Despite facing backlash for it last year, Target is back with a Pride selection this year. However, the impact of last year’s firestorm is definitely being felt by the retailer.
Target has announced that its Pride selection this year will be just 75 items — a drastic reduction from last year’s lineup of more than 2000 items, according to reports.
Financial Backlash
The Minnesota-based retailer is likely responding to financial backlash from last year’s scandal, where the brand became embroiled in a social media firestorm over clothing and accessories marketed at children during last year’s Pride month.
The chain saw its bottom line take a significant hit last year, losing $10 billion in 10 days amidst the controversy.
Toning Down
In addition to slashing its assortment of Pride products by over 90% down to a mere 75 items, a report from Business Insider indicates that Target is also toning down the flamboyant nature of the products.
Target says the move is based on “guest insights and sales trends,” which no doubt references the financial backlash from alienating conservative customers last year.
Customer Outrage
Boycotting customers singled out a few products as causing particular outrage, seething at “tuck-friendly” women’s swimsuits targeted at trans shoppers who had not undergone gender-affirming operations and wished to conceal their genitalia.
Those calling for a boycott of the retailer also directed their ire at rainbow-themed children’s clothing emblazoned with pro-LGBTQ+ slogans.
Target Pressured into Removing “Satanic” Products
Anti-trans sentiment seemed to be very much at the heart of last year’s Target boycott. Target was pressured into removing some items from the apparel brand of transgender designer Erik Carnell.
This came after some conservative news outlets and Republican politicians labeled Carnell and his designs as “Satanic” and falsely claimed his products were marketed to children.
Target Removing Items From Certain Stores
Threats to staffers and the spreading calls to boycott the chain at the time prompted Target to pull some of its Pride merchandise and scale back its in-store displays.
To try and get ahead of any similar controversy this year, and to prevent the same sort of financial losses, Target management announced that it would be limiting the number of stores this year that will be offering LGBTQ+ merchandise.
Similar Backlash to Brands Trying to Be More Inclusive
Target isn’t the only brand that has faced backlash in recent years over Pride-centric marketing and product offerings. The backlash mirrors that directed at Bud Light.
The Anheuser Busch-owned beer brand sparked controversy for partnering with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney. The company’s response to the hate-filled and transphobic backlash that followed was tepid at best, merely saying it “never intended to be part of a discussion that divides people,” without directly addressing the hateful rhetoric or signaling support for Mulvaney.
Target’s Earnings Hit
Target’s motivation for being incredibly careful with how far they push their pro-Pride merchandising is obvious — money.
Reported earnings for the brand fell short of Wall Street estimates amidst customers scaling back their spending as they feel the hit on inflation. They can’t face another boycott and the impact that would cause alongside already declining sales.
Plummeting Stock Price
Target’s stock has plummeted recently also, perhaps somewhat in response to last year’s Pride controversy. This stock decline is unsurprising given the downward sales trend.
The situation is a pretty bleak one for Target. Since November 2021, the brand has lost market share to rivals like Walmart and Amazon and seen its stock price fall by more than 40%.
Other Brands Showing More Pride
Despite Target’s struggles and other brands’ noticeable trepidation regarding Pride merchandising this year, not every company is being quite so cagy.
Walmart, one of Target’s main competitors, has been promoting its own new Pride apparel on social media. They’re not nearly as reserved as some brands, with promotions for the “Pride Always” collection featuring products like a tote bag with the slogan “totes gay” and a “beyond gender” notebook.
Brands Are Perhaps More Subdued This Pride … And That May Be a Good Thing
Analysts and advocates agree that in general, Pride marketing is far more toned down this year compared to previous years. But some see a silver lining in this. Despite certain brands reacting to calls for boycotts by eliminating Pride entirely from their strategy, some see the new low-key landscape of Pride support as a move from one-off gimmicky marketing to ongoing, more enduring allyship.
For instance, while Nike won’t offer a pride collection for the first time since 1999 after receiving criticism for its marketing partnership with a transgender athlete, they say they will instead focus programming on ongoing support for the LGBTQ+ community.
Retailers Cagey Amidst Cultural Division
The move by Target and other brands to be more reserved in the Pride activities marks an attempt to navigate a cultural divide among consumers, not wishing to fully alienate any segment of a potential customer base.
While it may be depressingly contrary to the spirit of Pride to be so cagey about showing support and advocacy to the LGBTQ+ community, it makes sense as a financial decision. At least these big brands haven’t had a complete U-turn and denounced any support whatsoever for Pride.
