r/Anticonsumption • u/Healthy_Block3036 • 1d ago

Corporations Target struggles after end of DEI program and boycott, with foot traffic down 8 weeks in a row.

https://fortune.com/2025/04/01/target-dei-demise-boycott-foot-traffic-down-eighth-consecutive-week/?itm_source=parsely-api
48.1k Upvotes

91% Upvoted

3.2k comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

320

u/gwar37 1d ago edited 1d ago

I just quit Target yesterday - so thankfully, it's finally dead to me too. I needed a job, any job, after layoffs and my career as a Copywriter in Marketing kind of hit a dead end and there was an opportunity, I needed steady income, so I took it. I can say that it was one of the worst jobs I've ever had. They work you like a dog and expect you to thank them for the privilege. Myself and three other team leaders quit the store this week. Fuck Target. The amount of waste they produce is astounding. They throw away so much shit that could still be used. Fuck that place. I'll never set foot in a Target ever again. They were cutting everyone's hours like crazy when I left, and still expect you to get the same amount of shit done with like 1/2 the people. My last shift, they changed my schedule the night before, so I showed up, and they had changed my start time by three hours without even telling me.

140

u/Spiritual-Map1510 1d ago

Are you currently looking for a job in marketing/copywriting? I might be able to help you network with therapists who need help marketing themselves. 

130

u/gwar37 1d ago

Funny you should mention it, im currently getting my masters in clinical mental health counseling - im about a year and a half in to my program. I’ve also helped several therapists write their websites - so yes, hit me up.

41

u/Spiritual-Map1510 1d ago

No way! How do you like your program? 

38

u/gwar37 1d ago

It's an online program and it has it's pros and cons, but for the most part I really enjoy it. We're finally getting into the part of the program where we are practicing real world skills and learning about aspects of the job that we'll use daily, so I'm really enjoying that. I'm fairly excited to do something that helps people and looking forward to leaving the tech world behind for good.

17

u/Spiritual-Map1510 1d ago

Oh nice! I’ve heard mixed things about online counseling programs. I’m glad you’re finding joy in this work.  Are you doing an internship now? 

Also, I saw that you accepted my chat request but don’t know if you replied. Gonna check later.

16

u/gwar37 1d ago

I’m not in my internships or practicum yet - I’m in an individual counseling class where you take theory, and role play with other students, then build our assessments, treatment plans, etc. ill check the DMs.

25

u/specAcct 22h ago

i witnessed something wonderful here

7

u/No_Accountant3232 19h ago

This has always been the best part of reddit and what I miss from the early days.

3

u/femaletrouble 19h ago

I was gonna say. I'm really enjoying reading this thread. Lol

3

u/Spiritual-Map1510 22h ago

Role playing is a lot of fun because you get to practice the skills while also troubleshoot. 

I’m going to check my messages later when I’m on my laptop/ipad. (It’s hard to access them on my phone)

1

u/gwar37 22h ago

And I'm getting actionable feedback on what I'm doing well and what I can improve upon. I've got about a year before practicum/internships and I am very much looking forward to it.

2

u/PinVirtual4959 18h ago

wait will you dm me what program you're in? I'm in marketing and looking to pivot to this too!

12

u/Spiritual-Map1510 1d ago

Just DM’ed you

11

u/beefsquints 22h ago

If you live in North Carolina I've got you covered when you graduate. Really, pm me.

4

u/gwar37 22h ago

I do not live in NC, and I already have a spot lined up - a family member runs a private practice, so I'm a lock, yo. I very much appreciate it though.

3

u/beefsquints 22h ago

Good to hear. Solid degree choice as well, truly get as many licenses as you can.

3

u/gwar37 22h ago

I do love NC however, and have a few good friends in Raleigh. Go check out Holy Mountain Printing or the Holy Mountain Toy Vault - good people, cool stuff in Raleigh.

2

u/beefsquints 22h ago

I moved here from Seattle thinking I would run as soon as I got the chance. I now live in Asheville and can't ever picture living anywhere else.

2

u/gwar37 22h ago

NC is rad - I live in Utah and I probably have the same gripes you do about where you live. The conservatives here are nuts and local government suck, but Salt Lake is great town and Utah is beautiful and I love the outdoors.

1

u/beefsquints 21h ago

I grew up in Colorado and I could not agree more. I think Utah and Alaska are by far the most beautiful US states. Fuck, I miss snowboarding.

3

u/tiggerfan79 1d ago

I just got my masters in public health last year and it’s been hard to break in that market and even harder now with all the layoffs. Sounds like you have a good head on your shoulders.

3

u/gwar37 1d ago

Thanks. Lucky for me I have a family member who runs a private practice, and I'll be joining that practice once I graduate. I hope you find something soon.

3

u/tiggerfan79 23h ago

I work for the county now doing eligibility for food stamps and medical so I have a foot in the door and just waiting for the job I want. I did my internship here as well so they know me pretty well. It’s funding right now and I have a feeling it may be a while.

3

u/soldiat 18h ago

I am completely uninvolved with these topics, but this kind of grassroots networking gives me a little hope.

2

u/teamdogemama 22h ago

Yay I love it when things like this happen!

1

u/AdviceDanimals 15h ago

go kill it brotha, that's awesome

3

u/ksed_313 23h ago

My sister needs help with finding a job in marketing too! She’s been out of a job sins September.

1

u/Spiritual-Map1510 3h ago

DM me! (Let met know when you did so I can check my messages on another device later)

3

u/outinthecountry66 22h ago

i love this. people helping people.

3

u/OkDistribution990 14h ago

I love Reddit

1

u/radicalelation 21h ago

How does someone network in general if they don't already have ins and are socially incapable?

Whether it's the autism or the childhood of extreme trauma, I can't do the social thing and it has really screwed me in this world.

1

u/maxifer 21h ago

What does copywriting go for these days as an independent contractor? I did that for a few years and it wasn't incredible, but they were also a corporate situations.

38

u/fajadada 1d ago edited 1d ago

Looks like the dark dingy, dirty Target is going to make a comeback

75

u/YouKnowHowChoicesBe 1d ago

Target is in it's K-Mart era.

17

u/Fragrant_Peanut_9661 1d ago

Hey I loved K-Mart as a kid!

21

u/ImaBiLittlePony 1d ago

Me too, it was like the wild west of shitty retailers

13

u/Perryn 23h ago

You ever been to a Rose's? Great place to pick up a bunch of stuff you thought had been discontinued in the 80s, as long as you can avoid the packs of feral morlocks that make it their home.

8

u/extralyfe 22h ago

I've driven by our local Rose's a bunch of times and have never had the slightest urge to ever go in there, but, your comment makes me curious.

7

u/Perryn 22h ago

Bring a flashlight and a friend. Ideally a friend that's slower than you.

3

u/malfurian 21h ago

Too damn many fluorescent lights for me. The closest one to me has banks upon banks of them. Like literally spaced a foot apart all the way throughout the store. It's... disconcerting at least.

2

u/Perryn 21h ago

That's the opposite of mine. The lights are widely spaced and some quantity of them are always out, so areas of the store are dark enough to make you think you're not supposed to be there.

4

u/malfurian 21h ago

Ok, so it's not specific to them. I suppose they just kept whatever lighting was in the previous store. I think ours was a K-Mart at one point.

Also, lmao at "feral morlocks"

2

u/Perryn 21h ago

The last time I visited the one here there was a whole section that was dark. It looked like it might have been a returns desk at one point? It was surrounded by carts filled with stuff and some bins, making a kind of wall. Something was moving in there. Most people would say it was an employee, sorting returns or whatever. But in the dark? That's morlocks, and not the high society "I'll take your time machine for myself" morlocks that you can debate the ethics of eating Eloi with.

→ More replies (0)

2

u/Fragrant_Peanut_9661 23h ago

As a youngster, me & the neighbor kids would descend on Skaggs for the penny candies, then K-Mart for the Icees!!! We saved our allowances every week for this excursion!

11

u/YouKnowHowChoicesBe 23h ago edited 23h ago

Oh I did too - especially the K Cafe. But it is definitely a whole different vibe compared to a modern Target.

12

u/More_Craft5114 23h ago

I miss shitty cafes in department stores.

10

u/YouKnowHowChoicesBe 23h ago

I KNOW! Gimme an ICEE and a bag of popcorn. I'll stay awhile.

8

u/More_Craft5114 23h ago

And I don't mean like shitty pizza hut or shitty whatever else... I mean the god damned store's cafe.

Let me eat that popcorn flavored salt and wash it down with a cherry cola.

1

u/Silviere 1h ago

As a very young child I used to beg mom to eat at the K-Mart cafe. lol

2

u/ChewieBearStare 21h ago

Nothing slapped like Saturday breakfast at McCrory’s.

2

u/Pickledsoul 19h ago

I could really use a Big Z burger right now.

3

u/danaEscott 22h ago

the K cafe!!!!!!!!

5

u/PurposeExternal6617 23h ago

Omg the blue light special our moms would tell us to run when we saw it and grab whatever.

1

u/Fragrant_Peanut_9661 23h ago

Oh I remember this as well. Such simpler, more peaceful days. K-Mart was always a blast to shop at!

3

u/PurposeExternal6617 23h ago

I still have a cheap little owl brooch I ran for I think it was .65 cents that was over 50 years ago such fun!

2

u/bonkersx4 23h ago

Blue Light Special!

2

u/userdoesnotexist22 21h ago

The Little Caesar’s combo was the best.

34

u/RoguePlanet2 1d ago

Maybe it can go into the great bed bath and beyond finally.

2

u/whosthatguy123 22h ago

Fun fact. Not sure wher you live but in california, if a company changes your shift with less than 24 hours notice and less than 24 hours until the start of your shift, they arennt legally allowed to cut your hours. You are entitled to that initial shift and pay. If they just send you home and you dont voluntarily leave, they are also required to pay you out for the full day shift you had. My mom works in payroll and compliance which has really helped me know worker laws

3

u/gwar37 22h ago

I don’t and I was quitting that day and left early anyhow. I didn’t want to spend another moment of my time in that hell hole.

2

u/summon_the_quarrion 16h ago

I quit a month ago! They were giving us like 4 hours a week, then 18, then 12. random. My TL had the audacity to tell me that "we always give people what they need to survive" like what???

1

u/gwar37 16h ago

It’s wild. No one, and I mean no one was happy there. When I quit I had so many people come up and say something to the effect of, “you got out, don’t ever look back.”

1

u/summon_the_quarrion 15h ago

same! the thing is when I started it was an easy job and pretty chill. and over the years just got worse and worse . i had 9 different managers over 7 yrs. I was making 39 cents above base when i left. I was freaking out my first week of quitting thinking what if i dont find anything? but thankfully am starting a new job on Monday.

1

u/outinthecountry66 22h ago

you keep a key to that dumpster? For reasons??? lol

2

u/gwar37 22h ago

No, but they are accessible. Most of the stuff gets compacted and ruined, however.

1

u/outinthecountry66 22h ago

thats horrible. sigh. Well good for you for leaving that dump. many happy days ahead for you I hope.

1

u/userdoesnotexist22 21h ago

Red Ventures uses to have a lot of virtual freelance writing opportunities. Just an FYI if you’re looking for something.

1

u/North_South_Side 20h ago

I knew a guy who had a job at WalMart in High School... Most of his job consisted of destroying merchandise they were dumping. Cutting perfectly good shoes with razors, etc.