Minneapolis — Target (NYSE: TGT) has announced plans to open small-scale Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) shops inside 17 of its stores this month, with additional locations scheduled to open this fall. The company will also expand its online Apple product offerings over the coming weeks.
The new Apple in-store experience will offer a mix of products and accessories in a dedicated space designed for guests to see new products and view demonstrations by Target Tech Consultants, who will receive specialized training from Apple. Each shop will feature new lighting fixtures and displays for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, AirPods, HomePod, Apple TV and other Apple accessories.
“Apple products are popular with Target’s guests and this new dedicated shopping experience offers enhanced service and expanded offerings, building on our strength as a go-to destination for electronics,” says Christina Hennington, executive vice president and chief growth officer of Minneapolis-based Target. “This new model was created with Target’s guests in mind and we’ll continue to learn and enhance the experience through future rollouts later this year.”
Apple shops are set to open this month at Target locations in Monticello, Minn.; San Jose, Calif.; Oklahoma City; Allen, Hurst, Austin, Irving and San Antonio, Texas; Gainesville, Orlando, Miami and Clearwater, Fla.; North Wales, Pa.; Newark, Del.; Woburn, Ma.; Nashua, N.H.; and Latham, N.Y.
The new initiative with Apple builds on Target’s in-store special offerings with other strategic partners, including Disney, Ulta Beauty and Levi Strauss & Co.
Target operates nearly 1,900 stores in the U.S. The company’s stock closed at $187.08 per share on Wednesday, Feb. 24, up from $111.76 last year.
The stock price of Apple, based in Cupertino, Calif., closed at closed at $125.35 per share on Wednesday, up from $73.97 last year.
— Katie Sloan