Target Circle is one of the best and most accessible loyalty programs available widely to big box store shoppers. In an era where loyalty programs define retail shopping, Target Circle stands out as a beacon for savvy shoppers.
“It's a cohesive program that involves a lot of different parts, but it all comes under the auspices of Target Circle, making it a very interesting and compelling loyalty scheme,” says Neil Saunders, managing director and Retail Analyst at GlobalData Retail.
Let's dive into how you can harness its full potential.
Target Circle is more than just a rewards program; it's a personalized shopping experience. Members enjoy exclusive deals, earn cash back on purchases, and even get a say in Target’s charitable giving initiatives. Here’s why it’s quickly becoming a favorite among deal hunters.
Target Circle Earnings is cash back earned by spending at Target as a Circle member, either in-person or online. You earn 1% back on each eligible purchase amount, which excludes any discounts, coupons and Target Circle Earnings redemptions. You can then apply your earnings to future purchases at Target. They expire after one year.
“I think the cash back is fairly generous for a scheme of its type,” says Saunders. “And it does move the needle in terms of making people think ‘I'll buy that at Target.’”
Signing up for Target Circle is easy: Visit target.com/circle or open the Target app. Create a new online account, and you’ll also be signed up for Target Circle. You need to input your name, email address, and phone number to sign up. You can also select your local store, save a method of payment, and input your birthdate to get a special discount each year.
When checking out in a Target store, enter your mobile number on the keypad or self-checkout screen, or scan your Target Circle barcode (which you can find in the Wallet tab in the Target app). You’ll earn 1% cash back automatically, and any deals you’ve saved to your account will apply to the transaction.
If you forget to enter your number or scan your barcode, you can still get your Circle benefits for the transaction by uploading your receipt to target.com/circle/dashboard or scanning it using the Target App within 14 days.
One of the major draws of Target Circle is the many deals — called “offers” — that members get access to, some of which are personalized based on your shopping history. To apply an offer to a transaction, you must first save it to your account. Your account has 75 spots for saved offers. You will find offers at www.target.com/circle/offers and in the Discover tab in the Target app. To save one to your account, click the + or the “save offer” box. Any offers saved to your account will automatically apply when you purchase.
Target Circle is free.
Every time you shop as a Target Circle member, you earn a vote regarding where Target should direct its charitable giving in the local community. Visit www.target.com/circle/community-voting to cast your votes for the organizations you like.
Incorporating charitable giving into Target Circle “is quite a nice way of doing something ethical and social with the loyalty program,” says Saunders. “Consumers quite like that; it makes them feel involved.”
You can see your earnings any time in the Target app’s Wallet tab.
When shopping in-store, open your Target app and click Wallet, then “Show my barcode,” and have the cashier scan it. At the register, click on the box next to “redeem earnings” to apply your Target Circle earnings.
In the app or on the website, apply your Target Circle Earnings reward balance by clicking “apply” or using the toggle next to the amount available on the checkout screen.
The Target RedCard™ is a credit or debit card that earns you 5% savings on Target purchases when you transact, as well as free expedited shipping. This card is not part of Target Circle, and you cannot earn both Target Circle’s 1% cash back and RedCard’s 5% savings on the same transaction.
Use the Target app’s scan function in-store. When you’re shopping in-store, click the barcode icon in the Discover tab to open the UPC scanner. Scan an item’s barcode to see associated Target Circle offers and manufacturer’s coupons. You will also see offers on related products.
Check your personalized Target Circle offers: Click “See my offers” in the Discover tab of the Target app to see personalized deals. Click the plus sign next to each offer to save it to your account so it will be applied when you purchase that item.
Take advantage of partner freebies: Target partners with other companies to bring special offers to Circle members, such as free trials and loyalty points options. Check www.target.com/circle/partners to see what offers you can take advantage of.
Collect your birthday gift: Target Circle members get 5% off a single purchase to celebrate their birthday, which you must redeem within 30 days. Add your birth date to your account in the profile section of the website or Target app.
Look out for Target Circle Bonus offers: Target Circle members sometimes receive a personalized Target Circle Bonus offer, which gives you the chance to get extra Target Circle Earnings. Find your Bonus offers at www.target.com/circle/target-circle-bonus and in the Circle section of the My Target tab in the Target app.
The most important thing to do to make the most out of the Target Circle program is to join it, no matter how infrequently you shop there. Ignoring this high-quality program means leaving money on the table.
“It doesn't cost anything, so even if you're shopping at Target very occasionally it's worthwhile getting it,” says Saunders. “It just makes a lot of sense for everyone to join it.”
Seeking more saving-savvy knowledge articles? Check out our insider’s guide to seasonal Target sales, as well as our ultimate ranking of big box store return policies.
Katherine Gustafson is a seasoned commerce writer with more than a decade of experience in creating content related to tech, business, finance, the environment, and other topics. She has published knowledgeable pieces about retail, supply chains, and related topics for Forbes, WSJ Logistics Report. Intuit QuickBooks blog, Shopify, Thrive Market, Extra Space Storage, and others. Find her online at www.katherinegustafson.com.
