Target to Test Curbside Returns and Starbucks Order Pickup

Customers at select Target stores will be able to pick up a Starbucks coffee and make a return without leaving their car later this year. The retailer announced Wednesday that it will start to add those services to Drive Up, its curbside pickup option, at select stores in the fall. It declined to identify store locations or give a more specific timetable. Target has a Starbucks cafe in many of its big-box stores. The program will begin testing with employees and then serve customers, with plans to scale the features at Target stores across the country.

Total Retail's Take: Target was ahead of the game compared to most other retailers when it came to curbside pickup, having introduced the service in 2017, long before the pandemic made it a near necessity for brick-and-mortar retailers. Now, the retailer is finding new ways to make the curbside experience even more convenient for its customers, rolling out additional features such as product returns and Starbucks' order pickup. This is just one example of how Target is seeking to sustain its recent growth in the convenience economy, making it a more attractive shopping destination, both physically and digitally, for consumers. Furthermore, curbside pickup is one of the consumer trends that we saw accelerate rapidly during the pandemic that appears will be around for the long haul.