If you have ever ordered from Chefs.com., you are almost out of time

[SoCalDem]

Last edited Mon Dec 28, 2015, 12:11 AM - Edit history (1)

Target bought them (and cooking.com) back in 2013, and is now closing both of them.. There are terrific sales, although the website is hard to get onto and even harder to keep from being bumped off.. I managed to snag some fantastic deals, by logging on at 2 AM (PST) last night.

Apparently Target's bogus claim that by acquiring these two venues, they would broaden their base, and grab the more affluent shoppers who may not have wanted Target quality kitchen items, was just a cleverly disguised way to eliminate the competition..

They set high goals for performance and once the online places had to charge sales tax (because target is everywhere in brick & mortar) the sales dropped off..and now Target has eliminated both of them

They have great quality knives & small appliances, pots and pans and many great little gadgets

I managed to spend about $650...some for me and some for gifts

http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_29048799/colorado-springs-based-chefs-catalog-close-180-lose

After 36 years, Colorado Springs-based Chefs Catalog will shut down in early 2016.

The decision was made by Target, which acquired the upscale cooking equipment retailer and Cooking.com — another company it will close — in 2013. About 180 workers in Colorado and California will lose their jobs.

"As part of Target's ongoing efforts to transform our business and put us on a clear path to sustained growth, we continually evaluate our work to ensure it best meets the needs of our guests," said Molly Snyder, a Target spokeswoman. "This sometimes means taking a hard look at aspects of our business that may no longer align with the company's direction."...

She said buying the cooking-related companies helped Target build its recipe portal and analyze how customers responded to different brands. "Target's digital business has strengthened and grown, but as the company's priorities evolved, Chefs Catalog and Cooking.com no longer aligned with the broader strategy," she said. "Additionally, the results of these businesses did not meet our expectations." Chefs Catalog will continue to sell cookware, cutlery and other kitchen tools online through the holidays. The business will wind down early next year, she said.

[JI7]

1. are you sure it's chefs.com ? that appears to be about classes

[JI7]

2. ok, i found the site, but that stuff is still way too expensive for me

i guess it's good for those who are really into cooking and would buy this stuff anyways.

i don't see how they can be a competition to Target items though since the stuff on this site is much for expensive.

[SoCalDem]

3. That's what I thought when Target bought them

Chefs has been in business for 36 years, and was not real competition for Target.. I was surprised then and now they are gone.. ..

They have always had great bargains on Cuisinart things that I love


from the purchase back in 2013:

MINNEAPOLIS - March 14, 2013
https://corporate.target.com/press/releases/2013/03/target-to-expand-cooking-and-kitchenware-business
CHEFS Catalog and Cooking.com businesses will be combined into new, wholly owned subsidiary

Target Corp. (NYSE: TGT) today announced agreements to acquire CHEFS Catalog and assets of Cooking.com in two separate transactions. The e-commerce acquisitions are aimed at expanding Target’s presence in the growing cooking and kitchenware market.

snip

“We are excited to bring CHEFS and Cooking.com into the Target family,” said Casey Carl, president of Multichannel and senior vice president, Enterprise Strategy, Target. “We know consumers are increasingly looking online for cooking solutions to make their lives easier – from utensils and cookware, to recipes. These strategic transactions provide us a great way to address this growing opportunity and will offer expanded online options for our guests.”

snip

“We’re delighted to be a part of the Target organization,” said Mr. Littleton. “CHEFS has grown and thrived online by offering a well-edited selection of leading kitchen tools, gadgets and accessories. Combined with Cooking.com and their strong Powered By partnerships, their vast array of recipes and user-driven product ratings and reviews, we believe we’re well-positioned to provide an even richer online experience for our collective customers.”
snip

About CHEFS Catalog
CHEFS Catalog is a leading direct-to-consumer specialty retailer of top rated cookware, bake ware, cutlery, kitchen tools and cooking utensils aimed at inspiring home chefs to create delicious and new recipes. Founded in 1979 and based in Colorado Springs, Colo., CHEFS operates www.chefscatalog.com, and sells leading brands, including All-Clad, Cuisinart, Le Creuset, KitchenAid, Scanpan, Wusthof and more. CHEFS is a portfolio company of JH Partners, a San Francisco based consumer-focused private equity firm.

About Cooking.com
Cooking.com, a leading culinary e-commerce company, builds innovative, entertaining shopping experiences with trusted brands. Through its Powered By Cooking.com network, Cooking.com operates uniquely branded stores, including the Food Network Store, Calphalon Store, and Rachael Ray Store. Cooking.com offers over 30,000 products for the kitchen as well as recipes, cookbooks and a growing library of member-submitted cooking content. The company was founded in 1998 and is based in Marina Del Rey, Calif.

[JI7]

4. i think their bigger competition is Williams Sonoma and similar businesses

since i don't buy these things or even cook much i am not that familiar with these businesses.

but williams sonoma is one that easily comes to mind as a place to buy more high end type cooking items. i don't really think of those other sites.

so i think it's more of a failure in marketing . it actually doesn't help that it was target that bought them out since they are more used to marketing to those with lower incomes.

[Dr Hobbitstein]

6. I get most of my higher-end cookware from The Wooden Spoon.

They're located in Palm Bay, FL (so I go to the actual storefront), but they have a site as well.
http://www.woodenspoonfl.com/

I got serious into breadmaking a few years back, and went there and bought a decent bread knife (about $50). My wife was aghast that I paid $50 for a knife. The next time we went, I showed her the $200 bread knives.

Quality cookware and cutlery is expensive. However, cry once when you buy it, not every time you use it. That's my motto.

[mmonk]

5. Thanks. I need to tell my son John about this.