Target Layoffs

So, for the first time in Target history, the company has had to layoff some of its employees!  That’s some kind of scary shit right there!

Some 600 of them!

Times are tough… Obama, please fix it! 😉

Here’s the story (Scooped from the Los Angeles Times–because they had the most info, you guys):

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Target to cut 9% of headquarters staff, close distribution center

The discount retailer also will reduce planned new-store openings and freeze salary for senior management as it battles the weak economy.

Associated Press

January 28, 2009

New York — Discount retailer Target Corp. said Tuesday that it would cut 9% of its headquarters staff, close a distribution center and reduce planned store openings as it battled the weak economy.

The staff cuts include 600 employees and 400 open positions, mostly in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota where Target is based. This year the company also plans to close its Little Rock, Ark., distribution center, which employs an additional 500 people.

“We are clearly operating in an unprecedented economic environment that requires us to make some extremely difficult decisions to ensure Target remains competitive over the long term,” said Gregg Steinhafel, president and chief executive.

Other cuts include a salary freeze for senior management, stopping share repurchases, tightening consumer credit-card underwriting and credit granting, improving store productivity and reducing planned store openings.

The changes will cost about 3 cents a share and be recorded mainly in Target’s fiscal fourth quarter, which ends Saturday.

Like most retailers, the Minneapolis company has suffered as consumers limit spending and shop mainly for necessities. Discounters in general have done better than specialty retailers, but Target has fared worse than rival Wal-Mart Stores Inc. because more than 40% of Target’s revenue comes from non essentials such as clothing and housewares.

Target shares rose 19 cents to $33.34.