Business Insider/Jessica Tyler
Burlington was overwhelming to shop in.
- TJ Maxx and Burlington are both thriving.
- The variety of products, low prices, and increased demand for off-price products is part of the reason why.
- TJ Maxx's parent company, TJX Companies, reported on November 20 that comparable sales were up 9% at TJ Maxx and Marshalls in the most recent fiscal quarter. Burlington reported on Wednesday that comparable sales were up 4.4% in the third quarter.
- We compared shopping at TJ Maxx and Burlington, and the winner was clear.
Off-price retailers are thriving as department stores struggle, and TJ Maxx and Burlington are no exception.
TJ Maxx and Burlington are both well loved by shoppers for a number of reasons, including the low prices both stores have on a huge variety of products.
TJ Maxx's parent company, TJX Companies, reported on November 20 that comparable sales were up 9% at TJ Maxx and Marshalls in the most recent fiscal quarter. Likewise, Burlington reported on Wednesday that comparable sales were up 4.4% in the third quarter.
Both stores are benefiting from a disappearing middle class and a higher demand for budget options - two factors that have been hurting traditional department stores. In addition, because most TJ Maxx stores are located in suburban strip malls rather than shopping malls, it's less likely to be affected by the declining foot traffic that has hurt malls and the retailers that depend on them.
While Burlington has 679 stores in the United States, TJ Maxx has more than 1,200.
When we visited New York locations of the two stores, we found that both of them carried name brands like Tommy Hilfiger and Michael Kors at prices of $35 or less. However, both stores were very cluttered.
But one store was better than the other for a key reason:
