Target Can't Afford a Blogger Relations Specialist? Gimme a Break.

This Target ad, offensive to women as it is on its own, has now sparked a blogger backlash because of Target's obtuse response to the blogosphere. Here is my friend's Peter Himler's take on the whole thing.

In a nutshell, a blogger from the site ShapingYouth inquired about the ad to the media relations team at Target and received this incomprehensible response:

"Unfortunately we are unable to respond to your inquiry because Target does not participate with nontraditional media outlets,” a public relations person wrote to ShapingYouth. “This practice,” the public relations person added, “is in place to allow us to focus on publications that reach our core guest,” as Target refers to its shoppers.

Actually, just the fact that they responded to the query at all clearly demonstrates that they have the wherewithall to deal with the inquiry. So, Target is trying to tell us that they don't have the manpower to deal with bloggers? Hiring a few blogger relations reps to deal with this disaster would be a good start.

Target CERTAINLY plays in the social media sphere. It has a group on Facebook. But Target has a much bigger problem than tragically misplaced bullseyes on its ads.

Target's problem? It has blown all the good PR its built up in the last 10 years in one fell swoop. Ouch!