Target has announced that it is withdrawing from Canada. I'm not surprised.
Almost exactly a year ago, I wrote:
No matter what rationalizations are offered, the simple reason Target is in trouble is that when you walk into and through one of their stores, you're turned off. The selection is limited, the prices aren't all that great, and there's a general feeling of malaise.
I had hoped that when Target took over many of the Zeller's outlets in Canada and then took SO long renovating the facilities, Target would provide a reasonable and viable alternative to Walmart, Canadian Tire, and Superstore. It hasn't. And it will take considerable work and effort on their part to overcome these impressions that apparently many, many Canadian shoppers have of Target.
Target Canada: A waste of money and a lost cause.