10 Surprising Things Every Target Shopper Should Know

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Everyone knows when you're in a rush, you shouldn't go to Target. It's stocked with so many cute accessories, clothes, and home goods that you could get distracted for hours — or worse, end up spending $$$ when you only needed a $ item. But even if you know the aisles of your city's location like the back of your hand, we doubt you know much more about the super store — until now:

1. It started with a church fire back in 1895.

The company's founder George Draper Dayton began hunting for the perfect property on which to build his department store in Minneapolis in the early 1890s. But it wasn't until after a fire burned down the Westminster Presbyterian Church in 1895 that he found his unicorn lot, which he snatched up for $$$,000. His six-story building was completed in 1901.

2. Some might describe the founder as a take-no-prisoners businessman.

Since Dayton needed an anchor tenant for his new property, he convinced a struggling store (named Goodfellows Dry Goods) to relocate in his building in 1901. But by 1902, he had bought them out and put his own name on the store.

3. The company was known as The Dayton Company for more than half a century.

Surprised? Well, you'll be even more surprised to find out Target was originally just the name of the brand's discount chain. The company didn't officially change their name to Target Corp. until 2000.

4. Today, there are more than 1,803 stores in the U.S.

And they're supported by 38 distribution centers and 347,000 team members (wowza).

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5. The median household income of Target shoppers is $$,000. 

Which is significantly higher than the U.S. median of $,939. Target guests are also on average 40 years old, 43% have kids, and 57% completed college.

6. The fake French pronunciation of "Tarjay" has been around since the 1960s.

And you thought your family were the clever originators. Nope, the owners recall people pronouncing the company name as if it were a fancy French store all the way back in 1962 in Duluth, Minneapolis (props, Deluthians!).

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7. The company makes an effort to fully embrace diversity.

They actively search for employees of all races and genders, and were even the first major retailer to recognize same-sex partnerships.

8. They are pioneers when it comes to their treatment of nicotine and gun products.

Back in 1996 Target stopped selling any tobacco products — which is much earlier than most major retailers. They also don't sell guns and went as far as to implement a no-carrying policy for customers after a wave of mass shootings.

9. One of the founder's great grandsons is now the governor of Minnesota.

His name is Mark Dayton and he was previously a U.S. Senator (from 2001 to 2007) and, before that, the Minnesota State Auditor (from 1991 to 1995).

10. The company once helped repair the Washington Monument in D.C.

When Congress was hesitant to fund a restoration project of the monument in 1997, Target funded $ million and also helped raise $ million to complete the updates. 

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From: Good Housekeeping US

By Lauren Smith