The Best Marshalls Shopping Secrets to Help You Score Major Deals

Just because Marshalls and other off-price retailers sell products for a fraction of the price doesn't mean they're skimping on quality. Take the beauty aisle, for example. "You can find so many popular brands on sale like Anastasia, bareMinerals, O.P.I., and Philosophy," Kristen Jones, the blogger behind A Classy Fashionista, tells GoodHousekeeping.com. If you're lucky, you might even spot luxe options from Ole Henrickson and Stila. Still, follow the same Ulta and Sephora shopping rules apply: "Open and inspect any beauty items before purchasing them to check for breakage or fingerprints."

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Marshalls and other TJX Company stores — TJ Maxx, HomeGoods, Homesense, and Sierra — indicate markdowns with the following price tag colors: white tags without stickers are normal prices, red stickers indicate clearance prices, and yellow stickers indicate final clearance prices (a.k.a. the best deals).

If you've attempted to shop at Marshalls on Saturday afternoon, then congrats because you've survived the worst of it. "The best time to shop is weekday mornings when everything is tidy, clean, and well-stocked from the overnight shipment," Christine Lee from HomeGoods Obsessed tells us. "Mondays are usually catch-up days from the busy weekend, so Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday are your best bet." To really up your chances of scoring a unique find, head to Marshalls on Friday when the stores are stocking the shelves for the weekend crowds.

Sure, they're known for their wide selection of clothes, accessories, and home goods, but you haven't really shopped at Marshalls until you've filled your basket with holiday wrapping paper, tissue paper, and cards. Why? "You can find gorgeous cards for under $2," Jones says. For what it's worth, the average price of a greeting card is anywhere from $2 to $4, which means Marshalls is on the lesser end.

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It's easy to think that you're getting the best deal when the price tags show the original price — but that's not always the case. "I use the scan barcodes option on the Amazon app to compare prices," Dianna Baros from The Budget Babe tells GoodHousekeeping.com. To go beyond Amazon, try ShopSavvy or Shopular.

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You know when you talk to your friends about your favorite Marshalls finds and they complain that their store doesn't carry it? Well, there's a reason. "Products are initially launched in a few stores to see how well they perform and if they do well, it gets a wider distribution throughout the country," Lee shares. If you hear about an item by a friend or social media, check out your local store ASAP. "The goal of every item is to sit on the shelf no longer than 3 weeks, so act fast."

That being said, while all four stores under the TJX umbrella are different — Marshalls has THE CUBE, an in-store boutique for juniors, for example. — there is still some overlap with the products they sell. "To increase your odds in finding a specific item, Lee recommends visiting other Marshalls stores as well as HomeGoods, Homesense, and TJ Maxx. But remember: There's no guarantee that you'll find exactly what you're looking for because products fly off the shelves quickly.

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If you regularly shop at Marshalls or one of the other TJX Company stores, it's worth it to apply for a TJX Rewards Credit Card. When you open an account, you'll even get 10% off your purchase. "In addition to earning points for in-store redemption, you’ll receive exclusive access to shopping events and other perks," Marshalls Consumer Savings Expert Stefanie O’Connell says. But if you're not keen about opening another credit card, sign up for their free rewards program to up your chances of winning gift cards and in-store invites.

Earlier this year, Marshalls announced that they're finally opening an online store — and we're counting down the days. While details are still few and far between, the online store is set to launch later this year and will reportedly "offer a mix of merchandise that differs from what our customers will find in our stores," according to Marshalls. Until then, you can browse the TJMaxx website to get some inspiration.

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