We are all aware that branding is often used by companies to ensure that their customers immediately recognize them. That’s definitely evident when it comes to huge companies such as McDonald’s or Target .
When you drive by McDonald’s , you can see their “golden arches” from a mile away, ha, ha. And that’s precisely the point of it all. So have you ever wondered why Target uses giant spheres around their stores? I’m about to tell you the story behind it.
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So let’s look into these spheres. Shall we?
If you ever shopped at Target, you must have noticed them, no? They are definitely a presence, hee-hee. Perhaps that’s the whole idea behind them, eh?
However, let’s look further into it.
I don’t deny that the large red spheres are the first thing you notice when you go to Target. It’s pretty ingenious when you think about it. Maybe they are indeed trying to compete with places like McDonald’s. Hmm!
But wait, there’s more.
Apparently, the spheres are there for your safety, too. These spheres are called ‘bollards.’ They were first used along the edge of a wharf so that sailors had something they could tie their mooring lines around.
Of course, that’s not the case here.
In the case of Target, these bollards were put in front of buildings, to help to mitigate the risk of distracted drivers rolling right into the doors. That makes sense, no? I can see how that measure could be useful for that reason.
Check this out:
Most places install more traditionally shaped bollards, but Target has chosen to make them more distinctive and align with their overall marketing. Which I must admit is pretty genius on their part. Don’t you think? It’s just another way for Target to make themselves stand out from the pack.
But Target isn’t the only one with this strategy.
Apparently, various baseball stadiums also featured spherical bollards that look like baseballs. Oh, how fun. I don’t think I have noticed that, but now that I am aware of that fact, I will indeed look closer into that.
Here’s more.
Although Target claims these spheres offer public safety, others aren’t so sure of that.
Apparently, there were at least two lawsuits launched against Target. In May 2016, a New Jersey mother sued Target for $1.6-million after her five-year-old son fell from one of the bollards and shattered his elbow. That injury resulted in surgery and threatened long-term damage to this child’s range of motion.
Then there was this incident:
A year after the earlier lawsuit, a woman filed a lawsuit after one of the bollards broke loose and hit her car. Yikes! Can you imagine that? I bet that must’ve been a scary situation, that’s for sure. I don’t envy this woman at all.
So let me ask you: what do you think if this?
Do you like the red spheres and think this is a cool marketing ploy? Or do you think they actually pose some risk to people as they could possibly dislodge and roll down the road? I would be very interested to know what’s your take on this?
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