Popular Store for Millionaires & Others

By: Lourdes G. Mon

 

For a good number of years, I worked part time at the jewelry department of TJ Maxx. The reason was because I wanted to have extra money to fund my vice — casino, a relaxation I enjoy, and not touch my regular salary. But then, I had a heart attack, so that ended my part-time job. Now, my husband Francis finances my vice. This means, my casino days have been minimized and limited.
Working at TJ Maxx gave me the advantage of seeing beautiful jewelry at very reasonable prices. At one time, a customer was returning a pearl necklace that caught my eyes. Standing beside the customer was a Filipino listening to the conversation. She showed interest in the pearl necklace. Normally, returns are put back on display. However, this time I put it aside because I was interested in buying it. The lady who was waiting kept coming back to the display to see if the necklace is put back on display. I suppose, she was disappointed for not seeing it.
The reason I am writing about TJ Maxx is because when King Charles and Queen Camilla, the English king and queen were here in the USA last month, they reminded me of an article that I read several years ago that members of the Royal Family, like Princess Kate Middleton and Prince Harry (not Prince William) have been noted for shopping at TK Maxx (the UK’s version of TJ Maxx) for deals. I assume that she no longer shops at TK Maxx, because she won’t be able to keep it a secret. Someone would be very anxious to run it on the news. However, she is reportedly keen on buying clothes for her children and sometimes clothes for herself. She loves to shop for bargains, mixing and matching high street clothes and designers. She has a great eye for that and hasn’t ditched her commoner roots. Sources claimed TK Maxx is one of her favorite shops in the UK, where she often hunted for deals.
In essence, millionaires shop at TJ Maxx for the smart, strategic savings and the enjoyable challenge of uncovering valuable, authentic designer goods. Additionally,
many millionaires shop at TJ Maxx for the thrill of finding designer brands at deep discounts, like Gucci, Versace, Tory Burch, Kate Spade, Marc Jacobs, Longchamp, and Vince, often in their special “Runway” sections; also featuring genuine high-end apparel, handbags, shoes, and accessories at lower prices. Millionaires buy at T.J. Maxx, designer clothes, often at discounts up to 90%. Some even proudly call themselves “Maxxinistas”.
I personally don’t call myself a “Maxxinista,” however, although through the years that I worked at TJ Maxx, I have bought a great number of items, especially clothes when they were marked-down. Moreover, in addition to the reduced price, as an employee, I also got an extra 10% discount. Now that I no longer work at TJ Maxx, I am still inclined to shop there as a matter of habit. Additionally, all employees shop at TJ Max, especially when items are 90% reduced. The managers have the advantage of being Maxxinistas, seeing the discounts before everybody else. No one can blame them for the opportunities. After all, they are spending their monies, too. They get the same 10% discount like any other regular employee.
Millionaires shop at TJ Maxx for the smart, strategic savings and the enjoyable challenge ofnuncovering valuable, authentic designer goods. They also buy high-end luggage, beddings, home furnishings, gourmet food without paying the full price. Purses at T.J. Maxx are generally real and authentic, sourced as overstock, past-season items, or canceled orders from major brands. Some might be “made-for-outlet” with lower quality materials or be fraudulent returns. The RN number on the tag shows genuine brands vs. TJX Brands. It’s not just about saving money but the joy of discovering high-value goods at a fraction of their original price. The social stigma that once surrounded shopping at discount stores is fading. Affluent shoppers no longer feel the need to hide their bargain-hunting habits. Instead, they openly share their finds and take pride in their ability to score deals on luxury items.
With unsold merchandise, TJ Maxx discard them through multi-step process that often involves deep markdowns, donation to charities, or transfer to other stores. After items go through several extensive price reductions, marked with yellow tags, until they reach their lowest price point, some items might get transferred to different store locations or marked down again. Soft goods like clothing and bedding are often donated to local shelters and charities as a tax benefit for the company.
Items that can’t be donated or recycled, such as food, electronics, candles, and some home goods, are sometimes destroyed or compacted and thrown out.
To make sense of starting my article with my taking on a part time job to subsidize my casino games, I just thought of a couple, who are friends of mine, who, in my mind, are hard-core gamblers. Being retired, they love using their entire monthly social security income for the casino. In return, several times during the year they are complimented with free cruises.
In conclusion, it’s just for fun to have a certain similarity with royalty. Funny as it may seem; why not, especially with a Princess.