Target 2008 Annual Report Download - page 8

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Across Target, we strive to balance speed and reliability.
Teams throughout the company — including our Target global
sourcing offices — work smart and quick; we are first to
market with the latest trends; and we deliver fast service in
our stores. At the same time, we are equally committed to
delivering a reliable Target-brand experience for our guests.
Our technology systems are fast and dependable, enabling
efficient and uninterrupted operation of our businesses; we
strive to always be in stock with the items our guests want
and need; and our in-store experience provides a consistently
clean and friendly environment.
Integrated Design, Development and Sourcing
We also strive to balance speed and reliability in our approach
to merchandising. Our fully integrated merchandising, product
design and development, and sourcing infrastructure are key
to maintaining this balance — by enabling us to consistently
deliver great quality and design, offer the newest trends
and update them frequently, and provide exceptional value
and affordability.
In collaboration with our merchants and product design
and development teams, Target Sourcing Services (TSS),
our global sourcing organization, works with vendors around
the world to consistently deliver trend-right, high-quality yet
Speed & Reliability
affordable merchandise. The expertise of TSS, which is now
focused on delivering products exclusively for Target, drives
sourcing decisions that balance cost and speed to market
while mitigating potential sourcing risks.
Our integrated approach allows us to:
• Continually evaluate our mix of countries and vendors for
merchandising sourcing and make adjustments for factors
that include trade legislation, currency fluctuations and
production quality and capacity, ensuring we do the right
business in the right countries while avoiding overexposure in
any one country;
• Elevate raw-material management in our development
process to improve quality, deliver cost savings, shorten lead
times and increase our ability to respond quickly to business
and market trends;
• Strategically plan our business with vendors to realize lower
costs and greater flexibility;
• Improve business planning transparency and collaboration
with our strategic vendor partners and place greater account-
ability for fit and color with the vendor;
• And ensure the product safety of our owned-brand
merchandise for our guests through our rigorous Multi-Stage
Testing process that evaluates products at several points
6