Target and Starbucks Create Exclusive Frozen Peppermint Hot Chocolate | Fast Five Shorts
Target and Starbucks have partnered to create an exclusive frozen peppermint hot chocolate available only at Starbucks cafes inside Target stores nationwide. This episode, Sponsored A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and Quorso, explores why this seemingly small move could signal Target's merchandising mojo is returning.
Chris loves this idea, calling it "smart merchandising that leverages a true differentiation point." Target Circle 360 members get 24-hour early access. While the impact may be small potatoes compared to Target's larger challenges, it's exactly the kind of creative thinking Target used to do well.
Anne highlights an additional experience: select Target stores are featuring weekend hot cocoa bars where kids can customize drinks creating memories and driving foot traffic. Both hosts wonder if this could become Target's next "pumpkin spice latte" moment. Producer Ella agrees this is brilliant... adding a Starbucks drink to her hand means even longer browsing time in Target.
For the full episode head here
#Target #Starbucks #retailcollaboration #exclusivedrink #Targetstores #holidayshopping #retailmerchandising #Targetcircle360 #coffeeshopretail #retailstrategy
This podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis:
Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy
Transcript
Starting November 18, Target and Starbucks are giving guests a brand new way to enjoy the season with a frozen peppermint hot chocolate available exclusively at Starbucks cafes inside Target stores nationwide.
Speaker A:According to a Target press release, it's the first ever holiday exclusive drink created just for the millions of guests who already enjoy Starbucks while shopping at Target, making it easier than ever to sip, shop and celebrate.
Speaker A:And for an extra sprinkle of joy, Target360 or Target Circle.
Speaker A:360 members, part of the paid membership program at Target, will get 24 hour early access to the drink on November 17th.
Speaker A:This festive drink is a twist on a holiday classic.
Speaker A:A cream Frappuccino with a blend of mocha sauce, milk and ice poured over a layer of peppermint flavored whipped cream and red and green sprinkles.
Speaker A:Chris, your, your thoughts on Target have, have been here and there, hit or miss as of late.
Speaker A:What do you think particular Starbucks and Target collaboration?
Speaker B:Well, and I'd say they've been pretty consistent of late, but counter to that, actually, you know, believe it or not, I actually like this now.
Speaker B:Now I don't love the results this morning and you know, on a scale of impact, I think I want to be very careful in how I describe this because like, this is still small potatoes in terms of what Target needs to do to turn its ship around.
Speaker B:But I love this idea.
Speaker B:I freaking love it.
Speaker B:I think it's great merchandising and kudos to Lisa Roth and the team for coming up with it.
Speaker B:And you know, it gets me wondering if Target's getting its mojo back on the merchandising side because this is the type of thing they used to do really well.
Speaker B:And the reason I like it is because it gives people a reason to go to Target store.
Speaker B:And the Starbucks in a Target store is one reason you choose to shop at Target over another place, in fact.
Speaker B:And this idea is so good that my litmus test for whether or not whether or not an idea is good is like, wow, why haven't they done this before?
Speaker B:Because it just seems that straightforward.
Speaker B:So, you know, worst case, to me, it doesn't work.
Speaker B:And best and no one's worse off, but best case, you got another pumpkin spice latte on your hands that you can go back to year after year or you can refine it for next year to try to do it again.
Speaker B:So I think it's just really smart merchandising that leverages what is truly one of your differentiation.
Speaker B:Differentiation points at Target.
Speaker A:Yeah, I, I think it's a Great.
Speaker A:It's like you said, it's a great use of existing assets that are already in your store.
Speaker A:The only concern that I have is will the Starbucks teams be ready for this?
Speaker A:Should we have a Starbucks glass bear cup situation on our hands where this becomes so popular?
Speaker A:I guess that's a problem.
Speaker A:That's a good problem to have for Target to have and they'll have to figure that out.
Speaker A:But, but the other thing that they didn't mention in this press release, which I think is a very nice compliment to that, is that a lot of the Starb or sorry, a lot of the Target stores this year are doing a hot cocoa bar when they go, when you go in.
Speaker A:So on the weekends you'll be able to, in select Target stores go in and you get to, they're giving away hot cocoa and you can add different ingredients and then it'll be merchandised around it so that you can make your own hot cocoa bar at home.
Speaker A:So I think while the Starbucks angle is great for mom, I think that this hot cocoa bar is also a really like leveled up luxury retail experience in a mass retailer that gets the kids in.
Speaker A:That makes it a memory.
Speaker A:It makes it an experience of going to the store and maybe will drive you there time and time again to like have this during the holiday shopping season.
Speaker A:So that's something I think I would have like added as an aside, like, and in select Target stores, dot dot dot.
Speaker A:Here's this other experience too.
Speaker A:So, so yeah, I think, I think this is a great step forward and a great kickoff to the holiday season from Target and in multiple different ways here, not just the partnership with Starbucks.
Speaker B:Wow.
Speaker B:And so cancel Christmas.
Speaker B:You're talking there's going to be cocoa cannibalization in Target stores this holiday season.
Speaker A:I guess so.
Speaker A:I mean that's, they were already putting up the structure for the hot cocoa bar in our local Target the day after Halloween.
Speaker A:So it's, it's ready.
Speaker A:If you're in select Target stores, I'm sure they'll have more details on their other sites.
Speaker A:But, but I love it.
Speaker A:I think that's a great thing.
Speaker A:And again, creating that memory, not something that you're expecting.
Speaker A:It's definitely the expect more part of the expect more, pay less moniker at Target.
Speaker B:Target all in on the cocoa this holiday season.
Speaker B:Wow.
