One concrete red ball outside of each Target store was dressed up with fabric and made to look like a beach ball, but concerns about safety prompted the retailer to remove them just a couple of weeks after their debut.
Target Corporation recently took down beach ball decorations in front of all its stores due to concerns surrounding safety.
On May 22, in conjunction with the kickoff of the retailer’s “Make Summer Funner” campaign, Minneapolis-based Target dressed up one red concrete ball outside each store entrance with fabric that made it look like a beach ball.
While the balls were made to look summery and fun, kicking them or trying to bounce them would likely hurt.
“We did hear from guests that it was a concern,” Target spokeswoman Jessica Carlson told Twin Cities Business on Tuesday, although she declined to share details about any specific incidents with the balls.
Consequently, Target removed all beach ball covers over the past couple of days “to avoid any guest or team members incidents,” she said.
Several giant red balls—all made of concrete—act as permanent fixtures outside the main doors to each Target store. Their main purpose is to secure the entrances and exits that they surround, Carlson said.
“We just wanted to avoid any confusion with the other red balls and avoid any incidents,” she said.
Target’s “Make Summer Funner” campaign promotes various outdoor items for the season, including lemonade stands and picnic kits.
Target—which operates a retail segment and a credit-card segment—now serves customers at 1,755 stores in 49 states nationwide and on its Web site. It is Minnesota’s second-largest public company based on its revenue, which totaled $67.4 billion in its most recently completed fiscal year.
—Christa Meland
(cmeland@tcbmag.com)