1914 – It Starts With an Idea
Lincoln Filene, inheritor of Filene’s Department Store and co-founder of Federated Department Stores in 1929, comes up with the idea of a cooperative association of retailers working together to exchange ideas and information. Two years later, they turn the concept into a reality when a group of 18 like-minded merchants across the United States joined together to form the Retail Research Association (RRA).

1918 – Associated Merchandising Corporation is Founded
The RRA is so successful that it expands to form the Associated Merchandising Corporation (AMC), which provides retailers buying, policy making and planning assistance.

1920s – Going Global
The importance of importing merchandise from the international market becomes increasingly apparent. In response, AMC goes international. Still remaining today are the original offices in Paris, London and Florence.

1945 – Two Become One
With 24 retail member stores, 19 international offices and an ever-changing retail and global environment, the RRA becomes a division of AMC.

TSS/AMC and Target have a long history in the retail industry.

1900-1950s – Building a Retail Legacy
George Draper Dayton establishes what would later become The Dayton Company by opening the company’s first store in downtown Minneapolis in 1902. In 1946, The Dayton Company instates a policy for community giving – five percent of pre-tax profits go back to the communities in which it does business. Ten years later, the company opens a store in Southdale, the world’s first fully enclosed two-level shopping center, located in Minnesota.

1960s – Target is Born
In 1962, The Dayton Company enters discount merchandising with the opening of its first Target stores. Five years later, Dayton Corporation is established. In 1969, the company merges with J.L. Hudson Company, a Detroit-based department store chain, and takes on the new name The Dayton Hudson Corporation (DHC).

In response to increasing business opportunities in Asia and the Middle East, AMC opens offices in Hong Kong, Korea and Israel.

1970-1980s – AMC Continues to Grow
AMC opens offices in Portugal, Taiwan, India, Singapore and the Philippines in the 1970s. In the next decade, the company expands its reach with the addition of offices in Shanghai and Tianjin, China, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Indonesia and Costa Rica.

1990s – AMC Supports Target Corporation
Mass merchandising continues to boom in the U.S. AMC sets up an office in Minneapolis, and works to establish an even greater presence in the overseas markets. New offices are added in the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Mexico, Pakistan, Thailand, Malaysia, Mauritius, Spain, Guangzhou, China, Egypt, Qingdao, China, Honduras, Bangladesh, Poland, Durban, Nicaragua and Dongguan, China.

In 1998, The Dayton Hudson Corporation acquires AMC to enhance its global sourcing capabilities, strengthen its product development and provide a comprehensive international quality control system.

2000 – One Name
DHC celebrates a new name, Target Corporation, which represents the importance of Target to the company’s business.

2001-2002 – AMC Expands
Offices in Shenzhen, Milan and Dubai open for business in 2001. One year later, an office is opened in Vietnam.

2003 – TSS is Created
AMC creates Target Sourcing Services (TSS), a division devoted entirely to sourcing merchandise for Target, Marshall Field’s and Mervyn’s stores, as well as Target.com. AMC first-cost shipments top $2.5 billion, while Target Corporation revenues reach $45 billion and continue to increase.

Together, AMC and Target Corporation launch their annual International Grant Program. The AMC opens an office in Karachi, Pakistan.

2004 – The Best Company Ever
Target Corporation sells its Marshall Field’s and Mervyn’s businesses to focus on Target stores. To fully integrate AMC with Target, AMC takes on a new name: Target Sourcing Services/AMC. With all the new businesses operating under one name, Target Corporation simplifies its name to Target. A Target facility opens in Bangalore, India, and the number of Target stores surpasses 1,300 in 47 states. 

2006 – Looking Ahead
Target plans to open approximately 100 new stores every year. The company’s goal: to have more than 2,000 stores by 2011.