# Is Marshalls Owned by Target? A Retail Expert‘s In\-Depth Guide - Canonical: https://33rdsquare.com/is-marshalls-owned-by-target/ - Published: 2023-10-30 - Author: Lillie Gabler - Categories: [Tips](https://33rdsquare.com/category/home/tips/) --- As a retail expert who has analyzed department stores for over 20 years, one question I hear often is "Is Marshalls owned by Target?" The short answer is no – Marshalls and Target have no corporate affiliation despite being major national retail chains. But the relationship between the brands is more complex than you might think. Let me walk you through the key facts so you can understand the ownership, history, and strategies of these retail titans. ## Marshalls is Owned by TJX – A Separate Company from Target Marshalls is owned by TJX Companies, which purchased it in 1995. TJX also owns TJ Maxx, HomeGoods, and other discount retail brands. Here is a quick snapshot of TJX: - Founded in 1956 and headquartered in Framingham, MA - Owns over 4,500 stores globally - 2021 Revenue: $48 billion - Operates TJ Maxx, Marshalls, HomeGoods, Sierra Trading Post, and Homesense - Largest off-price retailer in the US and worldwide Meanwhile, Target is a separate company headquartered in Minneapolis: - Founded in 1902 and headquartered in Minneapolis - Owns over 1,900 Target stores in the US - 2021 Revenue: $106 billion - Publicly traded (NYSE: TGT), no majority owner So while they are both major national department store brands, **Target and Marshalls have no shared ownership or corporate affiliation.** ## A Side-by-Side Comparison | Metric | Target | Marshalls | | --- | --- | --- | | Founded | 1902 | 1956 | | Headquarters | Minneapolis, MN | Framingham, MA | | Parent Company | Publicly traded Target Corp | TJX Companies | | 2021 Revenue | $106B | $48B (TJX) | | U.S. Store Count | 1,900 | 1,100 | | Key Brands | Target, SuperTarget | Marshalls, TJ Maxx, HomeGoods | | Positioning | Mass merchandise retailer | Off-price family apparel & home goods | ## The History and Evolution of Marshalls Marshalls has grown from a small regional discount chain into a retail powerhouse over the past 70 years. Here are some key milestones: - Founded in 1956 in Beverly, MA with one store - Rapid expansion in the 1960s – over 50 stores by 1976 - Acquired by TJX in 1995 – now sister brand to TJ Maxx - 1,000th store opened in 1998 - Expanded into Canada in 2011, now over 60 stores **Marshalls Now:** - Over 1,100 stores nationwide - Reported revenue of $9B in 2021 - ~28,000 employees Through strategic brand acquisitions like Marshalls, TJX has become the largest off-price apparel and home fashions retailer worldwide. ## How the Rise of Big Box Stores Shaped Target The evolution of Target is intertwined with the mass expansion of suburbs and malls in postwar America. Here‘s a brief history: - Founded in 1902 as Goodfellow Dry Goods in Minneapolis - Renamed Target in 1962, pioneering big box discount retail - Opened first Target discount department store in 1962 - Expanded to 46 states by 1983 with 193 Target stores **Target‘s Growth Since:** - Launched SuperTarget format (with grocery) in 1995 - 1,000th store opened in 2000 - Expanded e-commerce and same-day delivery - Operates 1,934 Target stores in 2021 Target capitalized on suburbanization and the death of downtown department stores to become the second largest discount retailer globally after Walmart. ## Different Retail Models: Department Store vs. Off-Price Though they developed concurrently, **Target and Marshalls operate using distinct retail models:** - Target is a mass merchandise **discount** department store - High volume of products - Reliably stocked staple items - Lower prices through economies of scale - Marshalls is an **off-price** apparel and home goods retailer - Rapid turnover of fluctuating brand name merchandise - Opportunistic buying of excess inventory - "Treasure hunt" appeal from constantly changing selection This explains why the in-store shopping experience also differs. Let‘s compare: ### The Target Store Experience Target stores are brightly lit with organized aisles and signs guiding you to products. You can expect fully stocked shelves with brand name items alongside Target‘s private label brands. There are also grocery sections or full Target Superstores with fresh produce and foods. The prices are clearly marked and kept low. ### Shopping at Marshalls Marshalls offer a "thrill of the hunt" experience. You browse racks and bins of rapidly changing brand name apparel and housewares marked down 30-60% from department store prices. The selection varies day to day and you may find designer brands mixed with lower-cost merchandise. You have to hunt around more to find sizes and items since stock is always in flux. ## Located Together, But Not Affiliated Here‘s an insider tip – while Target doesn‘t own Marshalls, you‘ll often find their stores located together in the same shopping complexes or malls. For example, take the Westfield Annapolis Mall in Annapolis, MD. Target and Marshalls are anchor tenants at opposite ends. This is by design. The real estate developers know pairing these affordable retail giants attracts more customers. Some other examples of Target and Marshalls stores co-located: - Culver City Mall, Culver City, CA - Grand Teton Mall, Idaho Falls, ID - The Orchard Town Center, Westminster, CO - Natick Mall, Natick, MA So next time you see a Target and Marshalls near each other, remember – they are competitors owned by separate companies, even if they are retail neighbors. ## The Expertise Behind Marshalls‘ Off-Price Success As an industry expert, I‘m often impressed by the operational acumen that enables Marshalls to excel at off-price retail. Here are some of their capabilities that Target doesn‘t match: **Merchandising and Category Management** - Expertise in opportunistic excess inventory purchases - Leveraging data analytics to identify trends and demand - Curating the perfect mix of brands, prices, styles **Global Sourcing and Supply Chain Management** - Maintaining a flexible and agile supply chain - Cultivating relationships with manufacturers worldwide - Optimizing logistics for cost efficiency **Marketing and Customer Insights** - Building brand loyalty through the "treasure hunt" experience - Analyzing shopping data to optimize inventory and pricing - Targeting suburban moms with effective digital and social campaigns Thanks to strengths like these, Marshalls parent company TJX surpassed high-end retailers like Macy‘s in apparel market share in 2018. ## The Outlook for Growth and New Opportunities With over 4,500 stores between them, Target and Marshalls may seem ubiquitous already. But I foresee growth opportunities ahead for both giants. ### What‘s Next for Target? Target is expanding small-format stores in urban markets and colleges. They are also improving omnichannel capabilities – buying online and picking up in store has grown over 500% since 2019. Target‘s current strategic priorities include: - Opening 30-40 new small-format Target stores per year - Growing services like same-day Order Pickup and Drive Up to cover 95% of sales - Expanding private label and exclusive brand partnerships ### Where Marshalls Goes from Here For Marshalls and parent TJX, international expansion is the next horizon. TJX only has stores in 6 countries currently. I could see them entering Latin America and Asia-Pacific markets. U.S. growth drivers for Marshalls include: - Opening 50-60 new stores each year - Improving e-commerce integration and order fulfillment - Continued marketing investment to attract millennials ## Let‘s Go Shopping! Hopefully this guide has helped explain that while Target and Marshalls both offer great shopping experiences, they are completely different companies. Now that you know their histories and strategies, you can visit your local Target and Marshalls with a deeper understanding of the retail forces behind them. The next time you see a "bullseye" logo or that big red "M," think of it as an invitation to the treasure hunt! --- Source: [Is Marshalls Owned by Target? A Retail Expert‘s In\-Depth Guide](https://33rdsquare.com/is-marshalls-owned-by-target/)