As Target continues to expand its next-day delivery service to new cities, the Minneapolis retailer announced Monday it would be turning back to the Twin Cities to test its latest convenience: a curbside pickup-and-go program called Drive Up.
 
The program, which is now available at 50 stores throughout the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area, allows customers to assemble an order via the Target smartphone app, select the “Drive Up” option at checkout, and then pickup the order at their selected Target store without leaving their car.
 
Only iPhone users will have access to the new service, however. Android smartphones currently don’t have Drive Up functionality, Target said.
 
“Stopping for diapers and toilet paper may not be glamorous, but it’s still on a lot of our to-do lists,” said Dawn Block, senior vice president of digital at Target, in a blog post. “Drive Up is out latest effort to make it easier and faster for busy guests to conveniently get what they need, and simply get back to their day.”
 
Nearly 200,000 items—including baby-care items, toys, home furnishings and electronics—will be available through Drive Up. Perishable food, however, will not be. (Only dry goods can be bought through the app, currently. This is due in part to the hold time for individual orders, which is two days. Items from unclaimed or canceled orders re-join the store inventory.)
 
Much like it has with its Target Restock next-day delivery service, Target anticipates expanding its Drive Up program over time.
 
“It’s a test-and-learn program,” Target said, “so we’ll continue to fine-tune and enhance the experience, and will look to expand to more guests in the future.”