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Tag: Target

  • New Jersey man discovers ‘One Piece’ stash hidden inside Target shelf. Why did the workers kick him out instead?: ‘They look like they hid them’

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    In the world of manga and anime, certain items are so sought-after that they disappear on launch day. While fans are usually the ones grabbing them off the shelves, another theory has emerged in recent years. Could store employees be “hiding” them to either keep or resell for a profit?

    That’s what one TikToker has claimed after filming an interaction in which Target workers refused him service and asked him to leave the premises. According to him, something suspicious may be happening.

    What Happened During His Target Visit?

    In the clip, TikToker Tony (@tonymak) shows part of the interaction as a security guard and a Target worker confront him. His video went viral with over 12.1 million views.

    “So I have to leave because I found items under the shelf,” he says to the camera before flipping it to show the workers standing in front of him.

    “Is that basically what you’re saying?” he asks the workers.

    “Yes, we need you to leave the store, and you’re not going to be able to purchase those items today,” one of them says. “But on another day, if you purchase them from the shelf, you’re absolutely okay.”

    “OK,” Tony responds. “Can I have someone else come in and purchase them when you guys put them back on the shelf?”

    “Not today, no, cause they’re not gonna go up today,” the worker counters.

    “I didn’t even do anything wrong,” Tony says. “And I have to leave the store because I found items that people hid.”

    In the comments, users were convinced this was a deliberate action by the Target employees.

    “I think the one holding the one piece box was the one who hid it lmao,” one user claimed.

    A commenter claiming to be a Target employee also chimed in. “Hi, so I work at Target this is definitely NOT a thing!” they wrote. “Call corporate immediately!”

    “I’m so confused about how they even knew you found a hidden item?” a third commenter wondered.

    In a follow-up video, Tony said he wasn’t planning to escalate the issue by contacting corporate or trying to get the workers in trouble. Instead, he said he was simply curious whether there was a store policy he wasn’t aware of.

    Do Target Workers Really Hide Items?

    While videos online show people finding hidden items, there’s often no independent way to verify their authenticity. Some viewers have questioned whether certain “hidden shelf” finds are staged for content, though there’s no clear evidence in most cases.

    However, staging isn’t the only explanation for why an item might appear to be missing from the shelf but still present in the store. Retail practices such as overstock, temporary shelf resets, or inventory staging can mean a product is available at certain times but not visible at others.

    What to Do if You’re in His Position

    If customers believe a retail store has treated them unfairly in any way, they can escalate the issue by first contacting the store’s customer service. If that doesn’t resolve their issue, they can also file a complaint with organizations such as the Better Business Bureau.

    However, Target, like many other businesses in the United States, has the right to refuse service, as long as the decision is not based on discrimination related to race, sex, religion, disability, or other protected characteristics.

    @tonymak bet you the chicken lookin security guard was hiding them ?? #fyp #onepiece #onepunchman ♬ original sound – tonymacaroni || Solo Travel

    The Mary Sue has reached out to Target and Tony via email for comment.

    Have a tip we should know? [email protected]

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    Ljeonida Mulabazi

    Ljeonida is a reporter and writer with a degree in journalism and communications from the University of Tirana in her native Albania. She has a particular interest in all things digital marketing; she considers herself a copywriter, content producer, SEO specialist, and passionate marketer. Ljeonida is based in Tbilisi, Georgia, and her work can also be found at the Daily Dot.

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  • Target and its new CEO face pressure to take a stand against ICE’s actions in Minnesota

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    New Target CEO Michael Fiddelke faces mounting pressure to take a stand against actions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Minneapolis, where the retailer is headquartered.

    In a public letter addressed to the executive on Sunday, American Federation of Teachers (AFT) President Randi Weingarten criticized Target for what she called its “silence” on ICE’s activities in Minneapolis and demanded that the company “clearly state” that it wants federal immigration agents to leave the city. 

    “The AFT is deeply concerned about the company’s silence on ICE’s continuing operations in Minneapolis following ICE and Border Patrol agents’ murders of two Minneapolis residents,” she said. “As a company that employs 34,000 Minnesotans, many in critical headquarters positions, Target has deep roots in the Twin Cities and benefits substantially from a favorable relationship with that community.”

    AFT’s membership, who include teachers, nurses and public employees, invests a total of roughly $4 trillion in pension funds that own 6.8 million shares of Target stock, while consumers are also “an important addressable market” for the company, Weingarten said.

    Target appointed Fiddelke, who started his career at the company as an intern, as CEO last summer, and this week marks his first time at the helm of the company. In a statement on Monday, Fiddelke outlined Target’s business priorities, but he refrained from specifically commenting on ICE’s activities in Minneapolis. 

    Such reticence could backfire for Target, Weingarten said, adding that Fiddelke’s “response to the current crisis will define your time as CEO” of the company. 

    Fiddelke was one of more than 60 CEOs of Minnesota-based companies who signed a joint letter in January demanding the “immediate de-escalation of tensions.” But they omitted any reference to ICE or its tactics after two border patrol fatally shot Minneapolis resident Alex Pretti. 

    U.S. immigration agents also fatally shot Minneapolis resident Renee Good on Jan. 7.

    Weingarten called the letter a “productive first step,” but said “it falls far short of showing real leadership to end ICE’s occupation in Minnesota.”

    Target didn’t immediately reply to a request for comment.

    Alison Taylor, a professor of Business and Society at NYU Stern School of Business, told CBS News that the business community is likely to come under continuing pressure related to the events in Minneapolis. 

    “Everyone who is angry about this wanted to see condemnation, names of victims, and a stronger callout that this should stop, and I don’t think anybody saw that,” she said. 

    ICE agents have staged operations in Target parking lots, making them a popular site of demonstrations for anti-ICE activists. ICE last month also detained two Target employees at one of its Minneapolis store.

    Protestors on Monday rallied against ICE in front of Target’s Minneapolis headquarters, 36 hours after demonstrators showed up at 23 of the retailer’s stores in the area. 

    Edited by

    Alain Sherter

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  • Demonstrators in Dinkytown call for Target to speak out against ICE

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    Community members organized a sit-in at the Dinkytown Target on Friday.

    It’s part of broader protests calling on the Minneapolis-based retailer to respond more directly to immigration enforcement.

    Demonstrators outside the location near the University of Minnesota want the company — long seen as a community institution — to publicly oppose U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity on its properties, and ban agents from entering stores.

    “ICE has been staging operations at Target parking lots all across the city,” organizer Elan Axelbank said.

    “Seven hundred small businesses closed on the 23rd in solidarity with a general strike. Target stayed open,” protester Chris Gray said. 

    The group planned on a sit-in, but officers waiting at the doorway stopped them from advancing.

    Target declined to comment on the protest.

    Tensions have been high since a video went viral earlier this month showing immigration agents on top of two Target employees in the entrance of a store in Richfield, Minnesota. After an apparent verbal dispute, ICE put the workers in the back of an SUV. Soon after, both men were released.

    This week, company leadership sent internal messages focused on safety and protocols. Target’s incoming CEO also joined 60 other business leaders calling for de-escalation after the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.

    “Well, Alex Pretti was my neighbor,” Gray said. “He was shot in the street and I think about it, I think about like, wow, dying, being pepper-sprayed on cold concrete sounds horrific.”

    “I gotta carry my passport just to leave the house,” said a man who wasn’t a part of the protest, but supports it. “I got family members that got stopped [by ICE] and they’re all citizens.”

    The retailer is in a difficult spot. Anyone, including officers, can enter public areas of a business. Legal experts say permission is required only in a private space, like a back office.

    “Of course they can ban people,Target doesn’t want to upset Trump,” Axelbank said.

    From what WCCO witnessed, Friday’s demonstrations were peaceful.

    There are more sit-ins planned at various Targets on Saturday.

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    Mahsa Saeidi

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  • Target’s incoming CEO breaks silence on Minneapolis violence near HQ—read his full statement | Fortune

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    Incoming Target CEO Michael Fiddelke has broken his silence about recent violence in a message to employees on Monday, after a second fatal shooting in the corporation’s home base of Minneapolis over the weekend. 

    “We’ll have time to talk very soon about our plans to move Target forward, but right now, as someone who is raising a family here in the Twin Cities and as a leader of this hometown company, I want to acknowledge where we are,” Fiddelke said in the video, according to a transcript published by CNBC. 

    “The violence and loss of life in our community is incredibly painful,” he said. “I know it’s weighing heavily on many of you across the country, as it is with me.”

    Fiddelke did not name Alex Pretti, who was killed by a Border Patrol officer on Saturday, or Renee Good, who was killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent on Jan. 7.

    He also did not mention President Donald Trump, ICE, or policy changes at Target. The company has been the target of protests across Minnesota after immigration officials detained two Target employees, who are U.S. citizens, during their shift in Richfield. 

    Clergy members in Minnesota met with outgoing CEO Brian Cornell, urging the company to call for ICE to withdraw from the state and call on Congress to end funding for ICE, according to USA Today. They also demanded that Target stand against unreasonable searches and seizures, and use its influence to ensure that the federal officer who killed Renee Good be prosecuted. 

    But there was no indication the company would agree to those specific measures in Monday’s message. 

    “We are doing everything we can to manage what’s in our control, always keeping the safety of our team and guests our top priority,” Fiddelke said. 

    He starts as CEO on Feb. 1 and currently serves as the company’s chief operating officer. In the video, he said he has been looking forward to starting the new role. 

    On Sunday, Fiddelke joined more than 60 CEOs in signing an open letter from the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce that said businesses were working behind the scenes with government officials, including Gov. Tim Walz, the White House, Vice President JD Vance, and local mayors.

    “With yesterday’s tragic news, we are calling for an immediate deescalation of tensions and for state, local and federal officials to work together to find real solutions,” the letter read. 

    Read the full transcript of Fiddelke’s video here:

    Hi team.

    In one week I will officially start as CEO.

    We’re about to step into a new chapter for Target, and I’ve been looking forward to starting this work with you for some time, but this isn’t the first message I imagined I’d send.

    We’ll have time to talk very soon about our plans to move Target forward, but right now, as someone who is raising a family here in the Twin Cities and as a leader of this hometown company, I want to acknowledge where we are.

    The violence and loss of life in our community is incredibly painful.

    I know it’s weighing heavily on many of you across the country, as it is with me.

    What’s happening affects us not just as a company, but as people, as neighbors, friends and family members within Target.

    We are doing everything we can to manage what’s in our control, always keeping the safety of our team and guests our top priority.

    During my more than 20 years at Target, one of the things I’ve loved is how we are part of the communities where we operate.

    Since the beginning, we’ve given 5% of our profits and millions of volunteer hours to make them strong and vibrant places to live and work.

    In line with that, I’ve been meeting with a range of leaders and this weekend added my signature to a statement using our collective voice to call for calm, constructive dialogue and deescalation to reduce tension and keep people safe.

    As that work continues, looking ahead to next week, I’ll spend my first days in the field listening and learning alongside our teams, and then we’ll come together for an all-team huddle to talk about how we’re moving our business forward.

    Our leadership team is activated, HR is equipped, and our resources remain ready to give you the care and support you need.

    Thank you for everything you do for each other, our guests, and our communities.

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    Jacqueline Munis

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  • 11-year-old boy injured in Mims shooting, deputies say

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    An 11-year-old boy was injured in a shooting that occurred in Mims on Friday, according to the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies responded to Parrish Medical Center in Titusville around 4 p.m. in response to a report of the shooting, the sheriff’s office said. The incident occurred in the area of Kennedy Street in Mims.According to BCSO, it’s unlikely the child was the target, and the round fired was “likely” intended for the people he was with. No other injuries were reported, BCSO said.WESH 2 has reached out for more information.>> This is a developing story and will be updated as new information is released.

    MIMS, Fla. —

    An 11-year-old boy was injured in a shooting that occurred in Mims on Friday, according to the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office.

    Deputies responded to Parrish Medical Center in Titusville around 4 p.m. in response to a report of the shooting, the sheriff’s office said.

    The incident occurred in the area of Kennedy Street in Mims.

    According to BCSO, it’s unlikely the child was the target, and the round fired was “likely” intended for the people he was with.

    No other injuries were reported, BCSO said.

    WESH 2 has reached out for more information.

    >> This is a developing story and will be updated as new information is released.

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  • Amazon CEO warns prices have gone up from tariffs

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    Some of the things people buy the most are at their most expensive point of the year as the calendar changes over to 2026. Our get the facts data team dug into what actually caused the prices of some items to go up or go down. Let’s start with beef. Right now, the average price for ground beef is 823 per pound and 967 for steaks, the highest prices for both all year. Several factors like President Trump’s tariffs. Cattle inventories and an aging farming population contributed to the increase, but so did something called the New World screwworm, *** parasitic fly that produced *** deadly disease in some places like Mexico. Another grocery staple that is more expensive now, coffee. Our get the Facts data team found the price rose each month throughout the year, maxing out at 926 cents *** pound. Two of the world’s biggest coffee producers, Brazil and Vietnam, Were impacted by drought and excessive rains earlier this year, which reduced coffee production, and Brazil saw an additional 40% tariff over the summer as well. One of the biggest talking points, especially from President Trump about the state of the economy was egg prices. They are one of the few items tracked that actually are cheapest now. Egg prices saw their biggest price hike in nearly 10 years in January, then rose to an all-time high of 623. Per dozen in March. This was in large part to ongoing bird flu outbreaks. Egg prices would start falling in the summer and are now 286 *** dozen. Some other groceries that saw increases this year, cookies, potato chips, bacon, cheddar cheese, and orange juice. But it wasn’t all increases at the supermarket. Some items are cheaper now compared to January, like pasta, white bread, tomatoes, and strawberries. In Washington, I’m Amy Lou.

    If your next Amazon order seems more expensive, President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs may be partially to blame, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy said Tuesday.Like many retailers, Amazon and its vast network of third-party sellers loaded up on inventory ahead of Trump’s tariff rollout last spring. But that supply ran out by the fall, Jassy said in a CNBC interview on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.“So you start to see some of the tariffs creep into some of the prices, some of the items,” he said. “Some sellers are deciding that they’re passing on those higher costs to consumers in the form of higher prices, some are deciding that they’ll absorb it to drive demand and some are doing something in between.”The comments are a stark shift from last June, when Jassy said in a CNBC interview that the company had not seen “prices appreciably go up.” That was after Amazon drew the direct ire of Trump and members of his administration following reports that the e-commerce giant planned to display how tariffs were impacting prices.After Trump spoke with Amazon founder Jeff Bezos at the time, a company spokesperson told CNN the move “was never a consideration for the main Amazon.” It was only being considered for certain products on its spinoff site, Haul, which sells items below $30, the company said.On Tuesday, though, Jassy said: “We’re going to do everything we can to work with our selling partners to make prices as low as possible for consumers, but you don’t have endless options.”In a statement, though, the company told CNN that overall price levels have not changed more than expected. “While we are seeing prices for some sellers and some brands go up, overall the prices of products on Amazon have not changed outside of normal fluctuations,“ an Amazon spokesperson said.And the White House said it maintains that foreign exports are footing that tariff bill.“The average tariff imposed by America has increased by almost tenfold under President Trump, and inflation has continued to cool from Biden-era highs,” White House spokesman Kush Desai said in a statement.“The Administration has consistently maintained that foreign exporters who depend on access to the American economy, the world’s biggest and best consumer market, will ultimately pay the cost of tariffs, and that’s what’s playing out,” he added.Amazon isn’t the only retailer warning of higher prices because of tariffs. Walmart, Target and Home Depot and many other companies have publicly said tariffs are making products more expensive. And while overall consumer inflation was modest last year, many businesses surveyed by the Federal Reserve in its latest Beige Book, a collection of anecdotes, warned they’re planning bigger price hikes this year.

    If your next Amazon order seems more expensive, President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs may be partially to blame, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy said Tuesday.

    Like many retailers, Amazon and its vast network of third-party sellers loaded up on inventory ahead of Trump’s tariff rollout last spring. But that supply ran out by the fall, Jassy said in a CNBC interview on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

    “So you start to see some of the tariffs creep into some of the prices, some of the items,” he said. “Some sellers are deciding that they’re passing on those higher costs to consumers in the form of higher prices, some are deciding that they’ll absorb it to drive demand and some are doing something in between.”

    The comments are a stark shift from last June, when Jassy said in a CNBC interview that the company had not seen “prices appreciably go up.” That was after Amazon drew the direct ire of Trump and members of his administration following reports that the e-commerce giant planned to display how tariffs were impacting prices.

    After Trump spoke with Amazon founder Jeff Bezos at the time, a company spokesperson told CNN the move “was never a consideration for the main Amazon.” It was only being considered for certain products on its spinoff site, Haul, which sells items below $30, the company said.

    On Tuesday, though, Jassy said: “We’re going to do everything we can to work with our selling partners to make prices as low as possible for consumers, but you don’t have endless options.”

    In a statement, though, the company told CNN that overall price levels have not changed more than expected. “While we are seeing prices for some sellers and some brands go up, overall the prices of products on Amazon have not changed outside of normal fluctuations,“ an Amazon spokesperson said.

    And the White House said it maintains that foreign exports are footing that tariff bill.

    “The average tariff imposed by America has increased by almost tenfold under President Trump, and inflation has continued to cool from Biden-era highs,” White House spokesman Kush Desai said in a statement.

    “The Administration has consistently maintained that foreign exporters who depend on access to the American economy, the world’s biggest and best consumer market, will ultimately pay the cost of tariffs, and that’s what’s playing out,” he added.

    Amazon isn’t the only retailer warning of higher prices because of tariffs. Walmart, Target and Home Depot and many other companies have publicly said tariffs are making products more expensive. And while overall consumer inflation was modest last year, many businesses surveyed by the Federal Reserve in its latest Beige Book, a collection of anecdotes, warned they’re planning bigger price hikes this year.

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  • Recall of Frigidaire minifridges sold at major retailers grows to nearly 1 million

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    Nearly 1 million Frigidaire-branded minifridges are now being recalled over potential fire hazard risk, as part of an expanded recall issued by a Canadian company last year.

    Curtis International, which manufactures and distributes electronic and appliances, is recalling 330,000 minifridges, adding to the 634,000 minifridges it recalled in July 2024, according to a notice published by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) on Thursday. 

    The government agency stated that internal electrical components in the appliance can short-circuit, causing the surrounding plastic to ignite and posing fire and burn hazards. 

    The recall involves Curtis International 6-can minifridge model EFMIS121, sold exclusively at Target stores and on Target.com from January 2020 through October 2023. The affected minifridges are red and have the word “Frigidaire” printed on the front. Curtis International has received “at least” six reports of this specific model catching fire, according to the recall notice.

    The minifridge model Curtis International is recalling is red and says “Frigidaire” across the front.

    U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission


    The initial recall notice, which involved different Frigidaire minifridge models, documented 26 reports of minifridges smoking, sparking, burning, melting, overheating and catching fire. CPSC said property damages for those incidents totaled more than $700,000.

    The units in the earlier recall were sold at Walmart and Amazon.com. 

    CPSC advises consumers who purchased the model EFMIS121 minifridge to stop using it immediately. They should also unplug it, cut the power cord and write “Recall” on the front of the fridge in permanent marker. When disposing of the minifridge, consumers should abide by local and state regulations, the recall notice says.

    Affected customers can visit www.recallrtr.com/minifridge for a refund. The recall number for the product is 26-199.

    Edited by

    Aimee Picchi

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  • Target takes on Walmart with a risky bet shoppers may not expect

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    Value isn’t the same as price.

    That’s an old saying that holds a lot of truth, but when consumers feel stressed out financially, they may not be thinking about the best long-term values. Instead, they’re focusing on making it through each day.

    Retailers which have pricing power, however, have a major advantage over their rivals.

    “The single most important decision in evaluating a business is pricing power. If you’ve got the power to raise prices without losing business to a competitor, you’ve got a very good business. And if you have to have a prayer session before raising the price by 10%, then you’ve got a terrible business,” Warren Buffett said in an interview with the U.S. Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission.

    Former J.C. Penney CEO Ron Johnson, who was not successful during his run in that job, had a clear belief on pricing and consumers.

    “Pricing is actually a pretty simple and straightforward thing. Customers will not pay literally a penny more than the true value of the product,” he told the Associated Press in 2012.

    Target executives, however, are betting that Johnson’s philosophy was wrong. And, instead of focusing on offering the lowest prices, the chain plans to show its customers that it offers the best value.

    “Target is cutting prices on thousands of products and working to compete beyond pricing, ‘while allowing Walmart to maintain its low-price leadership,’ according to a note from Jefferies analysts shared with Retail Dive. The mass retailer’s focus on pricing as well as merchandising newness is ‘intended to prioritize value perception without sacrificing differentiation, Jefferies wrote.

    It’s a strategy that’s doubling down on Target delivering a unique shopping experience that’s not solely focused on price.

    New Target CEO Michael Fiddelke talked about this strategy during his company’s third-quarter earnings call.

    “We are a design-led company. And that starts with our authority and merchandising. Our ability to build a unique assortment of the right, stylish on-trend products at incredible value that’s so central to who we are and key to our differentiation and future growth,” he said.

    The new CEO believes that the chain can stand out without being the lowest-priced option.

    “At Target, we believe that offering an assortment that’s distinctly ours is essential to maintaining our merchandising authority with our guests. Not every category plays the same role towards these efforts, but together, they create an assortment and experience that feels unmistakably Target,” he added.

    More Retail:

    “Looking ahead, [Target] sees share-gaining opportunities by reinforcing its authority in product innovation and in-store experience, while leveraging technology for greater efficiency,” Jefferies analysts noted.

    “The focus remains on driving differentiation through merchandising and experience rather than competing solely on food and price. In the longer term, [management] expects growth at Walmart, Amazon, and Costco to continue, but also believes that [Target] has opportunities to capture share ahead, supported by enterprise initiatives,” reported Retail Dive.

    That may seem like a losing strategy given how focused on price consumers are, but in my 30 years covering retail and shopping at Target, I have found that the brand’s advantage has never been price. It’s having the right mix of merchandise that gives shoppers a reason to walk through the doors.

    Target has focused on offering a differentiated shopping experience.Target Corp.

    While Target has struggled, it’s still a profitable company.

    “The company reported third-quarter GAAP earnings per share (EPS) of $1.51 and Adjusted earnings per share1 of $1.78, compared with GAAP and Adjusted EPS of $1.85 in 2024,” it shared in its Q3 earnings report.

    Some highlights include:

    • Net Sales of $25.3 billion in the third quarter were 1.5% lower than last year, reflecting a merchandise sales decrease of 1.9%, partially offset by a 17.7% increase in non-merchandise sales.

    • Comparable sales decreased 2.7% in the third quarter, reflecting a comparable store sales decline of 3.8%, partially offset by comparable digital sales growth of 2.4%.

    • Third quarter operating income, which includes the impact of non-recurring items, was $0.9 billion, 18.9% lower than last year.
      Excluding those non-recurring items, operating income was $1.1 billion.

    While Target is focusing on overall value, outgoing Walmart CEO Doug McMillon talked a lot about price during his chain’s third-quarter earnings call.

    “We have about 7,400 active rollbacks in Walmart U.S. right now, with more than half of those in the grocery category. Often, our 90-day rollbacks lead to a permanent price reduction, a new EDLP,” he shared.

    That has been a long-running strategy for Walmart.

    “Since the beginning of the year, more than 2,000 rollbacks have become the new everyday price. We’ll keep strengthening our ability to save people time and money, and we’ll keep finding ways to keep our prices as low as possible and being strategic in our pricing actions. Everyone wants value,” he added.

    McMillon also shared how his team keeps ahead of its rivals on pricing.

    “Inventory management is always important, and it’s especially important in this environment as we reduce markdown risk to help fund stronger price gaps. Our team continues to do a great job. The ability of our Walmart U.S. team, in particular, to make good quantity decisions and manage pricing and mix well has been impressive,” he shared.

    Related: Kohl’s defends Kohl’s Cash, a program that boosts repeat shopping

    This story was originally published by TheStreet on Dec 28, 2025, where it first appeared in the Retail section. Add TheStreet as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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  • What’s open on Christmas Eve 2025? Stores, fast-food places and more major chains you can visit today

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    As millions of Americans prepare to celebrate Christmas, many people will participate in another grand holiday tradition — dashing out for last-minute groceries or holiday gifts. Retailers and other businesses often adjust their hours on Christmas Eve, so it’s best to plan ahead and check local store schedules before heading out. 

    Read on to find out which grocery stores, restaurants and big-box retailers are open on Christmas Eve, and if they have special hours.

    Which grocery store chains are open on Christmas Eve?

    • Food Lion stores are open until 7 p.m. local time; pharmacies will also be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Christmas Eve.
    • Stop & Shop stores are open until 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve
    • Trader Joe’s is open, but will close at 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve
    • Wegmans will close at 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve
    • Whole Foods stores open at their regular time and close at 7 p.m.

    Which drugstore chains are open on Christmas Eve?

    • CVS Pharmacy is open on Christmas Eve, although some stores and pharmacies may have reduced hours
    • Walgreens is open; pharmacy hours may vary based on location

    Which fast-food chains and restaurants are open on Christmas Eve?

    Looking for a place to grab a bite amid the holiday rush? You’re in luck, as many fast-food chains will remain open on Christmas Eve. Still, it’s wise to check your local outlet’s hours as they may vary by location. 

    • Select Applebee’s locations will be open
    • Burger King
    • Domino’s stores are not required to be open on Christmas Eve, according to a spokesperson. Customers should check the pizza chain’s website for local hours of operation
    • Dunkin’ 
    • IHOP
    • McDonald’s 
    • Taco Bell
    • Starbucks 

    Does mail run on Christmas Eve?

    Local U.S. post office locations will be open on Christmas Eve, and mail will be delivered except for Priority Mail Express, according to the USPS. The postal service will also pick up mail placed in blue collection boxes on December 24 if you’re unable to make it to the post office. 

    UPS will deliver packages on Christmas Eve. However, pickup service looks a little different that day. See UPS’ holiday schedule for details.

    Where can I buy presents on Christmas Eve?

    Many retailers are extending their hours on Christmas Eve so people can squeeze in last-minute gift shopping. However, a few will close early, so make sure to plan ahead.

    • Best Buy’s Christmas Eve hours are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m local time
    • Costco is open on Christmas Eve
    • Most Dollar General stores will be open until 10 p.m. 
    • Home Depot will close early at 5 p.m.
    • HomeGoods, Marshalls, Sierra and T.J. Maxx will all operate on special hours, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. 
    • IKEA will close early on Christmas Eve, with store hours varying based on location
    • JCPenney stores will open early on Christmas Eve at 9 a.m. Closing times vary by location
    • Kohl’s stores will operate from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. 
    • Macy’s locations are open 8 a.m. to  7 p.m.
    • Michaels is open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve
    • Petco hours vary by location, with most opening at the regular time of 9 a.m. and closing early at 7 p.m.
    • Target stores will be open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Christmas Eve
    • Walmart will be open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

    Is the stock market open on Christmas Eve?

    Yes, the stock market is open on Christmas Eve, although it will close early at 1 p.m EDT. Trading typically goes to 4 p.m.

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    Alain Sherter

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  • Founder of $100 million company never unplugs from work, but encourages her team to have work-life balance: ‘They didn’t sign up to be entrepreneurs’ | Fortune

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    Founders can find it hard to step away from work when their company rests on their shoulders. The concept of having “work-life balance” has sparked fierce debate among entrepreneurs, who question if it’s even possible to have the best of both worlds: scaling a multimillion-dollar business, with enough downtime to recharge. Two-time founder Nicole Bernard Dawes is a strong advocate of unplugging from the job—but only for her employees. 

    “I think I probably am a little bit of a hypocrite, because I don’t unplug. I never do,” Dawes tells Fortune. “I never want to be the person that’s holding up a member of our team.”

    The serial entrepreneur encourages her staffers to totally disconnect from work once they’re off the clock, but doesn’t give herself the same breathing room. Having scaled two companies to success, she’s assumed the responsibility of always being on for decades. Dawes first founded organic, non-GMO tortilla chip brand Late July in 2003, which currently lines the aisles of Targets, Whole Foods, Krogers, and Walmarts across the country. Campbell’s acquired a majority stake of the business in 2014, eventually buying the rest of the $100 million company in 2017. In 2018, Dawes broke into another consumer packaged goods (CPG) market again, this time with zero-sugar, sustainably packaged soda line Nixie. The brand raised $27 million in new funding earlier this year, with its products being sold in over 11,000 major grocery stores. 

    With more than two decades of entrepreneurship under her belt at Late July, Dawes had pushed through economic downturns and many sleepless nights. But the hardships didn’t stop her from returning to the startup scene as Nixie’s founder—having grown up in the business world, Dawes is not so easily deterred. However, she doesn’t want work to overtake her staffers’ lives.

    “I signed up for this. I am the entrepreneur, I did this to myself—a self-inflicted situation. [My employees] didn’t sign up to be entrepreneurs,” Dawes says. “I am very comfortable taking downtime, but also making sure I’m available.”

    Dawes says never unplugging is “my life”—and she grew up in it

    Many leaders out there, like Google cofounder Sergey Brin, expect their staffers to clock in more than the typical nine-to-five job. But Dawes doesn’t hold her her employees to have the relentless work-ethic of entrepreneurs who pride themselves on having no personal lives. 

    “I think that where a lot of [leaders] differ, is extending that to their team. I feel very strongly that it should not extend to the team,” Dawes explains. “But I also feel like that is how I grew up. My father missed a lot of stuff because he felt like that was what you had to do. So I was determined I wasn’t gonna do that. I wanted to be present at things for my kids, and I wanted [it] to be okay for our team to be that way, too.”

    Dawes witnessed the pitfalls of entrepreneurship as a kid growing up in her parents’ food businesses. She spent her childhood years working the front counter of her mother’s health-food store, and roaming the floors of her late father’s $4.87 billion snack empire: Cape Cod Chips. As a kid in a family running two businesses, Dawes says it could be difficult for her parents to step away from the job. So when she decided to follow in their footsteps as a two-time founder of successful CPG brands, she knew exactly what to expect. 

    “When you decide to become an entrepreneur, there’s a lot of people [saying], ‘It’s stressful, it’s lonely, it’s all these things.’ And that’s true, but this is where I was really fortunate: I grew up in this business, so I entered eyes wide open,” Dawes says. “That’s why it’s really important to be passionate about your mission, passionate about your products. Because you do have to sacrifice a lot on the other side.”

    Dawes still makes time for the important things

    While Dawes admits she has difficulty stepping away from the grind, she still makes time for the things that keep her sane. 

    “You have to choose what’s the most important thing in that moment. I don’t think as an entrepreneur—at least for me—I’ve never really, truly, been able to shut off completely,” Dawes says. “But I also make time to have family dinner almost every night. There were things that were priorities to me, and I still make them priorities, like going out for a walk every day or exercising.”

    The entrepreneur also loves hitting the beach, reading, and cooking—and despite it feeling like a chore to many, Dawes really enjoys going to the grocery store. She calls it her “hobby”: observing what new products are stocked on shelves, and what items shoppers are gravitating towards. It’s gratifying to witness people pick up a bag of Late July or a case of Nixie drinks to bring home to their families, something she feels immensely grateful for. While getting her brands into those grocery aisles has been no easy feat, it’s all been worth it in the end. Dawes says passion is what eases the weight of her work-life balance. 

    “Sometimes when I wake up in the morning like, ‘I can’t even believe I’m this lucky that I get to do this job,’” Dawes says. “And because I feel that way, it doesn’t feel like working. I’m getting to do something fun all the time.”

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  • ‘I’ve never felt such raw fear kick in’: Indiana woman pulls on her door handle in the Target parking lot. Then a bunch of coins fall out

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    Lauren Muzz (@laurenmuzz), a woman from Fishers, Indiana, was having a normal day shopping at Target. That is, until she walked back to her car. In the parking lot, she noticed something suspicious about her car’s door handle. A bunch of coins fell out of it. Then, she noticed one coin jammed sideways to keep her door handle ajar.

    “ I instantly knew like something was wrong and I needed to get the heck out of there,” Muzz said in a video that she posted to TikTok. Since then, her clip describing the encounter has gotten 115,000 views. 

    Muzz’s story—a chance encounter? 

    Muzz spent about 20 minutes in Target before heading back to her car. It was around 7:00 p.m. when she tried to open her car door and noticed something off about it. 

    “ As I’m going to open the door, a bunch of coins fall out of my door handle and it’s dark. I’m confused. I don’t really know what’s going on. But, I keep trying to open my door. And that’s when a quarter gets lodged sideways in between my door handle,” she said.  

    Then, she noticed two people quietly sitting inside their car with no light. They weren’t using their phones or getting out of the car, something that made Muzz want to bolt back into Target. She went back inside the store and dialed 9-1-1. As she waited for an officer, she noticed that not even five minutes after she went inside, the car next to her had left. 

    A police officer arrived, and Muzz explained the situation to him. He examined her car and noticed that the coin keeping her car open was now flat.

    “ I can only assume that somebody was trying to get into my car when I went back into Target,” she said.

    @laurenmuzz @target #storytime #FYP #psa ♬ original sound – Lauren Muzz

    Muzz recounts her unanswered questions

    The police officer said it was unlikely Target’s security cameras captured the encounter. He cited the positioning of the camera as his reasoning for not asking to check the footage. 

    “ I was so like disoriented and frazzled that I did not question it, and I just wanted to get the [expletive] out of there,” Muzz said. But later, Muzz said she thought about following up with the police department and seeing if they’d be willing to check the cameras. 

    He also let her know that if a person placed a tracker in her car, it would most likely ping in a few days. 

    Muzz is grateful that she didn’t pick up the coins and that a man happened to walk by around the time she discovered them. 

    “ There was a guy that walked out of Target… 10 to 15 seconds behind me, and his car was parked adjacent to mine… He was getting in his car as I was like fumbling with my door handle,” she said. She wondered if his presence stopped anything from happening to her. 

    Overall, the situation frightened Muzz, who feels grateful to be safe now: “ I’ve never felt such raw fear kick in, and I never wanna feel that again… Stay safe everybody,” she said. 

    Where does wedging a coin in a door handle even come from?

    There’s a long-standing urban myth that wedging a coin into a car’s door handle makes it easier to break into them. Snopes wrote an article about the rumor, which started in 2015, and debunked it. There’s little evidence to conclude that wedging a coin in a car’s door handle can actually disable a remote locking system or grant access into the vehicle. 

    But thieves sometimes try to use this method to try and get a vehicle to not lock properly. According to another article from Trash Rite, the obstruction may limit a car’s ability to lock when the owner drives to another location. Once they leave their car unattended, they can swoop in and steal it. 

    There’s another separate idea that traffickers use coins, sunglasses, zip ties, and other calling cards to “tag” victims. Those incidents have all largely been debunked, or in the very least, haven’t had any tangible connection to trafficking incidents. They’re not backed by any sort of data from law enforcement officials. Sites such as Politifact and Snopes have both debunked various claims regarding general car tagging from trafficking organizations. 

    Comments questioning—Is Fishers a safe place?

    While many people expressed general fear at the thought of theft, trafficking, and other scary encounters, others expressed dismay that this incident happened in Fishers, Indiana. The city has little to no crime, scoring an A- according to crimegrade.org. 

    “[Indiana] girl here,” said one commenter. “Thanks for sharing. Fishers is supposed to be safe!” 

    “So wild I was just at Fishers target yesterday. I do know Fishers police have been patrolling the area more. Glad you’re safe,” another added. 

    The Mary Sue has reached out to Target and Muzz for comment.

    Have a tip we should know? [email protected]

    Image of Rachel Thomas

    Rachel Thomas

    Rachel Joy Thomas is a music journalist, freelance writer, and hopeful author who resides in Los Angeles, CA. You can email her at [email protected].

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    Rachel Thomas

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  • As Target sales slide, Minnesota activists renew push for shoppers to boycott the retailer

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    A day after Target’s third-quarter earnings report revealed a drop in sales, a group of community activists renewed their push Thursday for shoppers to boycott the company and take their money elsewhere this holiday season.

    Since late January, they’ve urged customers to stay away from the Minneapolis-based retailer after it announced it was changing its diversity, equity and inclusion programs, sparking backlash. Some of Target’s initiatives were implemented in wake of the murder of George Floyd that rocked Minnesota and the country. 

    “We say that Target’s actions are not acceptable and they will not receive our dollars as a response,” said civil rights attorney and organizer Nikema Levy Armstrong at a news conference outside of corporate headquarters Thursday afternoon. 

    Target on Wednesday announced its third-quarter earnings, showing store sales slid by 2.7% in the last three-month period and is its third straight quarterly decline. The company is also expecting fewer sales through the year’s end, too, during the critical holiday season. 

    In an email to WCCO News, Target said it will complete its commitment to invest $2 billion in Black-owned businesses and has invested $100 million in Black-led community organizations. 

    “Target has a long-standing commitment to creating growth and opportunity for all. We work every day to unlock potential and create lasting impact by empowering entrepreneurs, supporting small businesses, uplifting our team members and strengthening the 2,000+ communities we operate in,” a spokesperson said. 

    Rick Gomez, the chief commercial officer, in the earnings call Wednesday said customers are “stretching budgets” and “spending where it matters most.” Company stock dropped nearly 40% year to date. 

    Officials did not mention the boycott on that call, but its advocates believe the sales slump shows that their efforts are paying off and resonating across the country. 

    They vow to stay away from shopping there until Target reverses course on its DEI policy changes. 

    “Many of us love Target. Many of us have friends and family who work at Target. But when Target refuses to see us, it is time for us to move away from that company,” said Jaylani Hussein, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Minnesota. 

    Target said it’s planning an additional $1 billion investment in new stores and remodels and recently slashed prices of essential items like groceries.

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    Caroline Cummings

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  • Would You Rather Do Your Black Friday Shopping in ChatGPT? Target Is Betting On It

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    Target is going bold this holiday season. The retail giant teamed up with OpenAI to create a new app within ChatGPT that will allow users to shop directly through the AI chatbot—and it comes out next week, right before Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

    It’s a risky move. Target is introducing the app during its busiest time of year, so there are plenty of opportunities for things to go wrong.

    Still, the Minneapolis, Minnesota-based retailer seems desperate for a win right now. In its most recent earnings call, Target reported that its profit dipped from $854 million, or $1.85 per share, to $689 million, or $1.51 per share, from 2024 to 2025. The retailer said that it predicts that sales will continue to slow throughout the holiday season.

    Once Target’s ChatGPT app launches in beta next week, shoppers can “ask for ideas, browse and build multi-item baskets, shop for fresh food, and check out” through the chatbot, according to the press release. They can chose to ship their order, pick it up in person, or receive it via drive-through.

    “At Target, everything starts with the guest, and that means meeting them wherever they are, including emerging spaces like ChatGPT, where millions of consumers visit,” Prat Vemana, the retailer’s executive vice president and chief information and product officer, said in the press release.

    ChatGPT users can try out the features, according to the press release, by tagging the Target app within the chatbot and prompting it with a message like, “Help me plan a family holiday movie night.” It’ll then generate several product ideas which the shopper can add to their cart and check out using their Target account. 

    Before long, the press release adds, “Target will add new features like Target Circle linking and same-day delivery” that’ll make shopping through its ChatGPT app even easier.

    The final deadline for the 2026 Inc. Regionals Awards is Friday, December 12, at 11:59 p.m. PT. Apply now.

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    Annabel Burba

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  • Target says it’s working with ChatGPT for AI-assisted shopping

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    Target on Wednesday said it’s working with OpenAI to let customers shop its products through ChatGPT, a move that comes as the retailer is struggling to convince inflation-weary consumers to stick with it.

    Customers will be able to browse Target’s selection and make purchases within the ChatGPT app, according to the retailer. The tool will debut next week, providing access to ChatGPT’s 800 million weekly active users in time for the holiday shopping season.

    Target is leaning on price cuts and a $1 billion investment plan to revive its brand, the retailer said separately Wednesday, as same-store sales fell 2.7% in the latest quarter and profit tumbled 19%. With shoppers increasingly relying on AI to find products online, other big retailers — including Walmart, which struck a similar partnership with OpenAI last month — are turning to the technology to boost sales.

    Here’s how the ChatGPT-powered Target tool will work: Inside the ChatGPT app, consumers can tag Target and ask for ideas, such as if they’re planning something like a holiday family movie night. The Target app will then suggest specific products, such as blankets or snacks, and allow users to buy them directly without leaving the ChatGPT interface.

    Target said that AI will eventually start to understand and predict what customers want to buy. 

    A recent Harris Poll shows that nearly half of Gen Z consumers would trust AI as a personal shopper that helps them pick out what they buy and find deals. Streamlining the purchasing process could help retailers boost sales, according to retail experts. 



    Exploring the rise of artificial intelligence company OpenAI

    04:14

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    Aimee Picchi

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  • Target expects sales slump to last through holiday season

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    Target’s third-quarter profit tumbled as the retailer struggles to lure shoppers who are being pressed by stubbornly high inflation.

    The Minneapolis company said Wednesday that it expects its sales slump to extend through the critical holiday shopping season.

    Investors have punished Target’s stock recently, sending it down 43% over the past year. Shares edged lower before the opening bell.

    Turning around the 19% profit slide in the most recent quarter is the latest challenge to incoming CEO Michael Fiddelke, a 20-year company veteran who is being promoted from chief operating officer early next year. The succession comes as the discount retailer tries to reverse a persistent sales malaise and to revive its reputation as the place to go for affordable but stylish products.

    Last month, Target announced it would eliminate about 1,800 corporate positions, which included hundreds of layoffs as well as leaving open positions unfilled. Fiddelke told employees in an email the move was part of an effort to “move faster and simplify how we work.”

    Earlier this year, Target mandated its commercial unit employees return to working in the office at least three days a week.  

    Note: The video above originally aired Nov. 10, 2025.

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  • Carter’s closing 150 children’s clothing stores, cutting 300 jobs

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    Carter’s is closing 150 children’s clothing stores and cutting 300 jobs over the next three years.The plans were announced in the company’s fiscal third-quarter report. On an October call, company officials said about 100 of the stores would close by 2026 and new openings of U.S. locations would be paused.A list of the stores that will close was not included in the report.On the third-quarter report and during the company’s call, tariffs were listed as one of the reasons for lower margins and higher costs.According to the company’s website, Carter’s, which also owns the OshKosh B’gosh brand, has more than 1,000 stores in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. The company’s brands are also sold in department stores and other national retailers including Walmart, Target and Amazon.Carter’s is headquartered in Atlanta.

    Carter’s is closing 150 children’s clothing stores and cutting 300 jobs over the next three years.

    The plans were announced in the company’s fiscal third-quarter report. On an October call, company officials said about 100 of the stores would close by 2026 and new openings of U.S. locations would be paused.

    A list of the stores that will close was not included in the report.

    On the third-quarter report and during the company’s call, tariffs were listed as one of the reasons for lower margins and higher costs.

    According to the company’s website, Carter’s, which also owns the OshKosh B’gosh brand, has more than 1,000 stores in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

    The company’s brands are also sold in department stores and other national retailers including Walmart, Target and Amazon.

    Carter’s is headquartered in Atlanta.

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  • Shoppers’ delight: Indian Land Target opens, expanding its footprint in SC

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    Indian Land, S.C.

    Linda Greenberg of Fort Mill and Charleston looked at the fuzzy gray pajama pants her daughter Lauren Clark contemplated buying and said, “Those are cute!”

    The mother-daughter duo already had a shopping cart full of items at the Indian Land Target. Clark also had a few outfits for her little girl, who was standing nearby in a mermaid costume.

    The new 149,000-square-foot Target — well above the companywide average of 125,000 square feet — opened Oct. 12. The Indian Land location is the second one in the Rock Hill region, with the other located at Manchester Village.

    Other stores are in Charlotte and include locations in Pineville, Stonecrest and Steele Creek.

    This store will employ about 170 people. The company’s starting wages range from $15 to $24 an hour. The location has a CVS pharmacy and Starbucks, along with a drive-up pickup, same-day delivery or next-day delivery throughout Indian Land.

    “It’s exciting and inviting and a great location,” Greenberg said. “I think it’s everything you’d want in the Target and then some.”

    Tyler Smith and Jenna Forminio browse in the toy section Tuesday, Oct. 14 at the new Target in Indian Land.
    Tyler Smith and Jenna Forminio browse in the toy section Tuesday, Oct. 14 at the new Target in Indian Land. TRACY KIMBALL tkimball@heraldonline.com

    Around the corner, Jenna Forminio picked up a large stuffed animal and said, “I want this one.”

    The Charlotte resident was picking out decor for her dorm room at Appalachian State University. The college student said she usually shops at the Ballantyne store nearby.

    “It’s really nice, modern, new and clean,” Forminio said about the Indian Land store.

    A few aisles over, another mother-daughter duo perused baby necessities for Madison Wilburn, who is pregnant.

    “I think this is something you’ll need,” said Amy Bocholis, Wilburn’s mother, who was looking at pacifiers. She then picked up a Boppy pillow.

    The grandmother-to-be said she can go to the Blakeney store in Charlotte or the Rock Hill store, but the new Indian Land Target is more convenient.

    “I’m so glad that it’s here in this area,” said Bocholis, who has already been to the store a few times. “It’s meeting a need that we really needed in Fort Mill.”

    About Target

    Target is among the nation’s largest retailers. The Minnesota company has almost 2,000 locations, The Herald previously reported. The company lists 33 more planned stores, including four in the Carolinas.

    This fall, Target expects to open seven stores throughout the U.S. The retailer plans to open 300 stores over the next decade, according to a statement on its website. Target employs more than 400,000 people across all 50 states.

    Madison Wilburn shops for baby supplies Tuesday at the new Indian Land Target. The new store opened Oct. 12, 2025
    Madison Wilburn shops for baby supplies Tuesday at the new Indian Land Target. The new store opened Oct. 12, 2025. TRACY KIMBALL tkimball@heraldonline.com

    The new stores are part of a hub model that combines shopping in its stores with fulfillment of online or delivery orders, it said.

    The Indian Land store is located at 5345 Crossridge Blvd. and is open from 7 a.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. on weekends, closing daily at 10 p.m.

    This story was originally published November 2, 2025 at 5:30 AM.

    Related Stories from Charlotte Observer

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    Tracy Kimball

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  • It’s Not You, It’s ‘Removing Layers’: Wave of Corporate Layoffs (And Lingo) Hits Workers

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    In other words, you’re out of a job. Like tens of thousands of other corporate-speak victims.

    The causes vary widely: turbulent markets, President Donald Trump’s tariffs on pretty much every U.S. trading partner, the rise of artificial intelligence, etc. But the result is the same: Significant job reductions at many large corporate employers.

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    Here are some of the cuts announced in the last few weeks:

    Amazon said this week it was cutting approximately 14,000 jobs. That’s roughly 4% of its total workforce. The retail giant blamed AI, in part, describing that tech as “the most transformative technology we’ve seen since the Internet.”

    “We’re convinced that we need to be organized more leanly, with fewer layers and more ownership, to move as quickly as possible for our customers and business,” the company said.

    Target announced last week it’s cutting 1,800 corporate jobs. That may not seem like much, but it’s the most significant reduction the retailer has announced in a decade.

    Nestlé, the maker of Nescafé, KitKats, pet foods and many other well-known consumer brands, plans 16,000 job cuts over the next two years.

    GM says slowing demand for electric vehicles is partly to blame for the automaking giant laying off about 1,700 workers in Michigan and Ohio manufacturing sites.

    Corp-speak vs. Real Life

    None of this is to say that corporate flexibility is a bad thing. A major feature of capitalism is that firms hire when they need workers and lay off when they aren’t doing well. Such is life.

    But as someone pushed out of two jobs in the last five years, I can tell you that corp’ talk about flexibility or de-layering or being “nimble” just adds insult to injury. You’re cutting costs? I get that. Please don’t dress it up like a family pet for Halloween.

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    Olivier Knox

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  • From retail to tech, here are the 10 corporations that recently announced mass layoffs | Fortune

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    Amid wider economic uncertainty, some analysts have said that businesses are at a “no-hire, no fire” standstill. That’s caused many to limit new work to only a few specific roles, if not pause openings entirely. At the same time, some sizeable layoffs have continued to pile up — raising worker anxieties across sectors.

    Some companies have pointed to rising operational costs spanning from President Donald Trump’s barrage of new tariffs and shifts in consumer spending. Others cite corporate restructuring more broadly — or, as seen with big names like Amazon, are redirecting money to investments like artificial intelligence.

    In such cases, “it’s not so much AI directly taking jobs, but AI’s appetite for cash that might be taking jobs,” said Jason Schloetzer, professor business administration at Georgetown University’s McDonough School. He pointed to wider “trade offs” from employment to infrastructure investment seen across companies today.

    Federal employees have encountered additional doses of uncertainty, impacting worker sentiment around the job market overall. Shortly after Trump returned to office at the start of the year, federal jobs were cut by the thousands. And many workers are now going without pay as the U.S. government shutdown nears its fourth week.

    “A lot of people are looking around, scanning the job environment, scanning the opportunities that are available to them — whether it’s in the public or private sector,” said Schloetzer. “And I think there’s a question mark around the long-term stability everywhere.”

    Government hiring data is on hold during the shutdown, but earlier this month a survey by payroll company ADP showed a surprising loss of 32,000 jobs in the private sector in September.

    Here are some companies that have moved to cut jobs recently.

    Amazon

    Amazon said Tuesday that it will cut about 14,000 corporate jobs, close to 4% of its workforce, as the online retail giant ramps up spending on AI while trimming costs elsewhere. A letter to employees said most workers would be given 90 days to look for a new position internally.

    CEO Andy Jassy previously said he anticipated generative AI would reduce Amazon’s corporate workforce in the coming years. And he has worked to aggressively cut costs overall since 2021.

    UPS

    United Parcel Service has cut about 34,000 jobs since the start of this year as part of turnaround efforts, amid wider shifts in the company’s shipping outputs.

    The layoffs, disclosed in a regulatory filing on Tuesday, are notably higher than the roughly 20,000 cuts UPS forecast earlier this year. On Tuesday, UPS said it also closed closed daily operations at 93 leased and owned buildings during the first nine months of this year.

    Target

    Last week, Target that it would eliminate about 1,800 corporate positions, or about 8% of its corporate workforce globally.

    Target said the cuts were part of wider streamlining efforts — with Chief Operating Officer Michael Fiddelke noting that “too many layers and overlapping work have slowed decisions.” The retailer is also looking to rebuild its customer base. Target reported flat or declining comparable sales in nine of the past eleven quarters.

    Nestlé

    In mid-October, Nestlé said it would be cutting 16,000 jobs globally — as part of wider cost cutting aimed at reviving its financial performance.

    The Swiss food giant said the layoffs would take place over the next two years. The cuts arrive as Nestlé and others face headwinds like rising commodity costs and U.S. imposed tariffs. The company announced price hikes over the summer to offset higher coffee and cocoa costs.

    Lufthansa Group

    In September, Lufthansa Group said it would shed 4,000 jobs by 2030 — pointing to the adoption of artificial intelligence, digitalization and consolidating work among member airlines.

    Most of the lost jobs would be in Germany, and the focus would be on administrative rather than operational roles, the company said. The layoff plans arrived even as the company reported strong demand for air travel and predicted stronger profits in years ahead.

    Novo Nordisk

    Also in September, Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk said it would cut 9,000 jobs, about 11% of its workforce.

    Novo Nordisk — which makes drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy — said the layoffs were part of wider restructuring as the company works to sell more obesity and diabetes medications amid rising competition.

    ConocoPhillips

    Oil giant ConocoPhillips has said it plans to lay off up to a quarter of its workforce, as part of broader efforts from the company to cut costs.

    A spokesperson for ConocoPhillips confirmed the layoffs on Sept. 3, noting that 20% to 25% of the company’s employees and contractors would be impacted worldwide. At the time, ConocoPhillips had a total headcount of about 13,000 — or between 2,600 and 3,250 workers. Most reductions were expected to take place before the end of 2025.

    Intel

    Intel has moved to shed thousands of jobs — with the struggling chipmaker working to revive its business as it lags behind rivals like Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices.

    In a July memo to employees, CEO Lip-Bu Tan said Intel expected to end the year with 75,000 “core” workers, excluding subsidiaries, through layoffs and attrition. That’s down from 99,500 core employees reported the end of last year. The company previously announced a 15% workforce reduction.

    Microsoft

    In May, Microsoft began began laying off about 6,000 workers across its workforce. And just months later, the tech giant said it would be cutting 9,000 positions — marking its biggest round of layoffs seen in more than two years.

    The latest job cuts hit Microsoft’s Xbox video game business and other divisions. The company has cited “organizational changes,” with many executives characterizing the layoffs as part of a push to trim management layers. But the labor reductions also arrive as the company spends heavily on AI.

    Procter & Gamble

    In June, Procter & Gamble said it would cut up to 7,000 jobs over the next two years, 6% of the company’s global workforce.

    The maker of Tide detergent and Pampers diapers said the cuts were part of a wider restructuring — also arriving amid tariff pressures. In July, P&G said it would hike prices on about a quarter of its products due to the newly-imposed import taxes, although it’s since said it expects to take less of a hit than previously anticipated for the 2026 fiscal year.

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    Wyatte Grantham-Philips, The Associated Press

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  • Target will lay off around 1,000 employees

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    New York (CNN) — Target will lay off 1,000 corporate employees and close 800 open roles — affecting roughly 8% of its global corporate workforce — the company said Thursday.

    The layoffs and changes “set the course for our company to be stronger, faster and better positioned” for the future, incoming Target CEO Michael Fiddelke said in an email to employees.

    Fiddelke will take over from veteran CEO Brian Cornell next year, the company announced in August.

    The layoffs, which come ahead of the critical holiday shopping season, are the latest sign of struggles at the Minneapolis-based company. It has been been reeling from slumping sales and fierce blowback to its retreat on DEI programs.

    Its decision to end some of those initiatives angered supporters of diversity and inclusion policies, who felt blindsided. Target had staked out a reputation as a strong corporate supporter of DEI.

    Target said its move weighed on sales, which have fallen for three straight quarters.

    Economic conditions and competition from Walmart, Amazon and Costco have also taken a toll on Target.

    Customers have shifted their buying patterns, purchasing less of the company’s home goods and clothing.

    The company’s (TGT) stock has dropped 30% in 2025, putting it among the worst-performing companies in the S&P 500 this year.

    A Target spokesperson said the company did not lay off employees to cut costs. Instead, it was a step to rewire its organization to make decisions more swiftly.

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    Nathaniel Meyersohn and CNN

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