This article, from Fox News, was quote and interesting read, if a bit on the odd side:
This will be the third year that Target has banned the bell-ringers from its stores. But Salvation Army spokeswoman Melissa Temme said other changes could make up much of the $9 million the charity used to raise each year in front of Target stores.
Besides the cash donation, Target will donate the profits from a $9.99 Salvation Army ornament that is hitting store shelves this week, Temme said. It will also put a link on its Web site to accept Salvation Army donations.
“We expect it to be successful. We don’t know what to expect as far as the ultimate monetary gain,” Temme said. “But we know that this will enable us to help more people simply because we’ll be bringing in more money.”
Target said it has “a long-standing relationship that includes providing financial resources for disaster relief, as well as supporting local chapters through grant and volunteer programs.”
I understand what Target is trying to do here,. In order to make up blocking the Salvation Army from collecting donations in front of their stores, Target is donating $1 Million, proceeds from ornament sales, and offering online shoppers a way to donate. Good, that goes a long way to make up for it.
The thing I don’t understand is why? Why block the Salvation Army in the first place, why take a major departure from practically every other national store chain, and why offend people who see the good value of the Salvation Army? It seems much easier, for everyone involved, to just let holiday tradition go on.
I respect Target’s choice, and see they are reaching here, but there has to be more to the story. I will admit, the blocking of the Salvation Army, the greatest charity of the past several decades, was the main reason Target got none of my family’s spending last Christmas. This Christmas I will shop at Target because of the steps they have taken – but they sure are taking the long complicated route.
Maybe their marketing department just can’t admit they screwed up.
