With a mail theme, Torontonians got a preview of what it would be like to have a Target store at the one day only Jason Wu for Target event, held on King and Peter Street yesterday. Some people were at the location as early as 6 am, just so they could have a shot at getting some pieces. The first 25 in line (which I was, unfortunately, not part of – just missed it at #27) also got to have a photo opp with Jason himself. Jason left just as the doors opened for #26 and beyond.
One of the outfit displays at the pop-up shop. The event had a mail theme, thus all the envelopes and parcels
Some of the earlier arrivals. People didn’t really start arriving in line until 10:15 or so
I arrived at the pop-up store around 9:45 am. I was actually surprised that there weren’t too many people, but I knew that it would change by 10:30 as the store was slated to open at noon. The more than two hour wait wasn’t that bad, and actually went by pretty quickly, especially with media bustling around (invited media were inside much earlier).
Once we got in, each shopper was only allowed three items, including scarves and six into the fitting rooms. Not every piece of the collection was at the pop-up – there were no handbags, for example. There were tote bags commemorating the event available for sale, and customers were able to take as many as they wanted. No item was above $45 (so different from H&M, where designer collaborations go well into the three digits) and proceeds from today’s sale go to the United Way of Toronto.
Melissa and Lisa (top picture) and Emily and Jeannie (bottom picture) pose for a picture while waiting in line
I was glad I got there early enough. Had I arrived even 15 or 20 minutes later (I was actually debating whether to go as late as this morning!), I might not have been closer to the front of the line! It was, unlike H&M designer sales, pretty civilized – no fights over outfits to be seen. Perhaps it was because we had a limited number of products one was able to try on at a time. Maybe H&M can learn from this (though I don’t think it would happen. I’m bracing for craziness for Marni at H&M on March 8).
So did I end up buying anything? Yes, three pieces (above). You can also see outfit pictures here.
Target opens its first stores in Canada in 2013.
