TJ Maxx and Marshalls are two of the best-known discount department stores in the US, but they are not the same, as I discovered this holiday season.
While the two stores are owned by the same parent company, The TJX Companies, each has a different mission. TJ Maxx calls itself "a one-stop for quality, value, and the coveted brands you know and love," and focuses on higher-end brands, jewelry, and accessories, while Marshalls has an "expanded men's department, as well as a larger shoe department where you'll find styles for women, men, and kids, too."
During visits to the stores in New York City in December, I noticed the difference in quality between the two, but that wasn't the only contrast. The Marshalls I visited was more crowded, perhaps contributing to my feeling it was in disarray, while TJ Maxx was emptier, but also felt more organized.
Marshalls and TJ Maxx stores vary between locations, so while my experience was consistent with my previous visits to the stores, it may not be true of all locations. The TJX Companies did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.
I get easily overwhelmed by the options available at stores like these, so I greatly preferred TJ Maxx, even though some items were more expensive.
Here's what it was like at both Marshalls and TJ Maxx during peak shopping season.
The Marshalls was in the basement, while the TJ Maxx was on the second floor.
This Marshalls was so large that I couldn't see the back of the store.
Signs everywhere proclaimed holiday deals.
There were also plenty of holiday sweaters.
This Marshalls was somewhat disorganized, and I was baffled by the location of some of the displays.
The women's shoes were tucked in a corner. The selection was a bit limited.
I also found a table offering skincare options.
But there wasn't a centralized beauty section. Across the store, another table featured spa sets, such as these from Mario Badescu.
There were some good gift ideas here. This makeup brush set was $40.
Most of the aisles were filled with home goods, like this "Harry Potter" x Rae Dunn cookie jar.
There was also a small selection of Yankees merch, perfect for any baseball fan.
There were a lot of candles and scented products. I particularly liked this Sand + Fog jar of apple-spice-scented gel beads.
In another aisle, I spotted a Smeg standing mixer for $500. This was the most expensive thing I saw at Marshalls.
But I spotted some good deals in the store. This Nespresso machine cost $350 — on Nespresso's website, it's on sale for $390, down from $650.
At another table, a Breville air fryer was priced at $280. It's $300 on Breville's website.
In a beauty aisle, I found a Dyson hairdryer for $300. Dyson's website has it on sale for $380, down from $550.
There was a selection of Yeti tumblers, but they seem a bit outdated — the water-bottle wars have moved on to Owala and Hydro Flask.
There was a small selection of luggage, but this display felt disorganized, too.
Even though Christmas isn't over, there was already a small aisle for Valentine's Day merch.
Next, I headed upstairs to TJ Maxx.
The first thing I saw was a much larger, more organized luggage selection than the one in Marshalls.
The rest of the store looked similar to Marshalls, if not a bit more organized and brighter.
There were some of the same products, like this Juicy Couture gift set.
An Ed Hardy bag made me believe that the 2000s are truly back.
The beauty selection was much less chaotic than at the store downstairs.
Instead of one aisle, there were multiple shelves for skincare and perfume.
I didn't spot any Dyson products, though.
In the shoes section, there were more options in stock at TJ Maxx, as well as a larger selection.
As opposed to Yetis, there was a large selection of the trendier Owalas. Prices were comparable with both brands, though.
There were also Hydro Flasks.
Instead of plain mugs, I spotted bedazzled Mets tumblers. In general, there was a larger selection of sports merchandise at this store.
Some other items were of slightly higher quality as well. Nest candles retail higher than Sand + Fog ones do.
There were also large candles like this Martha Stewart holiday candle.
There was also a huge toy section, whereas Marshalls' was much more cramped.
In the appliance section, I noted both stores had the same brands, but the TJ Maxx products were more expensive. This coffeemaker was $999.
The Nespresso available here was $549, a full $200 more than the model at Marshalls. On the website, this one is on sale for $455.
I was surprised to find a larger Valentine's Day selection here.
I was even tempted to buy some of these candles.
Both stores were packed with deals, but I was less overstimulated at TJ Maxx. It felt more organized and elevated, and less overwhelming.
