Target Spreading a Little Viral Goodwill in NYC

Target's been spreading lots of ad budget in Manhattan lately... most recently by purchasing all the ad space in an entire issue of the New Yorker.  This is conventionally questionable given their lack of a Manhattan store (though you have to wonder how many Manhattanites actually see a times square billboard).  Aside from targeting (huh huh - could pun all day with Target) tourists, and enticing New Yorkers to their outer borough stores, speculation is that target is warming the city up for a big box invasion.  Given the city's resistance to Wal-Monster, a few years of PR spin is wise first step, though New Yorkers are already smitten with Target's classier, more hipster-friendly vibe.  But is that friendly good will deserved?

via gothamist

(and what friends are for...Sure the stores are way less disgusting than a Wal-Mart, the design is a step up and they don't impose Christian brainwashing on the masses with unwelcome censorship, but Target is still a typical American corporation with all the typical ills, including throwing 72% of their admittedly modest political donations at the GOP.  Stylish big box is still big box.  They might not be as evil as Wal-Monster, but they aren't going out of their way to be model employers like Costco either.  I'm as guilty as anyone of shopping there, though the mom & pop dollar store in my neighborhood is far cheaper and pro-urban.  Nothing's black and white (or red and blue), but perhaps that Target consumer lust could stand to be a bit tempered.