NATIONAL NEWS – Costco shoppers skyrocket as people boycott brands like Target for removing DEI initiatives

Laila Kirkpatrick, Staff Writer

Many Black and Hispanic shoppers have begun to participate in economic boycotts against companies that have gotten rid of their DEI policies. One of the “targets” of these economic boycotts has been department store Target. There has been a significant decline in in-store visits since around March 5th since the retailer’s removal of DEI initiatives following Trump’s executive order.  Since the beginning of the boycott, Target’s stock has plummeted over 10%.

Many consumers who have stopped spending their money at Target have begun buying more frequently from stores such as Costco. Costco has maintained its DEI policies, despite the actions of the Trump administration.  This has attracted many Black and Hispanic families and encouraged them to spend money and purchase stock in Costco. In year-to-year visits, Target has seen a decline in 5 million shoppers, whereas Costco has seen a 7.7 million increase. This trend is becoming more consistent and could affect the economy long-term.