Target, AOL Ink Marketing Deal

Upscale discounter Target Corp. has followed the lead of rivals Kmart Corp. and WalMart Stores by unveiling a broad in-store and online marketing pact between America Online and Target's e-retail site. The agreement calls for making Target merchandise available via the Shop@AOL hub and similar destinations across AOL's CompuServe, Netscape Netcenter, and Digital City networks. Like similar pacts recently inked between portals and merchants, this one includes cobranded Internet service, though unlike Kmart's BlueLight service, it will not be offered for free. Target customers who subscribe to the service will be able to use their Target Guest Card as a payment option, the company says.