Retail chain Target is looking to take advantage of this holiday season by giving its customers free shipping for items.
The offer started on Wednesday, and it will be available until Dec. 20th, according to SFGate. It is also the latest shipping offer to come out of the Minneapolis-based company, the previous being a permanent free shipping offer that Target introduced four months ago for people who spend at least $50 on purchased made online.
This time of the year is responsible for close to 20 percent of total sales in the retail industry.
"We know shipping costs play a big role in online purchasing decisions ... We believe our free shipping offer will create excitement and incremental sales for Target," said Kathee Tesija, executive vice president and chief merchandising officer of Target.
The move comes as Target and other retailers look to attract the increasing number of customers using their smartphones and tablets to buy products, SFGate reported.
Target is using several tactics to win over online shoppers, such as directly shipping products from its stores to get them to customers within one day of standard delivery, as well as spending at least 50 percent more on digital advertising this holiday season than it did last year.
Shipping offers for this holiday season have yet to be announced for competing retailers Wal-Mart, which offers free shipping for $50 orders, and Best Buy, which offers free shipping for orders of at least $35, Minneapolis Star Tribune reported.
While online orders only account for about 2 percent of Target's total sales, this area grew by 30 percent in the last quarter. The company has been focusing on making that number bigger, updating its website as well as its iPad and mobile apps.
"We want to really be there for the guest, no matter how they want to shop Target," said Brian Cornell, CEO of Target.
