Here's The Real Difference Between T.J. Maxx And Marshalls

As you toss a hand-painted tea kettle, Tory Burch shoes, chocolate-covered espresso beans, and a set of soft, thirsty oversized bath towels into your wobbly-wheeled shopping cart, you breathe a sigh of shopping bliss. "Pinch me, I'm dreaming!" you murmur to yourself. But this thought gives way to another, somewhat unsettling one: If you were, in fact, dreaming, and woke up suddenly, would you know which store you were in? From the store layout to the merchandise to the intense bargain-seeking vibes your fellow shoppers are emanating, you could just as easily be in T.J. Maxx as you could be in Marshalls. But are these two stores, in fact, identical?

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Along with sister chains HomeGoods, Homesense, and Sierra, T.J. Maxx and Marshalls belong to the same parent company: Massachusetts-based TJX, which also owns brands in Europe and Canada. T.J. Maxx was TJX's first "baby," launching in 1977, exactly 21 years after its then-competitor Marshalls had hung its shingle. But TJX was able to acquire Marshalls in 1995 (via New York Times). Clearly these two brands have dramatically different stories of origin — but distinctions between present-day T.J. Maxx and Marshalls, however, are a lot more subtle.

Marshalls is a shoe lover's mecca, and T.J. Maxx is more fashionista-friendly

So similar are the products at Marshalls and T.J. Maxx that TJX recently began referring to both brands on its website as "Marmaxx" — kind of the discount retailer's version of "Bennifer." But that doesn't mean they are exactly the same. The TJX website explains: "Marshalls differentiates itself from T.J. Maxx with a full line of family footwear and an expanded men's department, as well as The CUBE, a department specifically for juniors." In fact, Marshalls' inventory of shoes — particularly men's athletic designer brands, like Nike Lebrons, Kobes and Jordans — is so amazing that this store is where "shoe flippers" usually go to score discounts, then resell their goods on eBay, Mercari or Poshmark for a tidy profit (via Medium).

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T.J. Maxx, meanwhile, is where you will find fashionistas (who sometimes call themselves #maxxonistas) cavorting about in all of their glory; this brand is more well-known for designer jewelry and in some locations, The Runway at Maxx, a high-ended designer section. Maybe that's why celebrities including Taylor Swift, Sia, Britney Spears, and even Prince Harry are among the discounter's customers (per Business Insider).

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