An economics expert from the University of the Fraser Valley says Target\u2019s failure in Canada amounted to a bad strategic plan and bad management.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Associate professor Mike Ivanof says Target misunderstood the Canadian consumer, assuming that the Target brand would be enough even if the prices weren\u2019t the same as in the US.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cBut I think the Canadian consumer is probably a little more price sensitive than the US consumer. So not only were they not matching the price in the United States for the merchandise but the prices were quite a bit higher. Furthermore the diversity of the products were nowhere near what they have in the United States.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Ivanof says if it had been up to him he would have moved in to Canada incrementally, with a few stores in select demographics that could have supported them.<\/em><\/p>\n He also says however that the loss of Target, combined with Mexx and Sony stores closing down, is a sign that Canada\u2019s economy may not be as strong as we think, despite the facade of prosperity.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n