Marketplace All-in-One Target and Ulta announce breakup
Aug 15, 2025
Target and Ulta have ended their partnership, closing numerous Ulta shops in Target locations. The split highlights contrasting business models and client bases. Meanwhile, the Trump-Putin summit in Alaska raises eyebrows with its latest developments. Additionally, a significant report discusses the troubling trend of hospital patients with mental illness being discharged into nursing homes, revealing deeper issues in mental health care.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Why The Target‑Ulta Partnership Failed
- Target and Ulta paired to blend Target's reach with Ulta's higher-end beauty offerings but business realities shifted after the pandemic.
- Differing customer experiences and declining Target sales made the partnership unsustainable.
The 'Shacked Up' Retail Story
- Matt Levin recounts how Target and Ulta 'shacked up' after the pandemic as a partnership that made sense on paper.
- He notes practical mismatches, like Ulta's salon services being hard to replicate inside Target stores.
Experience Vs Convenience In Retail
- Retail dynamics changed as Target's sales softened due to inflation and controversy while Ulta's customer experience needs remained.
- Physical constraints like salon space made full-service replication inside Target impractical.