Dive Brief:

• 900 of Target Corp.’s 1,700 stores will stay open later, moving their 10 p.m. closing time to 11 p.m. or midnight, depending on the day of the week and the community, the company said.

• The new hours begin this month and continue for the holidays.

• The trial run is based on customer feedback and will be evaluated on a case by case basis after the holidays, the company said.

Dive Insight:

As with Wal-Mart’s recent “checkout promise” to have its registers staffed for the holidays, Target is apparently looking for ways to increase traffic ahead of the busy season. These are alternatives to driving down prices, which last year was many retailers’ go-to remedy for sluggish sales.