Last-Minute Shopping to do? Check out Marshalls!

So here it is, mid-December already, and can you guess how much Christmas shopping I’ve done? NONE! Well, ok, very little. I have just about everything for my kids (although if Kate could ever nail down what she’s officially asking Santa for, I’d appreciate it), but other than that, I haven’t bought a thing. I have a plan, though. I am going to go to Marshalls and/or TJ Maxx, and not come out until I’ve gotten something for everyone on my list. It will be just like the time my dad did that at Burlington Coat Factory. But better.

This new plan took shape on Monday, when I attended Red Carpet Marshalls, an event designed to show a few of us bloggers what off-price shopping is all about. The event was in LA, a place I had never been before, so I was very excited to go. (As an aside, Jenny actually got the emailed invitation a few weeks ago, and she offered to let me go instead of her. Is she nice or what?) Marshalls brought in professional stylist and TV personality Alison Deyette to give us the scoop.

Here are a few things I learned:
— Marshalls and TJ Maxx stores are filled with clothing from this season, not last year’s leftovers, and they aren’t seconds or damaged items either. They’re the same things you’ll find at department stores, just cheaper. A lot cheaper.
— The reason they can offer the same products at reduced prices is that they get such good deals from the clothing designers themselves, and they guarantee the designers that they won’t return the unsold merchandise the way department stores do. That way, everyone wins.
— Marshalls stores focus more on the family – they’ve got larger selections of children’s clothing, toys, shoes, and household items. TJ Maxx is more about the clothing!
— You can search for store locations near you on their website, but pay particular attention to those marked with an “R” – that means those stores have a “Runway” section where they sell the high-end designer items. (I am determined to find the perfect Diane Von Furstenburg wrap dress, btw.) Take a look at this video I took of Alison telling us about some of the great deals on designer outfits – you won’t believe the price differences between TJ Maxx and the mall for the exact same clothes!

After we toured the store, it was time to shop! Because I am cheap, I headed straight for the clearance racks. I was really impressed with the deals I found there! I tried on a pair of Seven jeans that were marked down to like $40 (tragically, they didn’t fit!). I also saw a blazer from Theory – the original Theory tags were still attached and showed a retail price of $385… at Marshall’s it was marked down to $30. I even saw one shirt marked down to 50 cents. That’s a garage sale price! I was also impressed with their section of housewares. They have all the brands you’d find at the mall at much lower prices.

I don’t know why I’ve not been a regular TJ Maxx/Marshalls shopper – when I’ve been there before I’ve found some great stuff, but I just never think to go there. Now, though, I’m going to hit those stores before the mall! I like that they have shopping carts to put the kiddos in as well – that makes it easier than schlepping around a stroller. They really have something for everyone. I’m serious when I say that I plan to do the bulk of my holiday shopping there this year! I’ll let you know what kind of great deals I score.

A big thanks to Marshalls and Rocket XL for inviting me (or actually, Jenny) to this fun event! Here are some pictures taken by Kate of The Shopping Mama: