Target promises safer holiday shopping

Retailer beefs up its mobile, drive- up options

Target stores are enacting additional safety protocols to help shoppers get in and out of its stores – or not even enter the store – ahead of the holiday shopping season.

Like other major retailers, Target made changes at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, including additional disinfecting and cleaning, as well as curbside pickup of orders. Now, the retailer is adding measures to make shoppers feel safer on their holiday excursions.

“We are doubling down on safety by adding new measures and by further innovating across our popular offerings,” said Target CEO Brian Cornell.

Among the advances is an update to the Target mobile app’s Wallet payment option so it can be used to checkout in a contactless manner, bypassing a scanning device. Shoppers can also check on Target. com/ line to see whether there’s a line at their local store before heading out. If so, they can make a reservation and get a text message when they can enter the store.

Throughout Target stores, there will be more MyCheckout devices, which let store team members check out customers without waiting in lines.

“Many of the measures just focus on contact- free shopping. It’s here to stay,” Cornell said. “And we certainly hope guests will continue to use their mobile devices and our team members will be equipped with devices to continue to check guests out in different parts of our stores.”

Target is also making it easier for customers to use its Drive Up service by letting shoppers show their app through the car window to get purchases they have made online. The total number of Drive Up spots will be doubled, expanded by nearly 8,000 more nationwide, providing more spots for drivers to pull up and have purchases brought to their cars.

Target will open at 7 a. m. on Black Friday, but its holiday season hours were not announced. The retailer will be closed on Thanksgiving this year.