Target Helps Small Businesses Grow Beyond Store Shelves

When Jessica Broome founded her research firm Southpaw Insights in Brooklyn, she didn't expect a chance encounter at an entrepreneurial event to change her business trajectory.

Target's supplier engagement team turned that meeting into a pilot project, then a full partnership. The woman-owned, disability-certified company now provides research and analytics that help Target better understand its customers.

"We're expected to do excellent work, but we're also treated like true experts and thought partners," says Broome, who holds a PhD. Target later sponsored Southpaw at the 2025 Disability:IN Conference, opening doors to new clients and opportunities beyond their original partnership.

The relationship isn't unusual for Target. Since 1998, the retail giant has run programs specifically designed to help small and diverse suppliers navigate working with large companies.

Taylor Brothers Construction started even earlier. The Black-owned business managed its first Target store project in Columbus, Indiana in 2004.

Twenty years later, that single project has grown into more than 1,000 Target builds nationwide. The company has worked on everything from new stores to distribution centers, creating jobs and economic opportunity across the country.

"What truly sets Target apart is the combination of operations and a people-first culture," says Tyshaun Allen, Vice President at Taylor Brothers. "For over 20 years, we've experienced a partnership built on clarity, trust and mutual respect."

The Ripple Effect

The impact reaches far beyond individual businesses. Taylor Brothers now partners with Target on ConstructReach, a program that creates pathways into construction careers for people who choose trade work over college.

More than 100 people nationwide have launched construction careers through the initiative. They're building skills, earning good wages, and strengthening an industry that desperately needs workers.

Target also runs programs like Target Takeoff for emerging product brands, Forward Founders for diverse entrepreneurs, and In the Circle Symposium for learning and networking. The goal isn't just buying products or services, but building lasting relationships with businesses that bring fresh perspectives.

The model shows what's possible when large companies commit to lifting up smaller ones. Small suppliers get mentorship, visibility, and real opportunities to scale. Target gets innovative partners who strengthen how they serve customers.

Both companies thrive, communities benefit from good jobs, and the business ecosystem grows stronger together.