Target+ will include sellers offering products like toys, electronics and sporting goods. Since sellers can’t automatically be added to the platform, Target can avoid the risk that products with offensive content will be posted, a risk that Amazon commonly faces with its large third-party marketplace. In January, Amazon pulled slavery-themed merchandise from its platform after outcry from consumers. (TechCrunch)

Talking point: Retail startups have already been taking the approach of targeting niche markets through curated products. San Francisco-headquartered Faire—which has its engineering office in Kitchener, Ont.—allows independent retailers to find products from independent creators; it raised US$100 million in a Series C in December 2018. Toronto’s Hubba, which announced layoffs last year after struggling to find product-market fit, also pivoted from letting retailers manage product information to matchmaking independent brands with retailers.