Societal Sheet

Target Took a Woke Swing and Missed

FILE PHOTO: Shoppers enter a Target store in Arvada, Colorado February 24, 2009. REUTERS/Rick Wilking (UNITED STATES)/File Photo
Written by Scott K. James

Target’s stock is tanking and their CEO’s out—but hey, at least they sold rainbow onesies to toddlers. Turns out people want groceries, not lectures.

Target’s sales are down, profits slumped, and their CEO Brian Cornell is heading for the door with his pink slip disguised as a retirement party. CNBC reports on yet another quarterly decline for the once-beloved discount chain that forgot what it was actually selling. Instead of focusing on affordable home goods and back-to-school basics, Target became ground zero for cultural activism in aisle five.

The Bullet Point Brief

  • Target’s sales dropped again—because apparently folks aren’t clamoring to buy anti-biblical values disguised as fashion.
  • CEO Brian Cornell is leaving after exposure to too many DEI strategy meetings fried his business sense.
  • Suburban shoppers—especially moms—are quietly canceling woke nonsense the old-fashioned way: with their wallets.
  • The more Target pandered to cultural commentary, the less anyone wanted to trust them with a shopping list.
  • Activism’s cute till it costs you billions and your reputation turns from Tar-jay to Tar-nah.

My Bottom Line

Look, retail is a tough gig these days—even tougher when you turn your stores into leftist sermons with barcodes. Target didn’t just lose money—they lost trust. And trust doesn’t bounce back with rainbow signs over clearance bins. Somewhere along the way, they stopped selling deodorant and diapers and started pushing agendas catered to Twitter mobs instead of real customers. Spoiler alert: most Americans aren’t thrilled about their kids being used as pawns in corporate virtue-signaling.

Now Cornell’s saying goodbye—and I hope he enjoys early retirement, maybe somewhere far away from ESG seminars and pronoun workshops. But here’s what really matters: this ain’t about politics; it’s about priorities. Retail should be neutral ground—a place where folks grab toothpaste without feeling like they’re being force-fed someone’s worldview. Suburban moms might not tweet or threaten boycotts like internet mobs do—but they sure as heck vote every time they walk past a store and don’t go in.

Scripture tells us to be discerning—wise as serpents but gentle as doves (Matthew 10:16). That applies in business too. If a company wants to last through troubled times, it better anchor itself in timeless truths—not trending hashtags. This mess should be a wake-up call to every boardroom stretching the rainbow just to win social points while bleeding customer loyalty. Here’s a wild thought: how about getting back to basics? Give people value, respect their beliefs… and stop confusing morality with marketing.

About the author

Scott K. James

A 4th generation Northern Colorado native, Scott K. James is a veteran broadcaster, professional communicator, and principled leader. Widely recognized for his thoughtful, common-sense approach to addressing issues that affect families, businesses, and communities, Scott, his wife, Julie, and son, Jack, call Johnstown, Colorado, home. A former mayor of Johnstown, James is a staunch defender of the Constitution and the rule of law, the free market, and the power of the individual. Scott has delighted in a lifetime of public service and continues that service as a Weld County Commissioner representing District 2.