A Shopper's Farewell

In my last column, “Tidings of Clutter and Joy,” (January 2025), I pondered the angst I felt about overconsumption following last year’s holiday season. I set a few goals for myself for the coming year and hoped I would be able to reduce my personal consumption by shopping less for new items and finding ways to reuse things we had or explore avenues to repurpose items from others.

When I submitted that column, I had no idea that just weeks later the Target Corporation would be making crucial business decisions that would so drastically change my shopping habits that these goals would become attainable quicker than I anticipated.

For years, Target had been my go-to store. I could count on it for groceries, clothes, toys and sporting goods, health and beauty items, home goods, and seasonal décor. Its convenient location just minutes from my house made it easy to spend more time and money there than I often intended.

Target announced Jan. 24 that it was rolling back its diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. This move left many of its shoppers and employees disheartened because Target had long been heralded for its commitment to DEI. It had implemented a variety of initiatives over the last several decades that included a broad range of inclusive clothing options, featured products from minority and woman-owned companies, and a workplace that embraced people of all backgrounds.

With the rollback of its DEI efforts, Target has lost the trust of consumers like me who believed in the company’s mission of supporting all people, regardless of their identity or background.

This decision by Target was a turning point for me — a moment when I realized that my consumer habits need to match my values. Shopping at Target no longer aligns with my belief that diversity, equity, and inclusion are imperative and more important than ever.

But my decision to step away from Target has now gone beyond its rollback of DEI initiatives. I also quickly realized that Target had become a central hub for my overconsumption. For years, I’ve been guilty of walking into the store for a few things and leaving with a shopping cart full of items I didn’t need. I was stuck in a constant cycle of impulse buying. I would tell myself I needed all the things in my cart when in reality, I often didn’t.

I took a quick look back at my Target account to compare my shopping habits from March 2024 to March 2025. In March 2024, I made 28 different purchases at Target between in-store trips, online purchases, and drive-up orders. In March 2025, I made zero purchases. Undoubtedly, some of that shopping has shifted to other stores, but I’m confident that many of the impulse purchases or items that I truly never needed were not bought elsewhere.

I hope that my shift away from shopping at Target due to the rollback of its DEI initiatives is part of a larger, more intentional effort to be a more thoughtful consumer. Shopping at stores that better align with my values, like Costco and Michaels, allows me to make more socially responsible choices. Costco, for example, has taken steps to reduce its carbon footprint, is a champion of fair wages, and is committed to supporting local companies and products. Michaels has been vocal about promoting diversity within its workforce and offering products that cater to all kinds of customers.

This is about more than just choosing where to shop. It’s about making decisions that reflect the kind of world I want to live in. I want to support businesses that champion inclusivity and not those that backtrack on important social issues. I want to be a conscious consumer who recognizes that every purchase I make is a vote for the future I want for all of us.

Meredith Browand is a mother and activist who lives in Purdy.