Queen’s University School of Business professor Ken Wong is available to talk about Target opening three stores in Ontario today, and the impact the big U.S. chain will have on the Canadian retail industry.

Prof. Wong says it’s important for Target to turn the opening media hype into a loyal customer base.

“Anyone who thinks they can keep customers from trying Target with a sale or other marketing event will make an expensive mistake. Given all the media attention, people will visit the Target stores no matter what, even if it is just to satisfy their curiosity,” says Prof. Wong. “For Target, the challenge is to translate that ‘trial’ into ‘adoption,’ and Target seems to get that. The store look and the service commitment – backed by Target's operations and H.R. policies – will go a long way to doing that.”

Please note that Prof. Wong is only available for phone interviews.

To arrange an interview, please contact communication officers Michael Onesi (office: 613.533.6000 ext. 77513, michael.onesi@queensu.ca) or Anne Craig (office: 613-533-2877, Anne.Craig@queensu.ca) at Queen’s University News and Media Services Department in Kingston, Ont., Canada.

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