Black Friday shopping at Target? What you need to know
Long Islander and Fox News anchor Nicole Petallides gets behind the scenes at Target. Credit: Fox
1. Target will open at midnight for the first time this Black Friday. The company is anticipating large crowds, and says it'll be prepared. For several years, Target has had extra security in all parking lots, provided store-specific maps to customers, put signs above hot items, and had staff members organize checkout lines.
This year, new efforts include more crowd management training for store leaders, assigning a crowd management leader and captain both inside and outside every store, and enforcing a buffer zone of about 10 feet between the stores and the start of the lines.
2. Just in time for the holidays, Target has announced that REDCard holders will now receive free shipping on everything they buy at Target.com. About a year ago, REDCard began allowing customers to take 5 percent off on all purchases at the register. Another valuable perk for REDCard holders is having Target donate 1 percent of all you spend to a K-12 school of your choice. More than $324 million has been distributed by the program since 1997.
3. Keep an eye out for bargains from Target's designers, including a new collection from Gwen Stefani: Harajuku Mini kids clothing line. Prices for the collection, for kids aged 1 to 13, range from $3.99 to $29.99.
4. Have a smartphone or tablet? Target’s mobile app lets customers find the closest store and check product availability, aisle location and extended assortments, and view gift registries and the local Weekly Ad. Some items you might want to check for? Hot electronics are Electronic Arts Inc's "Battlefield 3" and Activision Blizzard Inc's "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3." Target also promotes its trade-in plan, which gives shoppers Target gift cards when they bring in old electronics, and a 5 percent discount for Target credit card holders.
5. And if you don't want your holiday shopping (and fun) disrupted by the flu, you'll be happy to know that 1,650 of Target's pharmacy locations will now offer flu shots with no appointment necessary. Target pharmacists and clinicians at Target clinic will administer flu shots for $25. Be well and shop well this holiday season!
