Description
TJ Maxx is an American department store chain, selling at prices generally lower than other major similar stores. It has more than 1,000 stores in the United States, making it one of the largest clothing retailers in the country. TJMaxx is the flagship chain of the TJX Companies. It sells men's, women's and children's apparel and shoes, toys, bath and beauty, accessories, and home products ranging from furniture to kitchen utensils.
TJ Maxx and Marshalls operate as sister stores, and share a similar footprint throughout the country. While their prices are nearly identical and they have similar store layouts, TJ Maxx has a more upscale appearance than Marshalls and typically sells a larger range of fine jewelry and accessories. Some higher-volume stores have a high-end designer department called The Runway.
The CEO of TJX companies is Ernie Herrman.
History
TJ Maxx was founded in 1976 in Framingham, Massachusetts, by Bernard Cammarata and the Zayre chain of discount department stores. Zayre had tried but failed to purchase Marshalls. So Zayre hired Cammarata, who had been Marshalls' head of merchandising, to create a rival chain. The concept proved so successful that Zayre sold its namesake chain to Ames, a rival discount department store, in September 1988. In December, Zayre announced a restructuring plan for the company and was renamed as "TJX Companies, Incorporated". TJX bought Marshalls in 1995.
In the fall of 1998, TJ Maxx opened the store chain AJ Wright. This chain was closed in January 2007.
In March 2009, TJX launched an e-commerce site. At first only selling handbags, the range of items was later expanded to include clothing, shoes, jewelry, other accessories, and some home goods.
In the UK, TJ Maxx is known as TK Maxx—as well as in Poland, The Netherlands and Germany. The name was modified to avoid confusion with the British retail chain T. J. Hughes.
