NEW YORK — Target, which has just ousted Canadian operations head Tony Fisher, is suffering from self-inflicted wounds, HARDLINES’ own Michael McLarney told The Toronto Star. “To bring a U.S. guy in here and say ‘Yeah, I put my kids in hockey, I have a cottage now, I understand Canada, just doesn’t do it,” said McLarney, adding that the good mood created by a vacation disposes cross-border shoppers to judge stores more positively and creates an impossible expectation to meet.
Other analysts agreed that having a Canuck in the executive role is key to a successful Canadian expansion. “This is the advice I would give Target, to have someone Canadian, who knows the market really well, who understands the regional needs and demographics,” said Anthony Karabus, CEO of Hilco Retail Consulting.
