Target says it will launch upscale Apple shops in 25 of its discount stores

Retailer Target will soon start offering Apple products in select discount stores that carry everything from dog food to electronics.

Reuters reported that Minnesota-headquartered retailer Target confirmed plans to dedicate a special section to Apple products within 25 of its discount stores across the United States:

Target also confirmed during a presentation on Thursday that it will have 25 stores featuring special displays of Apple Inc (AAPL.O) merchandise, a move that had been speculated about last week.

The move is part of a broad initiative to provide upscale shopping experience for high-end brands. Select Target stores have been carrying iPhones, iPods and iPads and selling accessories for a while now, but not Mac systems. By promoting in boutiques stores-within-a-store, Apple’s mobile and desktop products should be able to stand out from the rest of Target’s low-end offerings. Thus far, Apple ministores could be found at select Best Buy stores.

As you know, both the Target Corporation and Apple drew from the expertise of a merchandising wizard who made beautiful design a natural part of the shopping experience…

Apple’s former retail chief Ron Jonson held various management positions at the Target Corporation before joining Apple in January 2000, where he pioneered the idea of Apple Retail Stores and the Genius Bar. During his Target tenure, Johnson held various positions, mainly serving as vice president of merchandising for Target Stores. He is credited with developing new initiatives for branding, marketing and merchandising at Target. Specifically, Johnson led the team responsible for launching the Michael Graves exclusive line of products, as well as the addition of other key brands to the store’s selection.