Target Created 'No-Win Situation' With Pride Month Move, Retail Expert Says
Target has been criticized for removing its LQBTQ+ Pride Month range from some of its stores, with one expert calling it a "a no-win situation of its own making."Many conservatives called for a boycott against the retail chain following the release of its 2023 Pride collection items, which promoted the LGBTQ+ community.
Some items had to be pulled from shelves in some U.S. regions after hostility from customers who at times confronted workers and tipped over displays.Now, Target has said that this year that it would sell the range "in select stores, based on historical sales performance," in a statement issued on Friday.
It will also sell the collection online.The move has been met with some admonishment from retail experts and LBGTQ+ advocates.
Carol Spieckerman, president of retail advisory firm Spieckerman Retail, has said the move makes the major chain look "weak" and is a "a no-win situation of its own making.""Scaling back only makes Target look weak without satisfying the desires of its progressive customers or the all-or-nothing demands of troublemakers," she told MarketWatch. "Target isn't responding to a lack of demand so much as caving to a vocal and hostile contingent that has identified Target as a high-profile example."Spieckerman acknowledged Target's commitment to providing a space for the company's LGBTQ+ staff members to celebrate the annual event, after the company announced it would "host internal events and experiences where interested team members can learn, reflect, celebrate and connect.""Target is known for walking the talk where it counts most, by fostering an inclusive corporate culture," Spieckerman said. "It's too bad Target feels it must waver and sit on the fence with its consumer-facing strategies."Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson was similarly critical, saying the decision "alienates LGBTQ+ individuals and allies at the risk of not only their bottom line but also their values.""Pride merchandise means something.
