Target has admitted that its decision to roll back diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives resulted in a significant decline in first quarter sales. The company’s CEO, Brian Cornell, blamed the drop on concerns surrounding tariffs, but acknowledged that the DEI rollback also played a role.
In January 2025, just after President Donald Trump took office, Target announced it would scale back its “Belonging at the Bullseye” strategy, which aimed to increase hiring and supplier diversity. The move also ended the company’s participation in external surveys like the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index.
The decision sparked backlash from advocates, including Rev. Jamal Bryant and civil rights activist Rev. Al Sharpton, who called for a boycott of Target stores. Bryant stated that Black customers saw Target as “a friend” due to its past support for DEI programs following the death of George Floyd in 2020. Sharpton met with Cornell in April 2025, expressing his concerns about the company’s commitment to the Black community and urging it to recommit to supporting Black-owned businesses.
While some companies like Walmart faced similar consequences from eliminating DEI initiatives, others like Costco saw an increase in revenue and foot traffic after maintaining their support for diversity. Target’s sales decline serves as a reminder of the impact of corporate decisions on social justice issues and consumer behavior.
Source: https://www.blackenterprise.com/lack-of-black-customer-support-results-targets-dollar-decline