Error Resolution: MINOR_DATA_VALIDATION (Target Merchandising Strategy)
Question: Why am I seeing the error "MINOR_DATA_VALIDATION: Item may not align with Target's merchandising strategy: Product Title" for one of my products?
Answer: This error originates directly from Target+ and indicates that a word, phrase, or formatting choice within your product title violates their content and merchandising guidelines.
This is not a technical error with Acenda; it is a specific data validation rule enforced by Target to ensure all product listings meet their strict brand standards.
Common Causes
Target does not publish a comprehensive list of banned terms, but this error is most frequently triggered by the following:
Unsupported Health Claims: Words such as "cures," "heals," "prevents," or specific medical promises.
Marketing Superlatives: Subjective terms like "Best," "#1," "Top-Rated," "Amazing," or "Sale."
Formatting Issues: Using ALL CAPS for multiple words or sentences.
Special Characters: Unnecessary symbols like ™, ®, !, or *.
Restricted Categories: Keywords associated with restricted items, such as weapons, adult products, alcohol, drugs, or specific supplements.
How to Resolve This Issue
Follow these steps to identify the non-compliant text, correct it, and resubmit your product.
1. Audit Your Title (AI Recommended) Before manually editing, we recommend using an AI tool to scan your title for compliance. This helps identify subtle issues you might miss.
Recommended AI Prompt: "Review the following text for Target+ content compliance. Check for prohibited claims, promotional language, deceptive terms, missing required attributes, grammar issues, readability, and formatting problems. Provide detailed feedback and a fully corrected version."
2. Edit the Product Title. Locate the flagged product in Acenda and remove the prohibited language. Replace it with neutral, descriptive text.
Incorrect: "The BEST All-Natural Acne Cure! - 100% Guaranteed"
Correct: "Gentle Facial Cleanser for Blemish-Prone Skin"
3. Resave to Resubmit Once you have edited the title in Acenda, save the product record. This action will automatically trigger a resubmission of the updated product data to Target+.
Timeline and Next Steps
Target+ reviews are manual and typically take 3 to 5 business days.
If successful: The error message will disappear, and the product will update on Target.com.
If the error persists: If the error remains after five business days, it implies a non-compliant term still exists. Please repeat the review process and edit the title again.