Target To Go

Friday, on what felt like the coldest day of the year so far, I decided I needed to see the Rodarte for Target line in person ASAP, and stopped by the NYC Target to Go pop up shop in the Meatpacking District. I arrived around 1pm to find only a few other people in line. I think the terrible weather kept a lot of people away, which was both good and bad. Good that the huge crowd I’d anticipated wasn’t there, but bad because the pop up shop’s concept was ridiculously cute and fun. I think a lot of people missed out if they skipped it due to the cold.

On the way over to the pop up, I passed a pay phone on Hudson Street with a dangling red tag. On closer inspection, I realized it was one of the hidden tags redeemable for Target gift cards that were supposed to be around town.

When the pop up’s staffers saw that I had one, they cheered and escorted me to the front of the line to redeem it. I turned it in, and ended up winning a free $10 gift card!

After redeeming the tag, I got back in line, and browsed the available merchandise. True to the pop up’s drive through inspired concept, you choose your items from a “menu” on a clipboard, and write in the item #, quantity and size. All while browsing windows full of the merchandise as you make your way to the cash register.

Some of the available items:

The 3 Rodarte dresses and belt.

I ended up cashing in my gift card, and a $5 off coupon I had, and getting 2 of the Rodarte dresses (not the skull dress), and the black bow belt. I was so excited to finally have my hands on the coveted dresses early, and ready to get out of the cold that I’m pretty sure I power walked back to the L train.

On my way to the train, I found two more gift card tags. I pointed one out to a woman walking her dog, who thanked me profusely and decided since I was only a few blocks away to give the second tag to someone in line at the pop up. A few minutes later I found a third card in the middle of the street, and rescued it from oncoming traffic. I tried giving them out to stylish strangers walking by, but they looked at me like I was nuts, and said no. I guess some people just don’t like free money.

On the way back to the pop up, I passed an artful looking wall of Target promo posters:

I stopped to take a photo, and was asked if I’d mind being a few photos standing in front of the wall. Three men from Target’s ad agency were filming some promo videos and shooting photos to promote the pop up shop. I had to sign a model release, and was filmed walking past the posters five or six times. I posed for some still photos with my shopping bag, and then was asked to walk back and forth past the posters again, but from the opposite direction. It was hard not to giggle while doing this, but I somehow managed to smile and look like a real shopper going about her daily routine.

I insisted on snapping a photo of the awesome ad agency guys, since I let them take so many photos of me:

While they got a shot of me posing in front of the wall, with my digicam:

When I got back to the pop up, I was told I could only redeem one card for myself, which I’d already done. So I waited until some more shoppers arrived and decided to pass them out.

Kevin here helped me decide who to give the extra gift cards to:

One was claimed by a friend of mine via twitter, and I gave the other to a woman browsing the shop. After she’d bought her gifts and claimed the gift card, she gave it to me! I politely refused at first, but she insisted on giving it to me. Now I have $10 more to use when the rest of the Rodarte collection comes out next week. I can’t wait!

I found two more tags on my way home (bringing the total to six!) and passed them out to some friends. Who ended up redeeming them at the pop up, and buying Rodarte dresses too.

The Target to go pop up shop runs until Sunday at 8pm, under the entrance to the high line in NYC.

Edit: See my appearance on Target.com here.