Tj Maxx
Sponsored Post: Off-Priced Retail Gem TJMaxx Opens Second NYC Store
TBF fav, TJ Maxx, is opening its second Manhattan location at 96th and Columbus in the recently developed Columbus Village (next to the new Whole Foods). For those of us who live Uptown, this is a godsend, as the designer for less clothing pickins’ are slim to none on the UWS. The store features a new look that is already in more than 235 TJ Maxx stores, with redesigned dressing rooms, a stylish check-out counter, and some awesome deals (more Jimmy Choos for $100? Maybe a Zac Posen handbag for $75?). The store opens on October 29th from 8am-8pm, with regular store hours Mon-Sat from 9:30am-9:30pm and 11am-8pm on Sun. Trust that you’ll see me getting my “Maxxinista” on next week.
Last Day to Enter: Win This: Become A Maxxinista and You Could Win $500
What: Win a $25 TJ Maxx giftcard every week day from now until Oct. 27th.
Why You Want This: It’s the end of the second week of the contest and you want to make sure you enter today, so you can be eligible for this week’s grand prize, a $500 giftcard to the store. Imagine what you can do with $500 at TJ Maxx… you could buy a totally new wardrobe.
How to Enter: Tell us your favorite TJ Maxx purchase in the comment section below. We will select one winner from today
Don’t forget you can also enter via Kathryn Finney facebook fan page and by adding “RT @KathrynFinney I am a Maxxinista” twitter
Please read Contest Rules
This is a paid contest.
Win This: Become A Maxxinista and You Could Win $500
What: Win a $25 TJ Maxx giftcard every week day from now until Oct. 27th.
Why You Want This: It’s the end of the second week of the contest and you want to make sure you enter today, so you can be eligible for this week’s grand prize, a $500 giftcard to the store. Imagine what you can do with $500 at TJ Maxx…you could buy a totally new wardrobe.
How to Enter: Tell us your favorite TJ Maxx purchase in the comment section below. We will select one winner from today
Don’t forget you can also enter via Kathryn Finney facebook fan page and by adding “RT @KathrynFinney I am a Maxxinista” twitter
Please read Contest Rules
This is a paid contest.
Win This: Become A Maxxinista and You Could Win $500
What: Win a $25 TJ Maxx giftcard every week day from now until Oct. 27th.
Why You Want This: It’s the end of the second week of the contest and you want to make sure you enter today, so you can be eligible for this week’s grand prize, a $500 giftcard to the store. Imagine what you can do with $500 at TJ Maxx… you could buy a totally new wardrobe.
How to Enter: Tell us your favorite TJ Maxx purchase in the comment section below. We will select one winner from today
Don’t forget you can also enter via Kathryn Finney facebook fan page and by adding “RT @KathrynFinney I am a Maxxinista” twitter
Please read Contest Rules
This is a paid contest.
Sponsored Post: How Do Off-Priced Stores Get Their Designer Stuff?
Full disclosure: I used to work at Marshalls – T.J. Maxx’s sister brand. Granted it was about, ahem, 20 years ago, but my experience working at the store gave me a front row seat to the inner workings of an off-priced store. When the store was quiet (usually during weeknights), I would roam the stock room because that was where designer merchandise was kept until it could be legally placed on the sales floor. I would secretly stash discounted – up to 60 percent off - Girbaud jeans (In the early 90’s everyone had to have a pair of Girbaud jeans with the little label in the front. In order to fully show off the label, you had to tuck your shirt in, (which made my Air Force Reservist father very happy) in the bins located underneath my checkout counter, until I could purchase them on my lunch break. I also observed how “regulars” shopped the store, always timing their shopping dates to when new merchandise was placed on the floor.
One of the most frequently asked questions on The BudgetFashionista and See Jack Shop is how off-priced stores like T.J Maxx and Marshalls can sell current season designer merchandise for less while department stores sell the same items at significantly higher prices. The answer? It’s a matter of simple economics, supply and demand (along with a little legal maneuvering), and having smart buyers with great vendor relationships. T.J. Maxx buyers travel the world to find the best merchandise at the best prices. In fact, off-price buyers meet with vendors 40 times a year, while department store buyers are only meeting with them four times a year. It is these up-to-the-season purchases that deliver the greatest savings to you!
Here’s some examples of how off-pricing works:
Designer A makes 300 pairs of shoes based on pre-season sales to XY department store.
Major department stores purchase merchandise several months prior to the actual placement of the merchandise on the sales floor. The department store calculates the amount of merchandise needed based on a combination of factors such as fashion trends, demographics, weather predictions, etc. Placing an order for merchandise several months in advance, called a purchase order, lets the designer know how many pieces they should produce for that season. This is one of the main reasons (along with giving magazines plenty of lead time) that fashion weeks are held several months prior to the actual season of the clothes.
XY department store realizes they over projected for the season. They have more shoes than they can actually sell and return the excess inventory to Designer A.
Major department stores have clauses in their purchase orders that allow them to return excess merchandise back to a designer/brand. Under this clause, XY department store could return some of the shoes back to Designer A. Multiple XY department store returns by the number of other stores making returns, and Designer A is now faced with a warehouse full of current season shoes, which is called overstock. The designer now has a choice- keep the shoes in the warehouse and while absorbing the production and storage costs or try to sell the merchandise to someone else, or they can return them to the vendor.
T.J. Maxx store offers to take the overstock off Designer A’s hands/ or gets them directly from the vendor at a significantly reduced price and sells the merchandise to you at a discount
This is called “opportunistic buying” (meaning T.J. Maxx knows Designer A is desperately needs to get rid of the excess inventory, so offers to buy it at a discount). Designer A, happy to be rid of the overstock and to make even a small profit, sells it to T.J. Maxx.
And that’s how you can discover a Maxxinista find everytime you shop at T.J. Maxx.
Win This: Become A Maxxinista and You Could Win $500
What: Win a $25 TJ Maxx giftcard every week day from now until Oct. 27th.
Why You Want This: It’s the end of the second week of the contest and you want to make sure you enter today, so you can be eligible for this week’s grand prize, a $500 giftcard to the store. Imagine what you can do with $500 at TJ Maxx… you could buy a totally new wardrobe.
How to Enter: Tell us your favorite TJ Maxx purchase in the comment section below. We will select one winner from today
Don’t forget you can also enter via Kathryn Finney facebook fan page and by adding “RT @KathrynFinney I am a Maxxinista” twitter
Please read Contest Rules
This is a paid contest.
Win This: Become A Maxxinista and You Could Win $500
What: Win a $25 TJ Maxx giftcard every week day from now until Oct. 27th.
Why You Want This: It’s the end of the second week of the contest and you want to make sure you enter today, so you can be eligible for this week’s grand prize, a $500 giftcard to the store. Imagine what you can do with $500 at TJ Maxx… you could buy a totally new wardrobe.
How to Enter: Tell us your favorite TJ Maxx purchase in the comment section below. We will select one winner from today
Don’t forget you can also enter via Kathryn Finney facebook fan page and by adding “RT @KathrynFinney I am a Maxxinista” twitter
Please read Contest Rules
This is a paid contest.
Win This: Become A Maxxinista and You Could Win $500
What: Win a $25 TJ Maxx giftcard every week day from now until Oct. 27th.
Why You Want This: It’s the end of the second week of the contest and you want to make sure you enter today, so you can be eligible for this week’s grand prize, a $500 giftcard to the store. Imagine what you can do with $500 at TJ Maxx… you could buy a totally new wardrobe.
How to Enter: Tell us your favorite TJ Maxx purchase in the comment section below. We will select one winner from today
Don’t forget you can also enter via Kathryn Finney facebook fan page and by adding “RT @KathrynFinney I am a Maxxinista” twitter
Please read Contest Rules
This is a paid contest.
Win This: Get Your Maxxinista On and Win $500
What: Win a $25 TJ Maxx giftcard every week day from now until Oct. 27th.
Why You Want This: It’s the end of the second week of the contest and you want to make sure you enter today, so you can be eligible for this week’s grand prize, a $500 giftcard to the store. Imagine what you can do with $500 at TJ Maxx… you could buy a totally new wardrobe.
How to Enter: Tell us your favorite TJ Maxx purchase in the comment section below. We will select one winner from today
Don’t forget you can also enter via Kathryn Finney facebook fan page and by adding “RT @KathrynFinney I am a Maxxinista” twitter
Please read Contest Rules
This is a paid contest.
Sponsored Video: Kathryn Takes the Supreme Maxxinista Challenge
I took sometime last week and went on a undercover mission to see how I could do, as the Supreme Maxxinista, at my local TJ Maxx. I found some awesome deals (hello a pair of size 11 purple suede Jimmy Choo booties for 50% off.. love it). I didn’t buy the boots (I REALLY WANTED TO), but even at 50% off they were a bit too rich for my blood, but I’m positive that the women clocking them over my shoulder went and bought them. I did buy like 4 dresses, 3tops, and a much needed cashmere scarf for like $160.
Don’t forget you can also enter via Kathryn Finney facebook fan page and by adding “RT @KathrynFinney I am a Maxxinista” twitter
Please read Contest Rules
This is a paid contest.
Win This: Get Your Maxxinista On and Win a $25 Giftcard
What: Win a $25 TJ Maxx giftcard every week day from now until Oct. 27th.
Why You Want This: Maxxinistas know that you can do A LOT with $25 at TJ Maxx…and that it is pretty stupid to pay full price for designer fashions. Seriously…
How to Enter: Tell me about your latest fashion discovery at TJ Maxx to win a gift card to score more.
Don’t forget you can also enter via Kathryn Finney facebook fan page and by adding “RT @KathrynFinney I am a Maxxinista” twitter
Please read Contest Rules
This is a paid contest.
Win This: Get Your Maxxinista On and Win a $25 Giftcard
What: Win a $25 TJ Maxx giftcard every week day from now until Oct. 27th.
Why You Want This: The stuff you can get for $25 from TJ Maxx… a pair of flats, a complete party wardrobe, a sequin jacket, a set of Ralph Lauren sheets. High prices out, designer duds in for up to 60 percent less than department and specialty stores.
How to Enter: Tell me about your TJ Maxxinista fab finds for a chance to win a gift card from the famous off-price retailer.
Don’t forget you can also enter via Kathryn Finney facebook fan page and by adding “RT @KathrynFinney I am a Maxxinista” twitter
Please read Contest Rules
This is a paid contest.
Sponsored Post: Tips for Being a Maxxinista
“Off-Price” stores like TJ Maxx are Bargain Meccas, full of “hidden treasures” just waiting to be discovered. Here’s some tips for shopping the store and becoming a “Maxxinista”.
1. Shop the Weekdays to Avoid the Rush. Trucks arrive 3-5 days during the week, meaning the selection changes regularly. Avoid the weekend rush by shopping during the week day (early morning or late evenings work best)
2. Don’t worry about irregular items. Over 95% of merchandise at stores like TJ Maxx is first quality, meaning less than 5% is “irregular”—and those aren’t what you think. Irregular doesn’t always mean “defective” items, but rather items with irregularities unnoticeable to the customer (like a manufacturer cranked out an order of pumps in patent instead of regular leather)
3. Go in with an open mind. If you’re looking for something specific, like say a brown herringbone suit from Ralph Lauren, your chances of finding it are pretty slim. However, if you take a generalist approach to shopping at these stores, go in looking for a nice suit for work, your chances of what you’re looking for is pretty good.
4. Be self-sufficient. Don’t expect a lot of assistance on the floor—the store is primarily a self-navigating experience. That’s not to say no one will help you—just don’t expect a personal shopper at your elbow.
5. Look for Designers. I just found a pair of Jimmy Choo Fall 2009 Botties at TJ Maxx for 50% off (these booties are currently being sold in Bergdorf for full price). TJ Maxx buyers are out there making designer purchases more than 40 times a year, bringing more than 10,000 new items to the store weekly.
Win This: Are You a Maxxinista? Tell Us Below and You Could Win a $25 Giftcard
What: Win a $25 TJ Maxx giftcard every week day from now until Oct. 27th.
Why You Want This:Paying full Price is so.. like.. 1994, so enter to win a $25 giftcard to get your Maxxinista on. Plus, this is your last chance to enter in the day contest to be eligible for the $500 shopping spree. You can do ALOT with $500 at TJ Maxx. Just imagine all the designer fashion you can score at prices below the kind you find at department stores.
How to Enter: Tell us why you’re a Maxxinista in the comment section below. We will select one $25 winner from today
Don’t forget you can also enter via Kathryn Finney facebook fan page and by adding “RT @KathrynFinney I am a Maxxinista” twitter
Please read Contest Rules
This is a paid contest.
Are You a Maxxinista Contest Day 4: Are You a Plus Size Maxxinista?
What: Win a $25 TJ Maxx giftcard every week day from now until Oct. 27th.
Why You Want This:For those of us with a little extra “junk in our trunks”, there’s few places to find clothing that are a) fashionable b) excellent quality and c) affordable and the top place on any plus size maxxinista’s list is TJ Maxx. Where else could you find a Seven jeans for less than $30 bucks?
How to Enter: Tell us your top plus size fashion advice in the comment section below. We will select one $25 winner from today
Don’t forget you can also enter via Kathryn Finney facebook fan page and by adding “RT @KathrynFinney I am a Maxxinista” twitter
Please read Contest Rules
This is a paid contest.
Are You a Maxxinista Contest Day 3: Your Top Budget Shopping Tip
What: Win a $25 TJ Maxx giftcard every week day from now until Oct. 27th.
Why You Want This: Department store prices? Done. Boutiques that break the bank? Buh- bye. Alpha Shoppers who spend without thinking? Out like floral prints. What’s in? Being a Maxxinista and we want to help you in this effort by giving you a $25 giftcard. Think of it as spreading the love from one shopper to another.
How to Enter: Tell us your #1 budget shopping tip in the comment section below. We will select one winner $25 Giftcard winner from today’s comments
Don’t forget you can also enter via Kathryn Finney facebook fan page and by adding “RT @KathrynFinney I am a Maxxinista” twitter
Please read Contest Rules
This is a paid contest.
1Site1Price.com: Site Review
As budget shoppers, we like it when things are simple—no “13% off during the first hour of a new moon” sales, no “$5 credit if you sign up for our email newsletter AND promise us your firstborn child”—just straightforward and to the point. Which is why 1site1price.com caught our eye—everything on the site, they claim, is $29.99. Everything. Simple as that. Okay, we’d prefer if everything was $9.99, but hey, we’ll bite. So we clicked on over, and this is what we found:
Women’s and men’s clothing and accessories—tops, pants, skirts, coats, shoes—for, in fact, $29.99 apiece. And before you go thinking all Steve & Barry’s, the stuff on 1site1price.com is designer and namebrand (La Mode, Cecil Gee, Fornarina, etc.), meaning the regular “retail” prices are much higher (like this Fornarina Wool Blend Jacket, retail price—$159.99). Okay, so what’s the catch? There isn’t one, it seems, because 1site1price operates on the same business model as a store like TJ Maxx, meaning they buy overstock and samples from distributors, in this case to sell online only. Hence the ability, it seems, to sell everything at one low price. And we can’t argue with that.
And we have to say, while we would expect a “closeout” site to be the online equivalent in appearance to a store like, say, Marshall’s or TJ Maxx (translation: we love ‘em, but they can be kind of a hot mess), 1site1price.com is actually visually appealing and totally easy to search and navigate.
But wait, there’s more: buy in quantity and save—purchase any 2 items and receive 5% off your entire order; purchase any 3 items and receive 10% off your entire order; purchase any 4 items and receive 10% off your entire order plus free ground shipping (free shipping for continental USA and Canadian orders only). Okay then.
So, what’s the downside? Well, we think the name is really un-fashiony. But since we just made up that word, we’ll give them a pass.
How to Shop TJ Maxx
For some, “off price” stores like TJ Maxx are a mecca of bargains, with hidden treasures just waiting to be discovered. For others, the store, with it’s seemingly endless racks and eclectic mix of goods is too daunting to even tackle. We’d hate for anyone to miss out on great bargains (remember, TJ Maxx sells name brand and designer goods at discount prices) so we’ve got some tips to help you shop the store to your best advantage:
1. Don’t worry about irregular items. Over 95% of TJ Maxx’s merchandise is first quality, meaning less than 5% is “irregular”—and those aren’t what you think. They’re not defective items, but rather items with irregularities unnoticeable to the customer (like a manufacturer cranked out an order of pumps in patent instead of regular leather . . . )
2. Go in with an open mind. Since TJ Maxx purchasers practice opportunistic buying (meaning they get the best deals from vendors whenever they come up) you can’t count on the store having that Little Black Dress at any given time. Instead, have an of what general types of items you might need to fortify your wardrobe (or home, or whatever department you’re shopping) and look in those sections for the bargains that suit you. Also remember that even though you won’t see designer names on ads, that doesn’t mean you won’t find them there—off price stores like TJ Maxx can’t use designers names in their advertising, but we can assure you that a recent visit turned up items by Theory, Ralph Lauren, and Vera Wang.
3. Expect to find new items right up to the holidays—and any other time of the year. If you already shopping TJ Maxx earlier in the season and didn’t find what you were looking for, don’t assume they won’t have it now. TJ Maxx buys year-round rather than seasonally, and are still buying for stores for Christmas, for example, into early December (meaning they may have more up-to-date goods than the department stores).
4. Look for markdowns on Wednesdays. TJ Maxx generally performs markdowns on Wednesdays (though this can vary from store to store). Trucks arrive 3-5 days a week, meaning the selection changes regularly.
5. Be self sufficient. While we’re sure the employees of TJ Maxx are courteous and friendly, don’t expect a lot of assistance on the floor—the store is primarily a self-navigating experience. That’s not to say no one will help you—just don’t expect a personal shopper at your elbow.
6. Take advantage of TJ Maxx stores that have special sections. Runway at Maxx, for instance, stocks high-end designer items at discounted prices (but bear in mind that “discount” on designer might mean $399 for a Versace jacket instead of $1,000. It‘s discount, not cheap).
TJ Maxx to Bring Runway to Select Stores
TJ Maxx, borrowing from Loehmann’s Back Room, is opening high-end (but sale priced) designer boutiques in 40 stores nationwide. These stores within a store will feature major European and American designers for up to 60% off retail price.
I’ve seen the selection at the TJ Maxx on 6th Avenue in NYC and, while I found a few great deals (black D&G cigarette pants for $40) for the most part it was nothing to get too excited about.. well at least not yet…Reader Tamara agrees. She wrote:
“Honestly, it wasn’t anything to write home about - prices were nowhere near rock bottom ($399 for a Prada blazer) and the selection looked like the remnants that Saks Off Fifth didn’t want. I think this is the company’s attempt to compete with Filene’s Basement. A half-hearted try, but it may shape up with time.”
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