Consumers have slammed two popular retailers for redesigning their stores.
One shopper said Walmart and Target's redesigns and rebranding look “depressing” and “unappealing” in public, and many consumers agreed.
“Does anyone else think Walmart and Target's new designs are ugly? How can they be improved?” they asked on Facebook.
“So unattractive,” one user commented.
“Yeah, it makes me think of the newest Target store around here,” said another. “I don't like it when it's all grey. I like where the store is that there's still a lot of red.”
“Walmarts these days feel like warehouse stores, just big and boring,” a third person agreed.
“Target still has that discount department store feel and does a much better job of merchandising and end-caps,” they added.
Missed the target
In 2022, Target opened new, larger stores with what a press briefing called “modern designs.”
“The retailer's expanded store footprint will optimize the additional space and new design elements to better serve customers and employees and support continued growth,” the press briefing stated.
“The new store designs feature more contemporary elements that inspire guests, advance Target's sustainability goals and reflect the local communities in which each store operates.”
As part of the redesign, the company said it will add larger windows and create more inviting layouts that let in natural light.
Target said it wanted to create a “welcoming” and “inspiring” space for customers and employees.
The retailer also plans to incorporate community-focused elements into the design of each store.
This includes everything from “local landscaping” outside the store to “locally relevant product offerings” inside the store.
Starting in 2023, more than half of Target's 200 store renovations and nearly all of the retailer's roughly 30 new stores will feature the new design elements.
In 2024, most of the reimagined store design elements will be featured in all remodeled and new Target stores.
Major retailer rebrands
Walmart
- Walmart announced that it will invest more than $500 million in renovating and reopening 117 stores across 30 states in 2023.
- The company said it has invested more than $9 billion in the past two years to upgrade more than 1,400 stores across the country.
- Each store is designed to deliver a more contemporary shopping experience and improve the lives of employees and customers from the moment they step into their new space.
target
- In 2022, the retailer optimized additional space and new design elements to better serve guests and team members and drive continued growth.
- The new store designs feature more contemporary elements that inspire guests, advance Target's sustainability goals and reflect the local communities in which each store operates.
- Starting in 2023, more than half of Target's roughly 200 store renovations and nearly all of the retailer's roughly 30 new stores will feature new design elements.
- Beginning in 2024, all remodeled and new Target stores will feature most of the redesigned store design elements.
Further changes in retail
Walmart announced that the store will have a grand reopening in October 2023 to mark a more than $500 million renovation.
“We have invested more than $9 billion over the past two years, upgrading more than 1,400 stores across the country,” the press briefing stated.
“Each store is designed to deliver a more contemporary shopping experience and improve the lives of associates and customers from the moment they step into their new space,” they added.
The company also updated the exterior and interior of its stores, “with new paint, new signage and more shopping carts to create a friendly, welcoming atmosphere,” the company said. Target also implemented new checkout designs based on customer feedback and completely revamped the look of its stores.
Additionally, Target has introduced “Active Corners,” where customers can physically touch and feel products and visualize how they would work in their space.
Neither retailer has confirmed they will be upgrading the colors in their stores, but they say customers have noticed the difference.
The US Sun has reached out to Walmart and Target for comment.
Meanwhile, shoppers have slammed Walmart on social media for eliminating self-checkout and refusing to accept Apple Pay.
Target is also implementing new self-checkout policies, limiting the number of items shoppers can carry in these lanes to 10 or fewer items.