Why I love/admire Target

Hello everyone!.
For the whole first decade of 2000 I have been an entrepeneur. That is someone who is in business for themselves....in other words...you are the boss, numero uno, the man (who usually never gets a paycheck!). From the very beginning of my journey I realized that marketing and originality would be key in development of my business. There were two business out "there" that caught my attention and since I was in the food-trade, even tho tea is a drink, there are many foods that can be included if desired....and I was in the retail business as I sold all things tea-related. That being said, I honed in on Panera Bread and Target! Both had business models I studied and admired. Both extremely successful and growing, both tapping into the American psyche in a positive and influential way! I mean, Panera survived the big CARB SCARE....survived and became even more popular .....Target overcame the BELL-RINGING SANTA DEBACLE...with not even a shout! So, first, Target....why is this company so extremely good at reading the American public??? /Well, they create an environment that appeals to us...as a whole. But, in this environment, THEY are in charge (so subtle, but so true...we don't even know it! it's brilliant) and even if we do know it (since I am letting you all in on this secret, which won't be a secret anymore!) Most of the time, they stock the shelves with four of the same item....that's it....so, lady, you better buy this cute thing-a-ma-jig now, it won't be here for long!
NO MUSIC (I love this!)
Lots of light, wide isles, very very clean.
NO WAITING (I mean, very little to no waiting again, brilliant
Great clothes and shoes. Hey, we want some trendy stuff and who cares if it only lasts a season, we didn't pay an arm and a leg for it anyway and it is CUTE
On the other hand, most stuff is very well made and does last! thankyouverymuch....the cool Ugg-like boots I have worn for two winters and lovelovelove, for example
All this to say: TARGET rocks on all levels and I give them huge kudos and want to be them when I grow up!
As a person who studies retail, I see no faults with anything Target does and commend them in every way....Wallmart is not close to their league.
What do you think?
Next post: Panera Bread-love
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cathy

What happened to Day 2???

Me and my grandson Woody, Dec. 2010

Hello!

I am already behind and it is only January 3! woe is me, this does not bode well for the rest of the year.

Did you set a goal, a resolution, a wish or intention for the New Year? We all have moments where we see improvement needed and determine to alter some habit, trait, performance in our lives. Once, I decided to rid myself of "toxic" friendships (and I use friendship here very loosely, perhaps acquaintance would be a better choice of words). Not an easy task, but I will tell you, a good decision and on reflection, I am better off without those entanglements! Another year I decided to cultivate positive friendships....well...it was such a wonderful success and has added many lovely memories and wonderful relationships for which I am blessed! I say all this to encourage you (and me) to continue the habit of evaluation and positive goal setting that a New Year provides.

Today is the first Monday of the New Year...the kids head back to school, folks are back to work, Christmas decor is over and done....until oh, say, August???? But for now, it is behind us and let's see....Valentine's Day is on the horizon...but before that we have Ground Hog Day and MLK. Lots to look forward to and of course there is Friday...which is only 4 days away. I wish you good goal setting, positive critical analysis, and happy results.

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cathy

Day One

hello

This is the first day of a new....decade, year, month. The slate is clear and the road is ahead. Choose this day.....

Well, I wanted to start this new year off with a bang...at least a post....and perhaps be better at keeping whoever reads this a bit better entertained than last year.

This first day of 2011 is very balmy and overcast, quite a change from just last week when the lovely snow began to fall. We had our daughters over for dinner. All Chessons were on hand, Woody had to work, so Amy came on her own. I fixed a stuffed pork loin, hash brown potato casserole, red cabbage, green beans and a lovely tossed salad. It was a big hit and I had fun doing it. We all watched Nation Lampoon's Christmas Vacation....again....then they headed home. Zion had spent the night and was my New Years "Date". We went to see Voyage of the Dawn Treader 3D. Great movie...then to WalMart to visit Paul, he worked until midnight. While at WMT we bought sparklers and snaps for midnight and also a wonderful white artificial Christmas tree...6.5 feet, 400 lights....all for less than $9!!!

Wish I had taken some photos of events, but alas....no. So, I will put in some photo to amuse you a bit.

1 day down....364 to go

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cathy

Merry/Happy

Beautiful SNOW

Jazmine's concert

Day trip to Biltmore

Thanksgiving at our daughter Amy's

Christmas Morning 2010

Our stockings are grocery bags and this year I got star balloons and wrote everyone's name on them....they turned out so cute!

Chesson Family

The Robinsons

Hello

So we are inbetween Christmas (Merry) and New Years (Happy), this is a good place to be...between merry and happy! hope you are both!


I "think" I might be able to uploard a couple of photos...we had a wonderful open house with tons of friends and family....did I take a picture???? nope


We had a wonderful Holiday season. 1)Thanksgiving at our daughter Amy's



2)Wonderful day-trip to Biltmore



3) Jazmine's winter concert



4) Christmas Bunco



5) Woody's concert





6) Our open house



7) Christmas eve day shopping, lunch and church at Hope



8) Christmas Day with family



9) BEAUTIFUL SNOW



Of course I cannot put the photos in order, but you get the idea....lots of good food, good fun, good memories.

Now, I have to figure out what we are going to do with all this "stuff" since we are not going on the road....157 boxes in storage is alot of UNPACKING!!!

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cathy

New Stuff

Hi all,
Since last I blogged on a regular basis I have acquired a new computer....HP netbook (xoxoxo) a new camera....and a new gadget called a Flip video recorder....they are great, but I am technically challenged as to how to integrate these into use with this new computer! Let me tell you, I have some awesome photos of our Chrismatized home....wish I could share....and I want to share a tour of Sarah and Eric's cozy cottage all finished and looking oh so charming...hopefully, they will be available in the near future.
So I am getting ready for a big open house here on the 23rd....should be tons of fun and I love to feed friends, so I am in my element. I have some vegetarian buddies and want to make sure I have enough meatless tasties to make them feel all warm and happy....not to mention all those carnivores in my acquaintance. Tomorrow is our daughter Amy's birthday and we have a surprise road trip planned.....more after the event!
Blog without photos = boring....sorry.
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cathy

OH MY....IT IS I

Ok, let's get it over with. Yes, I have been awol for a long while. Yes, I have been avoiding you. And NO, it is not your fault, you did nothing wrong and I am not mad....really.
1) I forgot my password and it was a hassle to get into my account....
2) I was bummed over not selling our home
3) I had nothing very interesting, informative or even remotely funny to share.
4) Big, boring changes going on that have to do with getting old, being old and living old.
5) Everybody else's blog seemed much "cooler" than mine and far more captivating
6) I was bored
7) I lost my direction
8) I also lost focus
9) I had put my life on hold and could not get the button that said "forward" to work
10) No motivation....zero....zip....nada
SO.....what's changed????
Well, since the house didn't sell and it looks like that will not be happening in the next few years....come on economy.....we have decided to dig in, do some upgrades that WE have wanted to do ourselves anyway and stick around here for a while....hey, this is a great place to live. We love our home, our kids, our church, our friends, our neighbors. We are so blessed, so staying here is no sacrifice.
Enough about me, how are you?
Here's hoping I will be better blogging in 2011
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cathy

Urban Pioneers/drat...no sound

Meet Sarah and Eric, our daughter and son-in-law. They are working very very hard in some very hot, humid summer weather to build a home! This is our first visit and we are so impressed by their hard work, talent and determination to make this happen!!! Eric has been in the construction business for many years and knows what he's doing, plus, he also knows others who are super talented...Sarah knows how to work very hard....we applaud them....TEAM CHESSON rocks.

This is my first try at uploading a video from my new Flip. the file is way huge....so sorry...need to figure out how to make it smaller????? taking forever to upload!

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cathy