This may be old news, but I just found out last night that Target is not allowing Salvation Army ringers on their premises this year:
http://target.com/target_group/commu...citation.jhtml
Quote:
Target Corporation’s Position on Solicitation at Stores
Target Corporation has a long-standing “no solicitation” policy at all of our stores. Like many nationwide retailers, Target Corporation implemented this policy in order to be consistent with all the groups that request access to our stores and to provide our guests with a comfortable, distraction-free shopping environment.
Therefore, Target Corporation restricts the use of its parking lots and facilities to only business use. Target does not permit individuals (including political candidates and/or their campaign organizations) or nonprofit organizations to solicit donations, distribute literature, sell merchandise or hold events on our premises.
Target has received attention for applying this policy to all groups, including the Salvation Army. We receive an increasing number of solicitation inquiries from nonprofit organizations and groups each year and determined that if we continue to allow the Salvation Army to solicit, then it opens the door to any other groups that wish to solicit our guests. While some of our guests may welcome the opportunity to support their favorite charity or cause, allowing these organizations to solicit means that Target would also have to permit solicitation by organizations whose causes or behavior may be unacceptable to our guests. Target notified the Salvation Army of this decision in January 2004, well in advance of the holiday season, so that the organization would have time to find alternative fundraising sources. Target also asked the Salvation Army to look for other ways we could support their organization under our corporate giving guidelines. At this date, they have not provided a proposal that fits those guidelines.
Our company has many other means by which it supports organizations whose charitable programs fall within our corporate giving guidelines. Nonprofit organizations, including local Salvation Army chapters, can apply for grants through their local Target stores. For decades, nonprofit organizations across the country have successfully worked with Target in this manner. We are asking the Salvation Army to work with us in the same manner as every other organization and group who asks to solicit our guests. For more information on these guidelines, please pick up the Community Giving brochure in your store’s Guest Service area, or visit the Community Giving section of Target.com.
Target Corporation provides generous support to communities in many ways, donating more than $2 million each week to neighborhoods, programs and schools across the country. Nationwide, our team members volunteer hundreds of thousands of hours to nonprofit organizations. Target Corporation is committed to giving back to the communities in which we do business.
|
According to snopes,
http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/charity/sallyann.asp
Quote:
|
Founded in 1865 as a religious and charitable mission, it provided over $2.5 billion in service throughout the U.S. during the past year. Last year they (Salvation Army) collected about $9 million outside the 1300+ Target stores.
|
I can understand their reasoning behind the change, and it is their private property to do as they wish. Just, somehow, it's gonna seem a little less like Christmas this year, with another store following behind Walmart's restriction of their Sally Ann's 3 years ago. I know my friends who made me aware of this are actually boycotting Target because of their decision. I wonder if this has hurt Target financially at all this season?