I have already been to Target website and looked at the
advertising...but I need articles about their marketing strategy from
INDEPENDENT sources.  I am looking for inflection points that lead to
their success. thank you

Target Corporation used to be Dayton Hudson (formed by a merger of two
companies of those names) not too long ago (most recent references I
find are 1998).  Try searching for "Dayton Hudson Corp" articles and
information, you will probably find a lot more.  The Target name has
been around and established long before the name change (and it would
make sense that their name change came after the store's success), so
there may be a lot of studies that refer to Dayton Hudson Corp.

Here is the first thing I found, a "success story," though it was
written by a vendor so it is not exactly independent (but probably a
good start):
http://www.cbord.com/news/success/profile_1.htm

If you are looking at Target from the marketing angle, don't miss "The
Associated Merchandising Corporation" unit which Target owns:
http://biz.yahoo.com/ic/47/47224.html

Also be sure to research Target's other store chains, such as Marshall
Fields and Mervyn's, seperately to look for similarities or
differences between their marketing approaches.

Thanks...I know it is tough.  I am interested in Target as Target
and why they seem to be "hip" when other discounters are not.

If you find anything more, I will be grateful.

Thanks for your efforts.