In a world where more and more shopping is done online, one of the brick-and-mortar stores that has managed to thrive is TJ Maxx. In fact, Forbes argues that discount retailers like TJ Maxx and its sister stores Marshalls and HomeGoods are the biggest threat to traditional department stores, even more than Amazon. And it all has to do with our cultural love affair with bargain hunting. American consumer preferences have shown that in good economic times and bad, value-seeking is a top priority.
So how does TJ Maxx manage to beat the competition with their great deals? It all comes down to how they purchase their merchandise. TJ Maxx’s buyers seek out inventory from suppliers that are willing to sell for cheap, whether they be manufacturers who overproduced, department stores who overbought, or suppliers with excess product at the end of the season. That works out great for shoppers in two big ways. First, the savings gets passed on to shoppers who get to enjoy name-brand fashion at up to 70% off retail prices. But second, because TJ Maxx buys a lot of its merchandise at closeout, it doesn’t have the luxury of sending its unsold inventory back to the supplier for a refund like department stores often can or selling it off to a closeout buyer like, well, itself. Instead, a local TJ Maxx store is pretty much the final destination for most products, which means that if it doesn’t sell in time, it gets marked down until it does sell. Which in turn means, if you keep an eye on those red and yellow clearance stickers, you can spot some unbelievable deals.
Of course, not all of TJ Maxx’s merchandise comes from closeouts. After all, TJ Maxx’s parent company has over 2,500 stores in the United States alone, so they’ve gotten too big to rely completely on unsold products at other stores. TJ Maxx does carry some steady private-label inventory, reasonably priced up-and-coming brands, and products made especially for their stores. As much as shoppers love the thrill of the bargain hunt, they also like to know that if they need a last-minute dress, belt, or purse, they can count on TJ Maxx to have what they need.
Looking for some even greater deals at TJ Maxx? Check out these coupons and special offers below to make the most of your next bargain hunt!