Halloween merchandise hit some stores before the Fourth of July, and Thanksgiving items were in already stores in August.
Given that it’s mid-September, retailers are rolling out products for the next winter big holiday: Christmas.
On Tuesday, Target launched a four-pronged approach to its holiday shopping experience.
Prong one: new items. Target is debuting more than 20,000 new items for holiday shoppers, many priced at $5 and most priced under $20. In a news release, the chain announced that is selling twice as many holiday items as last year, and more than half of those are Target exclusives.
Among the items for sale this year, the store highlighted pop-culture collaborations (“Stranger Things,” “Wicked: For Good”), as well as fashion, beauty gifts, Wondershop brand holiday decor and hundreds of exclusive toys.
Prong two: discounts. From Oct. 5 to 11, the store will have its “Target Circle Week” sale, and then it will kick off a series of weekly sales with prices discounted by up to half, starting Nov. 1. Its “Circle Week” sales are for the store’s membership program, which is free to join. Look for discounts on “everyday essentials, fall style picks and holiday gifts,” a news release said. To see what’s on sale, head to its deals page: target.com/c/deals/-/N-atb3q.
One note: Target’s Circle Week overlaps with Amazon’s fall Prime Big Deal Days sale, scheduled for Oct. 7 and 8. So keep an eye out for other sales that week, as more retailers try to compete for your holiday bucks.
Prong three: fast delivery. The chain is rolling out next-day delivery over the coming weeks. San Diego County’s 28 Target stores are behind those in San Francisco and Los Angeles in this respect. Those cities already have next-day delivery. But a silver lining: San Diego is one of only 35 markets getting this next-day delivery service.
Next-day delivery is free for orders over $35 for shoppers who are not part of the store’s loyalty club. For Target Circle 360 members, a paid membership program, or for purchases made using a Target Circle Card, there is no minimum order amount.
Prong four: hiring seasonal workers. “To support its current team, the retailer will hire seasonal staff, offering competitive pay and benefits, flexible scheduling and more,” the news release said. Beginning Sept. 24, visit targetseasonaljobs.com to apply for seasonal positions in all 50 states across Target stores and supply chain facilities.
Fall beer is here
The beer drinker’s equivalent of a pumpkin spice latte is officially here.
Karl Strauss Brewing Co.’s limited edition Oktoberfest beer is canned and ready for guzzling.
In keeping with the classic German fall fete, this beer is a German-style Märzen lager. Märzen is a medium to full-bodied beer with roots in Bavaria.
The Oktoberfest variety, a tradition at this San Diego brewing company, is available at stores, bars and restaurants around San Diego County, including BevMo, Keg N Bottle, Tom Ham’s Lighthouse and Petco Park.
Here’s how the brewer describes it: “We brew this lager in tribute to the world’s biggest beer party. Vienna and Munich malts produce the deep golden color, nutty undertones, and toasted malt flavors characteristic of this renowned Bavarian beer style. Perle hops imported directly from the Hallertau region of Germany yield a smooth balanced finish. This year’s batch of Oktoberfest has arrived, and it tastes like we’re in for quite the celebration. Prost!”
Mall update
Las Americas Premium Outlets, in San Ysidro, has two new stores: apparel shop Abercrombie & Fitch and Miniso, which sells toys, household items and licensed products from brands including Care Bares, Disney and Sanrio.