Shop Talk

Target spent time talking to Wall Street analysts on Thursday, outlining the multiple ways it will expand its business in the next 10 years.

It will open smaller stores in urban markets. It will add its PFresh food concept into hundreds of stores, boosting customer traffic. It will explore overseas expansion in Canada, Mexico or Latin America.

And it will celebrate the Super Valenbowl!

Michael Francis, Target’s chief marketing officer, said the retailer is ready to reclaim seasonal events in a “bolder and more dominant way.”

It did that during the busy Thanksgiving holiday shopping weekend. It held a two-day sales event — online on Thanksgiving day and in stores on Friday — that it said resulted in a double-digit rise in Black Friday traffic compared with last year.

Next up is Valentine’s Day. But Francis said cupid’s day is now having to compete with the Super Bowl, which will be played on Feb. 7 this year.

So what to do? How about combine the two!

“As the timing of the Super Bowl now encroaches more and more on more on Valentine’s Day, we’ve embraced the challenge and decided to create a uniquely Target holiday, which we’ve called Super Valenbowl. It’s a great opportunity to have some fun and reassure Mom she can get everything she needs from Super Bowl party supplies to Valentine’s Cards and treats all in her favorite store,” Francis told a chuckling audience.

Let’s just hope men don’t get confused and think it’s OK to spend more time celebrating the Bowl and less time celebrating the Valen.

(Photo: Screenshot taken from Target’s analyst meeting Webcast)