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With rising inflation, flagging consumer confidence, and a national unemployment rate still hovering above pre-pandemic levels, Americans are entering the 2021 holiday season conscious of rising prices for food, apparel, new cars, and just about everything else.
With all of that in mind, consumers are likely to be more cost-conscious than they have been in years, searching for in-store and online deals from the country’s major retailers. Minneapolis-based Target, the world’s seventh largest retailer based on 2020 sales, is making the best of the situation and betting its strategy of brand exclusivity will help draw customers. (Prices and exclusivity aside, these are some surprisingly good Costco, Walmart, and Target products.)
According to its 2020 fiscal year report, Target owns 50 brands, including California Roots wines, Good & Gather foods, and kid apparel brand Cat & Jack, offering customers low-cost options they can’t find elsewhere.
Click here to see 20 things you should probably always buy at Target
This brand-exclusivity strategy seems to be working. Target grew sales by 19.8% in its last fiscal year compared to 2019, to $92.4 billion. It has also seen robust growth in its vital online business, doubling digital sales in 2020, to nearly 18%, compared to 2019.
While all big box retail stores offer great bargains on certain items, these are 20 categories that you should probably turn to Target for. (On the other hand, here are 29 things you should never buy at Walmart.)
Note that prices quoted come from Target’s website on Oct. 1, and are subject to change.
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California Roots wines
Target’s California Roots brand wines (two reds, three whites and one rosé) would make sommeliers cringe, but for $5 a bottle they’re affordable wine-based cocktail mixers for social gatherings and are acceptable for cooking. They aren’t available in all states.
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Cat & Jack kids’ t-shirts
Children grow out of their clothes in about six months, so it doesn’t make much sense to spend a lot as they’re sprouting. Target’s Cat & Jack kid’s T-shirts generally cost about $6 apiece.
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Favorite Day trail mix
Target’s Favorite Day line of trial and snack mixes are competitively priced at about $8 for a 12-ounce bag. While you’re there, check to see if there’s a sale on 32-ounce containers of nuts and trail mixes from Good & Gather brand (another Target exclusive).
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Flavored sparkling water
If you’re into the current craze for flavored sparkling waters, check out Target’s Good & Gather brand. And eight-pack of 12-ounce cans is currently listed at $3.69, less if you use Target’s same-day order service.
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Good & Gather spices
Many of Target’s Good & Gather brand of commonly used spices are currently priced at $1.49 apiece. Other less-common spices like cinnamon sugar and ground ginger cost more but are still competitive with other brands.
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Hearth & Hand with Magnolia vases and storage jars
Created exclusively for Target by Magnolia, a company founded by “Fixer Upper” reality TV stars Chip and Joanna Gaines, the Hearth & Hand home lifestyle brand offers great deals on things like vases and stoneware kitchen storage jars.
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Hyde & EEK! Halloween decorations
With Halloween coming soon, Target offers a decent selection of affordable Hyde and EEK! decorations and costumes, especially for babies, toddlers, and children — and deserves kudos for featuring costumes for disabled children. Adults should go elsewhere for Halloween costumes, as the selection at Target is slim.
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K-Cups
If you’re a fan of coffee pods, then Target is a good place to shop. A dozen Market Pantry brand Colombian medium roast pods currently cost $4.89, while a 24-count box of Folgers Keurig pods is priced at $16.59 (the equivalent of $8.30 for 12)..
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Kindfull pet foods
Target’s website currently lists 34 pages for Kindfull brand pet foods, including three-ounce cans of wet cat food for 89 cents apiece; a seven-pound bag of dry cat food for $13.99; and a 15-pound bag of dry dog food with tuna and salmon protein for $25.99.
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Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines hand wash
Target’s exclusive Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines, part of a collaboration with “Fixer Upper” reality TV stars Chip and Joanna Gaines offers a good price on eight-ounce bottles of lemon or eucalyptus hand wash, currently priced at $4.99. Refills are unavailable but if you want to keep using the plastic dispenser you can grab a 33-ounce bottle of Mrs. Meyer’s lavender liquid hand soap for $6.99.
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Market Pantry frozen snacks
The frozen aisle at Target is enormous compared to Walmart’s. It includes a line of exclusive Market Pantry brand of frozen snacks like pizza rolls and cheese sticks, most priced well below $10.
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Market Pantry ketchup, mustard, etc.
Target’s Market Pantry includes low-cost ketchup and mustard that are priced at or below popular comparable brands. A 14-ounce bottle of Market Brand spicy brown mustard and a 20-ounce bottle of ketchup are currently priced at 99 cents apiece.
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Method cleaning products
Targets has an ample selection of its in-house brand of Method cleaning products. A 25-ounce bottle of floor cleaner is currently priced at $4.99, while 68-ounce refills for several spray cleaners are sold for just $6.49.
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Mondo Llama arts and crafts supplies
Target’s website shows 50 pages of arts and craft supplies, but check out its house Mondo Llama brand for the best deals on children’s projects like paint-by-numbers canvas kits, wooden mobiles, and customizable wooden bird houses.
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OTC drugs
Target’s regular and in-house brand up & up over-the-counter drugs are priced to compete with those from drugstore chains and Target’s main rival, Walmart. A 16-ounce bottle of up & up’s version of Pepto-Bismol is currently priced at $3.49, while 100 caplets of 500 mg Tylenol pain reliever may be had for $11.59.
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Shade & Shore bikinis
Beach season is over for most of the country, but Target offers an ample selection of its Shade & Shore brand bikinis year-round. Most of them are priced under $30 for budget-conscious beachgoers.
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Threshold bath towels
Target’s expansive and exclusive Threshold brand offers bath, hand, and kitchen towels priced to compete against homeware retailers like Bed Bath & Beyond. A standard Threshold bath towel cost as little as $8.
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Travel size makeup, toothpaste, sunscreen, deodorant, etc.
If you’re planning a trip, check Target’s prices on travel-size sundries. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at some of the prices and the selection, especially compared to what you’ll find at chain pharmacies.
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Toys
Target has an enormous selection of toys, categorized on its website into four age groups from 2 to 11+ years. It’s particularly good on hard-to-find items, even if prices are sometimes slightly higher that elsewhere.
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up & up heavy-duty paper plates
Target revamped its in-house brand to up & up in 2009, replacing the company’s bull’s eye trademark with a colorful arrow to distinguish its large selection of affordable goods like sunscreen, diapers and tissues. Ten-inch up & up paper plates currently cost $5.89 for a 54-count package.
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