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The retail giant Target announced internally that they would be cutting 1,800 corporate jobs throughout the company, in response to combatting slumping sales due to a boycott of Target by the public over its rollback on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The round of layoffs is the first for the company in a decade.
According to reports, the announcement was in an internal memo by incoming CEO Michael Fiddelke sent to employees at Target’s headquarters in Minneapolis, Minnesota, last Thursday (Oct. 23). The plan is for 1,000 employees to be laid off, with another 800 unfilled positions that will be eliminated permanently. That constitutes an 8% cut to Target’s workforce, a spokesman said. Those targeted by the layoffs will be notified Tuesday (Oct. 28), and will receive severance packages along with salary and benefits until Jan. 3, 2026.
Target has been under fire since January, after its decision to roll back its DEI initiatives after President Donald Trump signed executive orders banning them. These initiatives included a pledge to have Black employees as 20% of its workforce over three years and promoting programs featuring Black and other minority creators. That led to a call for a boycott from Black faith leaders, including Pastor Jamal Bryant, and a 24-hour boycott on Feb. 28 by The People’s Union USA.“The truth is, the complexity we’ve created over time has been holding us back,” Fiddelke said in the memo. “Too many layers and overlapping work have slowed decisions, making it harder to bring ideas to life.” He acknowledged that the cuts are difficult, but “a necessary step in building the future of Target and enabling the progress and growth we all want to see.”
Target has been struggling with earnings since January, with its stock falling by $27.27 per share since the end of February, wiping out $12.4 billion in market value. The company has stated that it expects sales to decline again this year. There was also a significant shift in consumer traffic – its walk-in traffic dropped 11% from figures recorded last year. And its website traffic also reflects a drop of 9% from 5.2 million to 4.7 million web users, with a drop in mobile app usage from 4.2 million to 3.5 million.
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
To beat the heat this summer, you’ll need a few key items to help you make the most out of a pool party.
Below, you can shop perfect pool party essentials from sunscreen and speakers to beach towels from top brands like Amazon, Target, Walmart and Dick’s Sporting Goods, all at cost-effective prices. With these picks, you’ll be a few steps closer to lounging poolside.
Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 50
An SPF 50 sunscreen that blends into nothing.
Take charge of your skincare this summer with Supergoop’s Unseen Sunscreen with SPF 50. It’s important to lather on the sunscreen, especially in this heat, and Supergoop’s formula is aptly equipped to protect you from the sun’s harsh rays. When shopping on Amazon, you can also choose from a range of Unseen Sunscreen sizes and SPFs as low as 40.
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JBL Go 4 Speaker
A pink and mint mini speaker.
JBL’s Go 4 Speaker brings the sound to you on the go in crisp quality. Retailing for $49.95, this speaker is tiny but mighty, bringing pro sound with a punchy base that’ll give your bigger speakers a run for their money. With up to seven hours of playtime, plus two with a playtime boost, you can keep the party going all night long. If you’re worried about damaging your speakers with water from the pool, you have nothing to worry about. The speaker is both waterproof and dustproof, ensuring the tech can withstand any environment, wet or otherwise.
Anray Home 4 Pack Oversized Microfiber Beach Towel
$29.99
$39.99
25% off
A pack of four beach towels in an assortment of colorful hues.
Walmart currently features a set of four ultra-plush microfiber beach towels from Anray for just $29.99. That’s roughly $7.49 per towel. Beyond being extremely colorful and cute, these towels are large — 60″x 30″ to be exact. Soft and fluffy, these towels also have high water absorption. The 100% microfiber construction ensures durability even after a ton of uses, given the fabric is anti-fade, anti-static, anti-wrinkle and anti-shrink.
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Jergens Natural Glow Firming Daily Moisturizer Self Tanner Body Lotion
A self-tanning lotion and moisturizer.
Get your tan started on the right foot with help from Jergens via Target. The brand’s Natural Glow Firming Daily Moisturizer Self Tanner Body Lotion is a moisturizing lotion and a self-tan product all in one. How is that possible you may ask? Well, it’s all in the formula. The lotion is formulated with color-enhancing ingredients, like dihydroxyacetone (DHA) and erythrulose, that temporarily darken the skin’s surface layer gradually for a hassle-free, streak-free finish.
Intex 20″ Glossy Panel Multicolor Inflatable Beach Ball
An inflatable ball for the pool or beach.
We’re getting playful this summer with help from Walmart. The retailer features a slew of beach or pool-ready toys so you can keep the good vibes going all summer long, without breaking the bank. This beach ball is a particular favorite of ours because it’s classic and utterly nostalgic, taking us back to our younger years building sand castles and boogie boarding. The multicolored ball is made of glossy puncture-resistant material and stands 20″ in diameter. This toy adds a perfect pop of color to any party and keeps the kids entertained too. It’s a win-win situation.
BANZ Cabana Beach Umbrella UPF 50 – UV Protection
A striped green and white beach umbrella made of UPF 50 sun protection fabric.
This umbrella from Amazon is the key to keeping cool this summer. Whether you’re poolside or at the beach with your toes in the sand, this umbrella keeps you shaded and protected from the sun’s harmful UV rays. The foil-lined canopy fabric of this UV umbrella blocks 98% of harmful UV rays. The umbrella is tilt-adjustable, so you can angle the canopy wherever the sun is shining to block it out.
DSG Logo Armchair
A folding beach or lawn chair in a deep blue hue.
Lounging is the best part of a pool party. Do it in style with Dick’s Sporting Goods Logo Armchairs. Retailing for $9.99, these chairs are colorful and comfortable to boot. The style was designed to be compact, folding in on itself for easy storage and travel. You’ve also got a netted cup holder on one of the arms to hold your ice-cold beverages. We adore the blue hue, but this chair comes in 12 different shades so you can shop for the color that best suits all your party needs.
Sun Squad 24 Cans/20.7qt Soft Sided Cooler
A pink and coral cooler with collapsing soft sides.
Retailing for $20.00, this cooler comes in pink and coral hues and is equipped with collapsable sides for easy storage. This cooler also includes leak-resistant lining to prevent spillage and can hold up to 24 cans of your choosing. If you’re feeling frisky, you can also store your favorite snacks in this cooler to keep them ice cold, even if it’s sweltering outside.
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Target just found out that diversity matters. Their sales took a noticeable decline after dropping their DEI programming.
As spotted on Daily KOS the national retailer experienced a noticeable drop of 3.8% in sales, both in store and online, compared to the year prior. Additionally, Target also saw their average transaction value decline as well as the number of shopper visits at their brick and mortar locations. On a recent earnings call Target CEO Brian Cornell attributed the loss to “ongoing pressure in our discretionary business, plus five consecutive months of declining consumer confidence, tariff uncertainty and the reaction to the updates we shared on belonging in January.”
While Cornell did not go into more specifics it is widely assumed the “updates” from January refer to Target dropping their Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives. Four days after President Trump was inaugurated the company sent their employees a memo announcing they would be rolling back their DEI efforts which also included a program that highlighted products from minority owned business. “Many years of data, insights, listening and learning have been shaping this next chapter in our strategy,” Kiera Fernandez, chief community impact and equity officer at Target said in the memo. “And as a retailer that serves millions of consumers every day, we understand the importance of staying in step with the evolving external landscape, now and in the future – all in service of driving Target’s growth and winning together.”
Target faced immediate backlash after canceling their DEI with several high profile community leaders asking people of color to boycott the mass-market retain chain.
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Rev. Jamal Bryant made waves after announcing a 40-day “fast” of sorts from shopping at Target, and now the clergyman wants to extend the boycott. After assessing Target’s response to demands made by organizers to restore their rolled-back DEI initiatives, Rev. Bryant feels that the corporation hasn’t felt enough pressure.
Rev. Jamal Bryant, the lead pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in the Atlanta metropolitan area, shared an announcement on his Target Fast website thanking supporters of the Lent-inspired fast and shopping at the major retailer. He then shared his renewed focus on moving past the fast and continuing to cease all shopping until changes to DEI at the company are implemented.
From Target Fast:
We are entering a new phase of this movement. What began as the Target FAST — a moral witness and urgent call for justice — now evolves into a full Target BOYCOTT. This shift marks not an end, but a deepening of our commitment to justice and accountability.
Until Target comes to the table with serious, concrete proposals to meet our four demands, we will remain in this posture. Silence and delay are no longer acceptable. Our communities deserve action, not platitudes. Our demands are not radical — they are righteous, reasonable, and long overdue.
It is vital to remember: this boycott is a coalition effort. It is not about any single individual, personality, or public figure. It is about people. It is about power. It is about principle. We stand shoulder to shoulder — workers, organizers, elders, youth, people of faith, people of conscience — in a collective refusal to support a corporation that refuses to hear us.
According to several reports, Target appears to be feeling the brunt of the boycotts with declining shopper numbers since the company did away with DEI, seemingly in response to President Donald Trump’s administration essentially scaling down the practice.
To learn more about Rev. Jamal Bryant’s boycott efforts, click here.
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Rev. Jamal Bryant made a public declaration to boycott Target due to its shift in DEI policies assumed to be in response to the Trump-Harris administration’s stances. Rev. Jamal Bryant is urging that the Target boycott take place for 40 days in conjunction with the holy lenten season period, which began on March 5 and extends into April.
As spotted on Newsweek, Rev. Jamal Bryant, Senior Pastor of the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Dekalb County, Ga., joined forces with the Black Chamber of Commerce and OurMoneyUnited.com to launch the Target Fast. A quick scan of the website for the organized boycott effectively explains the aims of the 40-day ban from shopping at the major retail giant.
From Target Fast: (click to learn more)
This Lent, we will begin a corporate fast, starting with Target, as a spiritual act of resistance. Just as Jesus overturned the tables in the temple, challenging the exploitation and hypocrisy of his day, we too must disrupt business as usual. Fasting is not just about what we abstain from—it is about what we embrace. By redirecting our resources toward businesses that uphold justice, we embody our commitment to God’s vision of equity and love in action.
This is a fast for accountability. A fast for justice. A fast for a future where corporations do not bow to pressure at the expense of marginalized communities. As we journey through these 40 days, let us pray, reflect, and act—knowing that our collective sacrifice can bring about transformation.
The company has already faced backlash for its rollback of DEI policies, reporting lower than normal earnings totals since making the announcement. The effort from Bryant and the other organizing bodies could extend toward other entities and will assess data collected during the fast, which will end on April 17.
Participants are asked to use the Voter Wallet tool to find Black businesses to support in place of any retailers named in the economic fast.
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A nationwide economic boycott of Target has led to a significant decline in its valuation, with another extended boycott set to begin.
According to reports, a one-day economic blackout held last week (reportedly initiated by the Peoples Union USA group) had a strong impact on Target’s earnings, just as the big box chain is facing another extended boycott of its stores. The data revealed that Target saw an 11% drop in customer traffic in its stores last Friday (Feb. 28), and a 9% drop in visitors from 5.2 million to 4.7 million through its website. Their dedicated app also saw a significant decline, going down 14% from 4.2 million to 3.5 million when compared to figures from Feb. 14.
The findings come weeks after Target’s announcement at the end of January that it had come to the end of a three-year program that focused on building Black careers at the company as well as promoting Black-owned businesses and improving the experiences of Black shoppers. The program was started by the Minneapolis-based retail chain in the wake of the murder of George Floyd by officers from that city in 2020. Target also announced that it would roll back other diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) goals set for that three-year cycle, leading to backlash from the public.
The chain acknowledged a “small decline” in revenue in February but didn’t acknowledge the one-day blackout, instead projecting that there was “meaningful year-over-year profit pressure in its first quarter relative to the remainder of the year” relative to ongoing consumer uncertainty in combination with the current tariff wars enacted by President Donald Trump. Target’s full-year revenues saw a drop from $107.4 billion in 2023 to $106.6 billion in 2024. Notably, their stock valuation dropped 13% from $135.21 to $117.14 a share.
A new boycott is set to begin Wednesday (March 5), initiated by Atlanta-based pastor Dr. Jamal Bryant of the New Birth Baptist Church. The “fast” will take place over the 40 days of the Lent season. “Black people spend on average $12 million a day in Target, so with that large of a consumption pie, we need to be treated with a great decibel of respect,” Dr. Bryant said in an interview, noting that 50,000 people had signed an online petition stating they’d participate.
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Source: Smith Collection/Gado / Getty / Target
The tech bros are kissing Donald Trump’s ring, and companies like Target are using his push to make America white again as an excuse to roll back diversity programs.
Following Orange Menace’s executive order calling for the end of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in the federal government, Target’s discount store chain followed in the footsteps of Walmart and other American companies, which began ending diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.
Target announced it would be making changes to its “Belonging at the Bullseye” strategy along with axing a program that helped Black employees build better careers within the company, improve the shopping experience for Black customers, and promote Black-owned businesses, which all came after the tragic killing of George Floyd in 2020 at the hands of law enforcement.
The company claims that it planned on ending its racial program this year, basically trying to say the decision has nothing to do with the conservative backlash against DEI.
Target, which has nearly 2,000 stores nationwide and employs more than 400,000 people, is ending the DEI goals it set three years ago.
In a memo sent to workers, Kiera Fernandez, Target’s chief community impact and equity officer, described the company’s decisions on DEI as the “next chapter” of its efforts to create “inclusive work and guest environments that welcome all.”
“Many years of data, insights, listening, and learning have been shaping this next chapter in our strategy,” Fernandez wrote in the memo shared by Target on Friday. “And as a retailer that serves millions of consumers every day, we understand the importance of staying in step with the evolving external landscape, now and in the future.”
The Social Media Fallout
As expected, the fallout from Target’s decision was instant and immediately led to calls for a boycott. Tabitha Brown, who has partnerships with Target, broke her silence on the matter after followers called on her to end them.
In the video, she explained that ending her partnerships wouldn’t be simple. She could be sued for breach of contract, and she could not boycott but still support the Black-owned brands that have deals with the company. Brown also added that if the Black-owned brands don’t sell, companies like Target can use that excuse to pull those products and replace them with other brands.
She caught a lot of flack for her video, leading to her to send a follow-up response writing:
“Since so many people didn’t watch to the end of my video and have created a false narrative… this is not about me… this is bigger than me. I’m grateful for all the support over the years but if i don’t get it anymore, I OVERSTAND and I’m ok. But it’s bigger than me!”
While Target is catching well-deserved flack for their decision, other companies like Apple, Microsoft, Costco, and JP Morgan are doubling down on their DEI initiatives.
Longtime activist Rev. Al Sharpton led a “buycott” at Costco after the company said it would not end its DEI initiatives.
In the gallery below, you can see reactions to Target and Tabitha Brown speaking out.
3. They definitely we’re not
Swifities were out in full force on Black Friday.
On Friday (Nov. 29), Taylor Swift‘s devoted fanbase flooded many of Target’s nearly 2,000 stores across the nation, eager to grab exclusive merchandise.
This year, the retail giant teamed up with the 34-year-old pop star to offer a range of special items, including a Black Friday-exclusive version of The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology on vinyl and CD, as well as Swift’s official The Eras Tour book.
“Ok shopping in target was so enjoyable today! ONLY Taylor swift music played the entire time, plenty of books, nice people. I talked to some sweet swifties. Successful Black Friday!!” one fan wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Another Swiftie posted on X that around 100 fans were already in line at their local Target in Southern California by 5:45 a.m. on Black Friday.
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Meanwhile, fans in the Midwest braved freezing temperatures, waiting for hours to score some of the exclusive merch. “Yeah, it’s really cold but we’re here to get Taylor Swift’s tour book and her latest vinyl drop,” a 31-year old Swift fan said while waiting outside a Target in Chicago, Reuters reports.
The 35-track album, featuring four bonus acoustic tracks, was available for the first time on vinyl ($59.99) and CD ($17.99) on Black Friday. Shoppers could find it in Target stores starting Nov. 29, with availability on Target.com on Nov. 30.
Previously, The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology was only offered as a digital release.
The Official Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour Book ($39.99) was also available in Target stores on Nov. 29, and can be ordered online at Target.com beginning Nov. 30. This 256-page hardcover book includes personal reflections from Swift, along with more than 500 images, including never-before-seen performance shots, rehearsal photos and behind-the-scenes moments from the tour.
“Here is the official retrospective of the most wondrous tour of my life, my beloved Eras Tour,” Swift said in a previous statement about the tour, which has spanned five continents and over 100 shows. “Thank you to the fans who came to these shows. You were the ones who made The Eras Tour what it became.”
The “I Can Do It With A Broken Heart” singer recently wrapped up a six-night run at Toronto’s Rogers Centre and will conclude her blockbuster The Eras Tour with a three-night stint at Vancouver’s BC Place from Dec. 6-8.
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
Make room in your budget, Target just dropped new Wicked merch! The Stanley x Wicked collection of limited-edition Stanley Quenchers inspired by characters Elphaba and Glinda were released exclusively at Target on Sunday (Oct. 13).
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The collection features two cups, available in glossy pink and green colorways representing Glinda and Elphaba. The tumblers are available in 40-ounce ($55) and 20-ounce ($$20) sizes. Stanley cups are known to sell out quickly, and the Wicked collection will be no exception. The collection is currently available in limited supply online and in Target stores.
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Target
Wicked x Stanley 40 oz Stainless Steel H.20 FlowState Quencher Tumbler
Target
Wicked x Stanley 20 oz Stainless Steel H.20 FlowState Quencher Tumbler
Wicked, starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo as the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch, hits theaters on Nov. 22.
In honor of the film, Target announced over 150 Wicked-inspired pieces including apparel, accessories and beauty releases such as OPI’s Wicked nail polish collection, film inspired It Cosmetics Ulta x Wicked brushes, Beekman 1802 bath, body and skincare and makeup, and Grande’s r.e.m. beauty Wicked collection available Ulta Beauty at Target for a limited time.
Also available at Target, Bitty Boomers Elphaba and Glinda speakers, Mattel’s Elphaba Singing Doll and Fiyero Fashion Doll, Fisher-Price Little People Collector set, Glinda and Elphaba Funko Pop! collectibles, a Target-exclusive Wicked soundtrack and more. Starting on Nov. 3, Wicked-themed displays and instillations will debut in Target stores.
“Like so many people, the Target team can’t wait for ‘Wicked’ to hit theaters, and we have everything you need to embrace your inner Elphaba or Glinda,” said Jill Sando, Target’s executive vice president and chief merchandising officer of apparel and accessories, home and hardlines. “When it comes to big cultural moments like this, there’s no place like Target. With a captivating shopping experience and the largest assortment of retailer-exclusive products, this is Target at our best and I’m so excited for families to celebrate ‘Wicked’ with us.”
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
Target has selected the next faces of its exclusive clothing collection Future Collective. Previously, a single style tastemaker would take the spotlight, but for its seventh iteration, the retailer has tapped four fashion influencers to create an elevated clothing collection with pieces starting at just $15 — and right in time for the fall season.
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Tatiana Elizabeth, Danie Sierra, Paige Lorenze and Gezelle Renee curated the latest Future Collective collection. Each cycle of the collection aims to spotlight curators’ personal style, with the latest showing off modern mixed with vintage shapes and bright hues that give off a high-end look attached to affordable prices.
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You can expect top fall trends put on display including maxi denim skirts, matching sets and basic crop tops to complete your capsule wardrobe with. The new Future Collective collection is available only at Target with Elizabeth, Sierra, Lorenze and Renee’s picks only offered for a limited-time as its a constant rotating roster of curators.
The latest collection is already proving to be popular, with sizes selling out in some of the most wanted pieces. Rather than wait, ShopBillboard put our top picks from Future Collective below for you to shop now.
Target
Seamless Tank Top
The New York-based model shows off a simple white tank top that will become the ultimate pairing piece in your rotation. The piece comes with a seamless design that’ll lay flat and form to your body without leaving you feeling restricted. You can easily dress the tank top up with a pair of high-rise trousers and a chic blazer.
Target
Contrasting Denim Ankle Skirt
Future Collective’s denim skirt features a maxi length paired with a mid-rise slit for showing off your shoes. Instead of a clean-cut straight waistband, the skirt was built with an asymmetrical button closure for a more modern and elevated appearance.
Target
Embellished Asymmetrical Button-Down Shirt
Sierra spotlights a chic button-down shirt that uses a pearl embellishment along the front to add some flare to the workwear basic. You can relax into the top’s oversized fit that’s made with 100% cotton and recycled polyester for a more lightweight and airy feel.
Target
Mid-Rise Barrel Leg Jeans
Barrel jeans are having a moment this year and this mid-rise style is the proof. Unlike a classic straight leg, the barrel style features a rounded leg that gives off a more curved appearance. Each leg has a seamed style and you can choose from two washes depending on your style preferences.
Target
Crewneck Sheer Sweater
Show off all of your layers with this sheer sweater from Future Collective. The tuckable top has a long length that you can wear loose or fitted depending on your preference and is complete with a mesh material that’s see-through enough to show off your bandeau or lacy tank top.
Target
Bubble Mini Skirt
Lorenze is bringing back the bubble hem with this mini skirt. For less than $30, you can sport the flirty style and its mid-rise hem. It uses a recycled polyester-rayon blend material to provide coziness with a hint of stretch that can be worn as work attire or for your brunch date with friends.
Target
Crewneck Eyelash Sweater
The Ghanaian-born content creator flaunts a soft yet chic sweater that’ll create an high-end look that doesn’t sacrifice comfort. With its mid-length style, you can still tuck the top into your bottoms while the crew neckline allows you to easily layer with necklaces for some added shine.
Target
Sleeveless Contrasting Knit Ankle Dress
Longline dresses have been increasing in popularity making this midi style a wardrobe essential. Featuring a lengthened and fitted bodice, the dress spotlights a contrasting top and bottom for the illusion of a top and skirt look in addition to a flowy skirt that’s totally twirl-worthy.
Since 2022, Target has been creating these exclusive clothing collections through their Future Collective line with fashion influencers. Each new collection spotlights the style lovers personal aesthetic with an emphasis on creating wallet-friendly looks that put an emphasis on being fashion-forward. Previous influencers spotlighted include Jeneé Naylor, Jenny K. Lopez, Reese Blutstein, Alani Noelle, Gabriella Karefa-Johnson and Kahlana Barfield Brown.
For more product recommendations, check out ShopBillboard‘s roundups of the best wristlets, Target Labor Day sales and the best skorts.
