DEI efforts. Cornell will stay on as executive chairman and will be replaced by Target’s current chief operating officer, Michael Fiddelke, on February 1, 2026, according to a press release. He took over the company in 2014 and transformed the retailer, overseeing a strategy to remodel stores and strengthen the chain’s online business to compete with Amazon. Target’s decline Target has been on
Target has struggled to recover from boycotts and backlash following its rollback of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The retailer’s foot traffic has remained low, according to data from analytics platform Placer.ai. Since Q1 2024, the company’s year-over-year foot traffic changes have closely mirrored its revenue shifts, Retail Brew reports, differing by an average of just 1.2 percentage points over the past five quarters. Scaling Back DEI Efforts In January, Target announced that it would end its three-year DEI goals, conclude its Racial Equity Action and Change (REACH) initiatives in
AMP, a streaming group comprising influencers, has secured a deal with Target, but some consumers are unhappy with the move. The group that creates collaborative videos on YouTube and Twitch consists of Duke Dennis, Kai Cenat, Fanum, Agent 00, ChrisNxtDoor, and ImDavisss. They have now launched a personal care brand called Tone, which will be sold exclusively at Target. “We really saw a gap in the shelves for a new brand to break through — and for a brand that is fresh and represents who we and our community are. Products that don’t just look good
On May 25th, hundreds of people knelt in prayer outside of local Target stores to commemorate the fifth anniversary of George Floyd’s murder. The prayer lasted for 9 minutes and 29 seconds—the exact time Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on Floyd’s neck, according to Afro.com. Faith leaders across the country led the prayer, including Pastor Jamal Bryant, who had led the 40-day boycott against the retailer, which has now evolved into a complete cancellation. “Effective immediately. Target is canceled,” he said. The company doesn’t “value who it is that
Melissa Butler, founder and CEO of The Lip Bar, shared that sales have declined by 30% since the boycott of Target began earlier this year. The boycott is in response to Target’s decision to roll back its DEI efforts, which include a commitment to increasing Black representation by 20% and a program to feature more products by Black- and minority-owned businesses. Butler is now calling on consumers to support Black-owned businesses through other channels, including buying from them directly. The Lip Bar’s sales declining In a video posted on social media,
It’s been a tough few months for Target after it rolled back its DEI efforts. In a bid to boost company morale, CEO Brian Cornell wrote a memo to employees, but it may have caused more confusion. Cornell admitted that it has been “a tough few months” between the retail economy and “headlines, social media, and conversations that may have left you wondering,” as The Minnesota Star Tribune stated. However, he said Target’s culture and commitment to staff remain the same. Target ending its DEI efforts In January, the retailer announced
New figures reveal that Black shoppers had a significant impact on the February 28 ‘Economic Blackout,’ particularly at major retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and Target, Retail Brew reports. The boycott, led by grassroots organization The People’s Union USA, urged consumers to freeze spending for 24 hours in response to rising prices, corporate policies, and economic challenges facing consumers. $220 million decline for Black shoppers The boycott fell on a Friday, and sales decreased by 5.4% and trips fell by 4.1% compared to the average Friday, as stated by Numerator. Household
The consumer boycott against Target will not come to a halt, according to Pastor Jamal Bryant. In March, the retailer announced that it would end its DEI programs, including its Racial Equity Action and Change (REACH) initiative and a program focused on carrying more products from Black—or minority-owned businesses. Subsequently, Bryant called for a 40-day boycott against the retailer, which began on Wednesday, March 4. The movement spanned cities including Atlanta, Houston, Jacksonville, Florida, and Alexandria, Virginia. The “Target Fast” coincided with Lent, when some Christians observe fasting. Target’s foot
Target’s foot traffic has fallen for the ninth consecutive week amidst its 40-day boycott, as stated by Retail Brew. The company’s traffic started to plummet in the first whole week after it shared that it was rolling back its DEI efforts. In March, the retailer announced that it would end its DEI programs, including its Racial Equity Action and Change (REACH) initiative and a program focused on carrying more products from Black—or minority-owned businesses. Target’s chief community impact and equity officer, Kiera Fernandez, sent a memo to staff stating, “Many
Over 100,000 people have pledged to boycott Target for 40 days in protest of the company’s rollback of DEI initiatives. The boycott, which began on Wednesday, March 4, was organized by Pastor Jamal Bryant. According to The Washington Post, the movement spans cities including Atlanta, Houston, Jacksonville, Florida, and Alexandria, Virginia. The “Target Fast” occurs simultaneously as Lent, when some Christians commit to fasting and will be the latest boycott against one of the biggest retail companies in the US. Why are people boycotting Target? In January, Target announced that
