Marshalls facts for kids
 |
|
|
|
| Subsidiary | |
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | 1956 Beverly, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Founders | Alfred Marshall Bernard Goldston Norman Barren Irving Blitt |
| Headquarters | Framingham, Massachusetts |
|
Number of locations
|
US: 1,130 (May 2, 2020); Canada: 100; Total: 1,230 |
| Products | Clothing, footwear, bedding, bath, furniture, home decor, jewelry, beauty products, toys, housewares, pet supply, and giftware. |
| Parent | Melville Corporation (1976–1995) TJX Companies (1995–present) |
Marshalls is a popular American store chain. It sells many different items at lower prices than regular stores. Marshalls is owned by a company called TJX Companies.
There are over 1,000 Marshalls stores in the United States. These stores are in 49 states and Puerto Rico. Some larger stores are called Marshalls Mega Store. These big stores often share space with HomeGoods, another store from the same company.
Marshalls also has stores in Canada. They opened their first Canadian stores in March 2011. Marshalls is one of the biggest stores in the U.S. that sells clothes and home items at lower prices. It is like its sister store, TJ Maxx. Marshalls' slogans are Your Surprise Is Waiting and Never Boring, Always Surprising.
Contents
The Story of Marshalls
Starting the Store
Marshalls began in 1956. A businessman named Alfred Marshall had an idea. He gathered a group of friends on the East Coast. These friends included Bernard Goldston, Norman Barren, and Irving Blitt.
They wanted to create a store called "Brand Names For Less." This store would sell famous brands at lower prices. At first, Marshalls did not sell clothes. But then, Irving Blitt found a chance to buy some "factory second" shirts. These were shirts with small flaws, sold at a discount.
A New Idea for Shopping
Alfred Marshall and his friends saw that the economy was growing after World War II. More people were moving to the suburbs. They realized they could open a new type of store.
They opened their first self-service department store in Beverly, Massachusetts. It sold clothes and home goods at low prices. Other parts of the store were rented out to sell shoes, tools, and sports items. Shoppers didn't even know these parts were owned by different people. The first store even had a small restaurant inside!
Growing Bigger
This new idea for a store was very successful. Just ten years later, Marshalls became the top discount store chain in the country. In the 1970s, the economy was a bit tough. People wanted to save money when they shopped.
Marshalls helped by buying extra items from manufacturers. They bought things that were left over or out of season. This allowed Marshalls to sell stylish, good-quality items. These "designer" items were 20 to 60 percent cheaper than in regular department stores.
Changes in Ownership
In 1976, a company called Melville Corporation bought Marshalls. By 1993, Marshalls had grown a lot. It had stores in 42 states, including Hawaii. They even opened some stores in city centers.
In 1995, Marshalls was bought again. This time, TJX bought it for $550 million. TJX is the parent company of Marshalls' main competitor, TJ Maxx.
Today, Marshalls and T.J. Maxx are sister stores. They have similar prices and store layouts. But Marshalls focuses more on shoes for the whole family. It also has bigger sections for men's and juniors' clothing. In 2019, Marshalls started selling items online too.
Helping Others
Marshalls works with different groups to help people. They support charities across the U.S. All the money they raise helps children, families, and their communities. Here are some of the programs they support:
- Helping prevent family violence
- Supporting the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
- Joining the National Youth Anti-Drug Campaign
- Helping St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
- Working with United Way
Marshalls in Canada
Marshalls opened its first stores in Canada in March 2011. By November 2016, there were 50 Marshalls stores in Canada. The company plans to open about 100 stores across the country.
More Stores to Explore
- H&M
- Ross Stores
