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CommentaryRetail

At Target, we're convinced that the next significant force to shake up retail will be emotion. Just examine this year's winter wonderland.

By
Cara Sylvester
Cara Sylvester
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By
Cara Sylvester
Cara Sylvester
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November 26, 2025, 9:00 AM ET

Cara Sylvester is the executive vice president and chief guest experience officer for Target Corporation. She leads the teams responsible for the retailer’s marketing, media, creative strategy and digital efforts, including the Target app, website and social platforms. Cara also oversees the company’s loyalty efforts through Target Circle, and its in-house media company, Roundel.

Cara joined Target in 2007 and has held a variety of leadership roles with the company. Prior to joining Target, Cara worked at Deloitte Consulting in Chicago.  Cara is a member of the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum advisory council.   

Cara Sylvester is the executive vice president and chief guest experience officer for Target Corporation
Cara Sylvester is the executive vice president and chief guest experience officer for Target Corporation.courtesy of Target

There is a certain magic to retail done well.

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TL;DR

  • Target aims to create delightful and unforgettable shopping experiences across all platforms.
  • CEO Michael Fiddelke outlines three objectives: merchandising expertise, enhanced customer interactions, and technological advancement.
  • The holiday season features over 20,000 new products, exclusive items, and early promotions.
  • New initiatives include the Get-Ready Yeti, AI-driven tools, weekly in-store events, and a Wonder Drop event.

Whether it's a modest boutique, a large department store, or a comprehensive big-box retailer, an exceptional shopping environment not only encourages purchases but also evokes an emotional response.

I recall that while growing up near Chicago, my mother and I would journey into the city to explore shops lining State Street and the Magnificent Mile. The thrill of ascending the escalators at Marshall Field’s, beholding the enormous Christmas tree, being amidst the throngs, and wishing the day would stretch on indefinitely still resonates with me.

Indeed, these excursions were aimed at selecting presents for our relatives and companions, yet they encompassed far more than mere retail activity. They represented significant moments that forged some of my most cherished festive recollections.

Consumer habits have undergone significant shifts since my childhood in the 1980s. However, the excitement that shopping can ignite remains constant.

In today's interconnected retail landscape, certain businesses operate their online platforms for convenience while utilizing their physical locations for a more substantial offering. At Target, we see no such division. Whether you're navigating our application during a television marathon, perusing our physical shelves, or anticipating your curbside pickup from the parking area, our objective remains constant: to craft an experience that is both delightful and unforgettable.

The incoming CEO, Michael Fiddelke, has detailed three key objectives that, when combined, will propel our subsequent phase of expansion and ignite a fresh period of affection for The Target brand: asserting our merchandising expertise, providing consistently enhanced customer interactions, and advancing technological capabilities to support our operations and staff.

To see the future direction of Target, observe what we've prepared for the upcoming holiday period.

Our vendors have put together a selection featuring over 20,000 fresh products, with almost half exclusively offered at Target. As shoppers look for savings, our excellent promotions commenced well before Black Friday and continue throughout the whole holiday period.

The Guest Experience team, which I'm a member of, began making plans for the 2025 season well before the majority of individuals had concluded their 2024 celebrations.

The initial concept involved a charming, snow-covered hamlet. Subsequently, a bold notion emerged that served to unify the entire vision: incorporating a yeti.

This then expanded into a winter paradise resembling an Alpine Village, complete with a charming ensemble of personalities. Among them is the imposing Get-Ready Yeti, standing at 8 feet tall, who serves as the representative for the entire event. He's prominently featured in our promotional efforts, within our retail locations, and he's even present to welcome you on our application when you pick up a Drive Up purchase.

If your goal is joyful and memorable, every detail matters.

The Get-Ready Yeti and the gifting mice Lenny, Berry, and Merry have emerged as significant successes in our advertising efforts. Furthermore, Kris K., who achieved widespread popularity as “Hot Santa” during the previous year, is returning to lead us through the current period.

Upon entering our Alpine Village, you'll instantly detect the aroma of freshly baked cookies and the sounds of festive music. This area features a functioning gondola and elegant, boutique-style displays reminiscent of European holiday markets.

We've introduced updated digital resources designed to enhance your shopping journey, making it more integrated, tailored, and user-friendly, no matter your purchasing method. These enhancements feature our AI-driven Target Gift Finder, the capability to scan items from your lists directly into your cart, and aid with navigating our stores. 

Additionally, for the entire season, we'll be holding weekly gatherings at our retail locations. We're also organizing Target's Wonder Drop from December 5th to the 7th at Domino Park in New York City, where you might spot a Get-Ready Yeti. Furthermore, leading up to Black Friday, we're enhancing the excitement of our 6 a.m. Store openings by offering giveaways to the initial 100 customers at each of our 2,000 establishments.

This holiday season, Target is presenting an experience that's deeply engaging, abundant, and cheerful—distinct from anything previously offered and unmatched by any other large-scale retailer.

Not long ago, I accompanied my daughter, Mia, to a toy showcase held at one of our retail locations close to Minneapolis. Witnessing families gathered, savoring hot chocolate, and exploring our premier toy selections, served as a profound illustration of the potential of the retail sector.

In a world that often feels stressful and disordered, the experiences we craft possess the capacity to unite individuals through a fundamental and greatly desired sentiment: happiness.

As we advance toward Target's future, I'm enthusiastic about the possibilities ahead and the chance we have to assist households globally in crafting enduring memories.

The viewpoints presented in Coins2Day.com commentary articles represent exclusively the perspectives of their writers and don't always align with the viewpoints and convictions of  Coins2Day .

About the Author
By Cara Sylvester
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