Target Shelf Profit Masterclass

A story about a successful retail executive giving an impromptu master class on Target's store operations.

"This guy took us to the shelf and gave us a tour of Target to show how the store works. He points to a specific shelf and says 'This shelf right here is the highest profit per square inch in Target - that's how Target measures success.'

He's giving us this Target master class and we ask if he's also in Walmart. He says 'Yeah, we're in Walmart but we're not doing so well.' I asked him what's exciting coming up, assuming since he runs a billion-dollar-plus company he'd talk about board meetings or taking family to Aspen.

Instead he says 'Actually, I'm working the next 3 weeks as a Walmart associate.' I was shocked and asked why. He explained 'Our sales in Walmart are not the same as Target and I've been trying to figure out why.'

What's remarkable is that you'd expect people who are this accomplished and high net worth to be above these tasks. But they're not just doing it now that they're successful - that's how they got here. It really showed the intensity with which certain people play the game of business and how that leads to success."