According to Ian Gordon of Sanford Bernstein & Co. LLC, Target has grown its total portfolio conservatively in comparison to Wal-Mart, adding only 331 stores from yearend 2000 to yearend 2004. At the same time, it is spending an average of $400 million to $500 million annually to redevelop existing stores, a critical move in strengthening the brand. "The Target experience is not just in its store, it starts in the parking lot," said Andrew McQuilkin, vice president at FRCH Design Worldwide, which has worked with Target on designing stores. "They are continuing to evolve the way they treat their whole space, even with their lighting and sidewalks. There's a brand point of view on everything." -- Women's Wear Daily

“More and more money will go into making a great customer experience, and less will go into shouting about the service. Word of mouth is becoming more powerful. If you offer a great service, people find out.” -- Jeff Bezos, Interviewed in Wired Magazine

CEO Balaji Krishnamurthy devised a jaw-dropping inverted-bonus plan at Planar Systems: his policy rewards rank-and-file employees first, before moving up the management chain. "Those with a higher capacity to influence the results of the company must first ensure that those with a lower capacity are fully served before serving themselves.” -- One of the CNN.com 2004 Global Business Influencers, as reported in Time

Wolfgang Bernhard says he "wanted to learn the business hands on, rather than be a remote-control, distant manager." So when he was sent by Daimler-Chrysler to help steer struggling Chrysler in Detroit, Bernhard worked three days a month on the company's factory floor. Bernhard's innovations paid off: the company was the only U.S. carmaker to pick up market share this year. -- One of the CNN.com 2004 Global Business Influencers, as reported in Time