News

Target drops shipping fee to push back-to-school online traffic

Shoppers buying school supplies at Target.com will get all items sent free with no minimum purchase requirement for next nine days.

August 6, 2015

Target wants more back-to-school shoppers hitting its online store and is dangling free shipping and returns through Aug. 15.

Consumers buying through Target.com will get all items sent free with no minimum purchase requirement.

It’s the second time Target has revamped its online shipping strategy, first reducing the initial $50 purchase minimum to $25 this past February. It also ran a similar "no fee" shipping program during the 2014 holiday shopping season.

Target is running several other back-to-school related promotions including a free $5 gift card when a shopper buys $25 in school supplies and a 20 percent off sale on college supplies.

In addition it has launched a new online hub, called School List Assist, which is in beta mode. The portal provides a “curated” offering of the the most common K-8 supplies.

“When it comes to back-to-school shopping, we heard from our guests that shopping for ‘the list’ is a top priority but also the biggest challenge,” said Jason Goldberger, president Target.com and Mobile, stated in a release. “School List Assist makes it easy for guests to shop for all of their back-to-school supplies with just a few clicks – giving families more time to look for the exciting things like Target’s backpacks, lunch kits and first day of school outfits.”