The guy is a <politemode>donkey!!!
Crabbies? We're the crabbies? Target seeks the Christian dollar (without honoring or really mentioning the reason it's being spent) but boots the Salvation Army, and we're the crabby ones for shopping elsewhere?
Posted on 12/19/2004 7:06:27 AM PST by madprof98
The parking lots in front of Target stores are quieter this Christmas season.
Absent is the pealing of Salvation Army bells and the pitter-patter of some former customers who may have crossed the retailer off their shopping lists for banning the bell-ringers.
Target announced in January that it would extend a long-standing policy prohibiting solicitors from standing outside its stores to the Salvation Army's volunteers and their signature red kettles. But the decision got widespread attention only recently, as the Christian charity publicized the ban and criticism against the retailer mounted.
On Thursday, Target rival Wal-Mart added a jab. The world's No. 1 retailer touted its willingness to welcome the kettles by agreeing to match all customer contributions to the Salvation Army through Christmas Eve, up to $1 million.
A fine kettle of fish Target now finds itself in. The company name has been turned against it as mostly Christian-rooted groups such as the American Family Association have targeted the chain for criticism and encouraged followers to buy their gifts elsewhere.
Target, which wouldn't comment for this story, has said it opted for blanket enforcement of its non-solicitation policy at its 1,300 stores when other organizations sought the same privileges as the Salvation Army. The retailer emphasizes its charitable record. Target donates about 5 percent of its pretax profits --- more than $100 million a year --- to charities, including the Salvation Army.
There are signs that Target is feeling repercussions for banning the kettles.
America's Research Group, a shopping-behavior tracker and marketing firm in Charleston, S.C., phoned 800 households nationwide and determined that Target was the only major retailer with fewer customers last weekend compared with the same holiday-shopping weekend in 2003.
The survey indicated 55 percent of U.S. consumers visited stores over the weekend, with 12 percent patronizing Target. A year ago, 43 percent went shopping, and 30 percent of those shoppers included Target in their rounds.
"That's a significant decline," said ARG Chairman Britt Beemer, who noted 16 interviewees offered without prompting that they avoided Target. "There is getting to be a significant amount of backlash."
'I wouldn't picket'
Some local shoppers said they disagree with the ban, but it didn't keep them out of Target stores.
"It's pretty crappy of [Target]," said Mindy Thompson of Snellville, who was shopping at the retailer's store on North Druid Hills Road, "but I wouldn't picket over it."
Chris Davidson of Chamblee accepts the chain's explanation for shooing off the kettles. "If it's their policy, and they are going to enforce it for everybody else, it should be enforced [for Salvation Army]," she said. "There's plenty of other places for them to go."
The Salvation Army says poor children and their families, for whom the bells toll, are being hurt by Target's decision.
The charity won't match the $93 million it took in last year, said Maj. George Hood, a national spokesman for Salvation Army. He attributes most of the decline to Target, where the Salvation Army collected about $9 million last holiday season.
In metro Atlanta, coins, bills and checks dropped into crimson containers at Target entrances last year made up 28 percent of the $860,000 the Salvation Army amassed at 25 locations.
Through Thursday, metro area volunteers had hauled in $596,000 toward the Salvation Army's $1 million goal. That is similar to the amount that had been collected at this time last year, but the organization's metro area goal was lower --- $900,000.
Still, Maj. George Hoosier, general secretary for the Salvation Army's Georgia chapter, said Target's silencing of the bells "has put us in a bind."
Meanwhile, other seasonal charities are thriving. Toys For Tots, for example, is reporting record highs for corporate donations.
The Salvation Army's Cobb County wing got some relief Tuesday when guests at U.S. Sen.-elect Johnny Isakson's Christmas gala kicked in $9,601.
"I just can't understand how people standing out front [of the stores] to raise money for those in need --- why they would not allow that," Isakson said during an interview at the event in the Cobb Galleria.
Criticism harsh
Target has risen to lightning-rod status for some Americans angry at the state of year-end commercialism, said Atlanta marketing strategist Jim Neal.
"This has been unfair," said Neal, of Kurt Salmon Associates. "[Target is] taking the hit from the Christmas crabbies."
Target is not the only high-profile chain that forbids sidewalk solicitations. The Salvation Army is verboten at Home Depot, Toys "R" Us and Kroger, though Hoosier said some of those retailers provide aid or assistance directly.
Even Wal-Mart limits the organization's bell-ringing to 14 days.
Target did not anticipate such harsh reaction, said Laura Rowley, author of the book "On Target: How the World's Hottest Retailer Hit a Bull's-Eye."
"I think they made a big mistake," said Rowley, who teaches a course on contemporary moral values at Seton Hall University in New Jersey. "I understand where they are coming from, but they completely underestimated the significance of the Salvation Army. It's not just another charity. It reminds people of Christmas. To them, this takes away the spirit of Christmas."
Target has not said whether it would amend the prohibition next year.
"I would if I were them," said Beemer, the researcher. "What Target is doing may satisfy a very small group that might complain, but there is a much larger group that is mad about it."
Neal would urge Target to weather the barrage. "Their reasons are valid," said the consultant, who maintains Target's tepid holiday revenue is a reflection of a widespread shopping malaise. "They should stay the course."
--- Staff writer Craig Schneider contributed to this article.
Please add my disgust and villification to Target and any others who come against the Salvation Army. This harmless group is doing what it has always done to work for the Lord. If the ringing of a bell is so offensive then stay away and make room for those of us who "KNOW" the reason for the season. The Salvation Army symbolizes CHRISTMAS & CHRIST that shines a light in a dark and evil world. Eternal shame and damnation to those who rebel against a good and decent Organization!
"All it takes for evil to succeed is for good people to do nothing." - Edmund Burke
It seems to me that the Target thing goes deeper than just the Salvation Army.
This is about the survival of America and it's traditions no matter how un pollitically correct they may seem to the rest of the world especially the French.
Europe can rant and rave about America but one needs only to look at their disentregrating societies to see that they don't have far to go before they become irrelevant to any thing that matters.
Why is this disentregration taking place? Because the Europeans forgot about preserverving their future. They liberalized their immigration policies letting in hoards of people who do not have a thing in common with European traditions. Now they are paying the price. Remember that most immigrants are used to living in poverty so what seems awful to you may be a step up for them.
The liberals are slowly chipping away against all traditions that have binded common sense citizens and more especially conservatives and liberaterains together over the last several hundred years.
Yes, it's about time for Christians to stop doing nothing. Why are Christians so willing to ceede or give up what millions have died for over the last 2000 plus years.
The bible dosen't say that we should not fight for what is right and against those things that are evil.
The Salvation Army spends most of it's revenue on spouses and children of convicts. They, also, minister in prisons and help recently released cons.
Neal would urge Target to weather the barrage. "Their reasons are valid," said the consultant
Don't know if Target retains this stooge or the reporter just looked him up for a quote-- but if they do they're getting hosed.
It is a funny name tho when you think about it
So did I and practically everyone else.They canned them over banning gay scout leaders.Levi's went from a Major blue jean manufacture to a small "fringe" company.I remember during that time hearing on the "News" Levi Strause closing Several manufacturing plants because no one was buying their jeans anymore.
We got a stocking(real cloth) on our door yesterday from target. It has big discount coupons in it. They must be looking for business.
Mine, too. In fact, the last time I was there a mom,dad and 2 small girls were ringing bells. It was special seeing the whole family there.
I did just that. I'm not even a huge contributor or supporter of the Salvation Army. Not that I think it's a bad organization, quite the contrary. It's mainly because I have another Charity that I feel a considerable attachment to, and would prefer my dollars go to that one.
But this banning of the bells by Target is singular in its pettiness. And I'm not returning to Target after the holidays either. The Salvation Army helps a lot of people, and they lost out on a lot of donations because of Target management's small, constricted brain and heart. And now they can live with the consequences of their petty little decision.
Heh heh heh, that's funny about the big stores. I don't blame you. I enjoy some of them.
Your other comments are right on target for me. I'm not a big fan of WalMart. I won't get into that here. I do think it would be very wise for them to follow your lead here.
And they'd only have to pay me a small consultant's fee, too.
Yep, that's a good point. We have a little neighborhood girl scout who comes around each year with her mother or grandmother. When she does, I buy about $20 worth of cookies. I don't mind supporting the kids, but I DO NOT want to be hounded to death everywhere I go, even if it is a good cause.
As you have pointed out, the Salvation Army has devised a very non-confrontational approach. Kudos to them.
Thanks for the post.
Ah, maybe I should have rephrased that response...
LOL
You've got to start somewhere.
I think Target needs to be driven out of business and then we go after the next one, if there is a next one by then.
I haven't seen any Kroger owned business without a Salvation Army kettle.
Oh stop it! She's not coming for months... Heh heh heh.
Our local Kroger (called King Soopers out here) always has a bellringer. In fact, they seem to let any charity solicit funds, clothing, food, or school supplies or sell stuff out front.
Yep. They always have the Boy/Girl scouts out with their cookies.
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