Target Puts Gift Cards at Center of Holiday Campaign

Gift cards take center stage in Target's holiday campaign.

Target is using gift cards as an incentive to get people to shop in its stores.

The campaign started on Black Friday as the retailer handed over $10 gift cards to any shopper who spent $100 or more between 5 a.m. and 12 p.m. The cards can be used either in stores or online.

This week, Cyber Week, people can enter the Target Give and Get Sweepstakes for a chance at a grand prize of $10,000, and an additional $10,000 that will go to the school of the winner’s choice. Target will also give away hundreds of $25 Target GiftCards each day.

The company also ran a Giftacular Sweepstakes in late November both in stores and online that gave away a total of $200,000 in gift cards. To participate, players had to locate a special black and white game-play symbol that appeared in the Nov. 22 Target sales circular. Another option was to go to Target.com print the symbol and enter the sweepstakes. Winners got the gift cards by mail and all entrants were automatically entered to win the grand prize of one of five $10,000 Target GiftCards.

Target Corp. operates 1,744 stores in 49 states nationwide.