Kristen Wiig's Target Lady to tout Target Circle Week sale, which runs April 7-13
Target is celebrating the launch of its revamped loyalty programs with its first-ever Target Circle Week in April – and the return of Kristen Wiig's "Saturday Night Live" character, Target Lady.
Target Circle Week, to be held April 7-13, rewards shoppers who belong to the retailer's Target Circle program with a bevy of bargains including 40% off floorcare – such as vacuums and sweepers – and 30% off swim gear, tees, tanks, shorts, dresses, sandals, bedding and bath, outdoor living and select toys.
"It's our biggest Circle week ever. We've got two times as many deals as we had in October (2023, the most recent Target Circle Week)," Cara Sylvester, executive vice president and chief guest experience officer, told USA TODAY. "We've got deals across hundreds of thousands of items, really the full spectrum of Target ... and it's really just perfectly timed for springtime."
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In addition to deals to help with spring cleaning, "as soon as the weather breaks people are looking for (spring) clothing," Sylvester said. "You are going to see deals on apparel, deals on home, and you're going to see deals on your everyday frequency food and beverage favorites, definitely with a spring flair."
Also on the bargain list: 20% off breakfast favorites, coffee and cereal, plus 20% off all hair, nail and sun care products.
You get a $15 Target gift card when you spent $50 on home care products – or $50 at Ulta Beauty at Target.
Kristen Wiig returns as Target Lady
Another new twist for Target: Beginning Tuesday (April 2), Wiig's Target Lady, a character she performed in many Saturday Night Live sketches beginning in 2005, will appear in a national advertising campaign of 12 spots across TV and online platforms, including Target.com.
"Target Lady is incredibly special to me because it’s one of the characters I created at The Groundlings and ended up on SNL. She definitely loves Target! I mean, who doesn’t?” Wiig said in a statement. “It was so fun to bring her back after all this time, and we had so much fun imagining the world Target Lady sees inside thestore today.”
Wiig's "culturally relevant (and) iconic" character is an "intersection of culture and humor," Sylvester said, but also informs viewers about the new Target Circle program in the ad spots. "They're hilarious and educational because the Target Lady is so passionate about the Target brands, that she is literally advocating for all the benefits of Target Circle," Sylvester said.
What are the benefits of Target Circle 360?
The retailer has held Target Circle Week bargain bonanzas in the past, but they typically happen in October, although events have happened in March and July, too.
This one arrives as Target is debuting a new Target Circle 360 paid membership ($99 for one year, but $49 if you sign up by May 18) on Sunday, April 7 – joining competitors including Amazon, Costco, Sam's Club and Walmart.
Target Circle 360 benefits include free same-day delivery on orders over $35 from Target and its retail partners through online delivery company Shipt, which Target purchased in 2017. Some deliveries are made as fast as an hour, plus you get free two-day shipping and delivery to your door. Subscribers also get all the rewards included in the basic Circle program. "That's for consumers that are looking for just that extra ease and convenience," Sylvester said.
Target is also kicking off a new Target Circle Card (its previous credit card, the Target RedCard will be replaced). Cardholders still get 5% off purchases, free two-day shipping on some items, more time to make returns, plus they get a break on the annual Target Circle 360 membership fee ($49 annually).
Target Circle Week deals: 10% off gift cards on April 13
The free Target Circle membership will continue and customers will now have deals automatically applied during checkout and you continue to earn rewards.
The way Target Circle works now, "as you go into the app, you've actually got to search and click to add deals. So what that leads to is friction in our guest experience," Sylvester said. "We're taking that out and so we're really excited for our guests to actually have automatic deals applied to check out."
Another reason to join the free loyalty program. During Target Circle week on Saturday, April 13, you can get 10% off Target gift cards. The deal is "perfectly timed," Sylvester says, for those shopping for gifts for Mother's Day, graduations, and teachers.
The new programs are "just the beginning. These things build on each other," Sylvester said. "We're going to continue to add perks and benefits for consumers and our guests. We're going to listen and see what they want from us."
Contributing: Mary Walrath-Holdridge
Follow Mike Snider on X and Threads: @mikesnider & mikegsnider.
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