Are Influencers Ruining TJ Maxx?

If you’ve been to TJ Maxx lately, you might notice that it’s different than other stores. The shelves are often stocked with new things, you can score a bargain, and the stores are actually popular.

The brand’s popularity has managed to rise during a time when other brands are struggling, and now, you don’t even need to go to TJ Maxx to browse the aisles. Influencers are doing it for you.

Thanks to social media, you can follow other bargain hunters as they hope to score the latest “viral” item. For some, this is a relaxing way to browse the store without spending any money, but for others, this is ruining TJ Maxx and turning the store into a game.

What’s in store at TJ Maxx?

Many physical stores have been hurt by the pandemic, but that’s not the case for TJ Maxx.

TJX (the parent company that owns stores like TJ Maxx, Marshalls, and HomeGoods) has opted for a business model that revolves around in-person shopping, and that didn’t change during the pandemic. In 2020, e-commerce represented 2% of its total sales, and the brand has scaled back on online shopping since then. Instead, it doubled down on its “treasure hunt” model that can only exist in brick-and-mortar locations.