John Engber, our Seattle contract lobbyist, and I represented Washington Retail as Target opened its third small-format store in Seattle last week. About 100 employees and Ballard residents attended the grand opening of the store at 1448 N.W. Market Street.

Target’s small-format store, about one quarter the size of a full store, takes a neighborly approach from the selection of inventory to employee recruitment. The company conducted surveys with Ballard residents to inform its selection of inventory based on customer needs and preferences. Inventory includes a curated selection of apparel and accessories for the whole family, home décor and essentials, an array of health, personal care and beauty products, grab-and-go groceries, fresh produce, adult beverage assortments and a CVS Pharmacy.

Ballard is a Seattle neighborhood characterized by growth and vibrancy. Typical residents are young professionals and families who enjoy its proximity to downtown and its Nordic history as a backdrop. John and I met with employees from clerks to managers who are excited about the opportunity this store offers the neighborhood, as well as the career path Target offers employees. Target plans to open approximately 30 small-format stores per year nationally over the next few years. With the opening of the Ballard store, Target operates 23 stores in the Seattle area employing more than 3,000 team members.

Retailers such as Target that anticipate consumers’ changing needs are growing. This is true not only for national retailers. Many Washington-based small to medium size retailers are thriving because they adopt practices that keep pace with changing customer expectations.

Despite media predictions of a retail apocalypse, Washington Retail will continue to share stories of the renaissance of retail in today’s changing marketplace.