Ben Gardiner's Comm 101 Blog

According to Canadian Business magazine, Target won’t kill Canadian retail – it will save it. American retailer Target plans to open up 165 stores in Canada starting in March as part of a multi-billion-dollar strategy. Canadian shoppers are happy because they can now buy the fashionable yet inexpensive products locally rather than crossing the border. Unexpectedly, however, many are expecting the American retail giant’s arrival to benefit Canadian retailers as well.

Jeremy Reitman, the CEO of Canadian clothing chain Reitman’s believes Target will attract many consumers to malls that would otherwise die due to declining shopper traffic. Furthermore, Reitman asserts that Target’s decision to expand into Canada will incentivize consumers to shop in Canada, further drawing traffic to other Canadian retailers as well. Target is also planning to hire over 30 000 workers in Canada which will help reduce unemployment in certain areas.

I believe Target has the ability to legitimately help Canadian retailers to boost sales and contribute greatly to the Canadian economy. The American big business model has the ability to generate billions in revenue while giving Canadian consumers a reason to stay north of the border.