Why I shop at TJ Maxx & Marshalls
TJ Maxx and Marshalls are two of my favorite places to shop for clothes. What’s amazing about them is that they are constantly filled with brand name clothing that is trendy and affordable. I joke with my husband that I may as well work there for the amount of time I spend shopping in their stores. Friends always wonder how I don’t get lost and how I can maintain my focus. My response to them is practice. Sounds bizarre but it’s true. In fact, now I find department stores difficult to shop.
What is the best way to shop TJ Maxx and Marshalls? Once you shop at TJ Maxx/Marshalls often, you become acquainted with the general setup of the store and you learn how to shop it quickly and efficiently. If you go there often enough, you can even spend less time shopping since most of the new items are out on display and you don’t need to waste time looking through the racks. There are definitely times when you go and don’t find what you are looking for (one of the cons of discount shopping). But most of the time, you can come away with at least one unique piece, be it jewelry, hats, scarves, pants, etc….
They carry everything from pants to shoes to necklaces to coats – you name it, it’s probably there. And for those that love trendy home decor, the Home Goods section will be paradise. Not everything they carry is a well-known designer, however. The anchor pants at the top, for example, are not from a known designer. However, as with all lesser known brands, those pieces will cost much less ($16 for the anchor pants).
So which designers do TJ Maxx and Marshalls carry? Almost always, they will have Michael Kors, Free People, Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Coach, Theory, Elie Tahari, Cynthia Steffe, Juicy Couture, BCBG MaxAzria and Buffalo Jeans (men’s section) in stock. During the summer, you can find one or two styles of Joes jeans and Current Elliott. Some of the more “rare” designers are J Brand, Joie, Marc Jacobs, Fendi, Kooba, and Yves Saint Lauren. Recently, I came across a pair of Hudson Jeans (a steal at $70).
Also, I noticed that once they start carrying a few pieces of a certain brand, they tend to bring in more of that brand. For example, a few months ago, it was difficult to find Rebecca Minkoff bags. I would admire the occasional bag that floated in, wishing it was a bit more in my price range. Then a few weeks later, it would disappear. Over the past few weeks, however, I’ve been noticing a greater influx of the designer. And it’s been fun to see the various styles that are streaming in.
In a few select stores, TJ Maxx has set up a small section called the “Runway” where they sell high end couture like Prada, Gucci, etc. Regularly, you can find designers such as Kate Spade, Tory Burch, Helmut Lang, and Diane Von Furstenberg. I have only been to one of these stores a handful of times and though prices are about half of the retail costs, they are still a bit too high for me. However, if you typically shop these designers, then it would definitely be worth your while to look up the Runway stores. You will not be disappointed, especially if you hit the clearance racks in the Runway section.
So what is the difference between TJ Maxx and Marshalls? It really all depends on the city. Some cities will have one but not the other and seldom you will run across both stores in the same city. In this case, one will be better than the other. Usually, I prefer TJ Maxx but I have found some great deals at Marshalls too (i.e. the above Kate Spade sandals). Marshalls will typically have better shoes, especially if they are a mega shoe store (stores that have an extensive selection of shoes). Both are very similar in their structures, however, you cannot mutually return items from each store. If you purchased something from Marshalls, it must be returned to Marshalls and vice versa.
Signing up for their company credit card (which oddly enough, you can use in both stores since they are owned by the same company) is a great idea. I wish I had known about it when I first started shopping the stores. The card uses a rewards point system which allows you to earn points that translate into $10 or $20 rewards. And who doesn’t enjoy free clothes?
Note: I have the store credit card which can only be used at the TJ Maxx/Marshalls/Home Goods stores.
Last of all, if you are a social media guru, be sure to follow TJ Maxx on Facebook and/or Instagram. They have weekly contests where they choose who got the best deal. The winner takes home a gift card. It’s fun and you get more money to shop!
Update – TJ Maxx now has online shopping here. Prices are on-point with store prices and they even have a clearance section and a Runway section.
**This post is NOT sponsored in any way by TJ Maxx or Marshalls (except for the obvious linking). All opinions and views are my own**
