10 Surprising Things You Never Knew About HomeGoods (2024)

Apparently, the company originally specialized in women's hosiery.

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Raise your hand if you consider HomeGoods your "happy place." (Us too.) But how much do you really know about this household retail giant? Probably not a lot, especially since the company is super tight-lipped about their vendors and strategy. But here's everything you need to know about one of our favorite off-price home stores:

1. The company dates back to 1919.

It was founded by two brothers, Max and Morris Feldberg, and was called the New England Trading Company. However, later generations opened a series of new stores (like Zayre in the 1950s, T.J. Maxx in 1977, and finally HomeGoods as an off-price model in 1992) and the powerhouse company now just goes by "TJX."

2. And it's based in Framingham, Massachusetts.

Yes, the same city that's best known for the Framingham Heart Study, which is a research project that has existed for decades and tracks the health of the city's residents.

3. The first store sold something very surprising — women's hosiery.

For the sake of all of our homes, we're very glad the company refocused.

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4. Today, TJX is the leading off-price apparel and home retailer.

It boasts nearly 3,300 stores worldwide, three e-commerce sites, and 198,000 associates.

5. Forbes ranked the CEO as the 76th most powerful woman in the world in 2015.

Carol Meyrowitz made waves in early 2015 when she announced she was going to follow in Walmart's footsteps and increase the minimum wage for hourly U.S. employees to $9 per hour. On top of that, the company's profits have nearly tripled since she took over in 2007.

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6. Products are sourced from over 17,000 different vendors.

And they span more than 100countries.

7. But the company is notorious for its secretive habits.

In fact, Meyrowitz frequently refers to the company's close-mouthed sourcing as their "secret sauce," which she explained to USA Today: "We're absolutely fine with every vendor saying they don't do business with us. It's a very important part of our relationship."

8. No, you're not buying past-season stuff.

The company just practices "opportunistic buying," which is very different from most retailers who order products six to nine months in advance and only four times per year. At HomeGoods buyers hunt for items 40 weeks out of the year, which allows them to acquire stock other retailers passed on only a few months earlier — even though they're still in season.

9. The company loves to partner with celebrity stylists.

Like party and wedding planner Mindy Weiss, who set out to prove that there are affordable ways to entertain, too.

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10. And they even offer inspiration on a curated blog.

It's called designHappy and features ideas and inspiration for every inch of your home — so now you have no excuses not to hit up your local store for new furnishings and accessories to make over your home.

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Lauren is a senior editor at Hearst. She was previously the senior editor at WomansDay.com and the home editor at GoodHousekeeping.com and HouseBeautiful.com. Her book club, ramen, and jean jackets are a few of her favorite things.

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10 Surprising Things You Never Knew About HomeGoods (2024)

FAQs

10 Surprising Things You Never Knew About HomeGoods? ›

HomeGoods is an off-price retailer. For us, value is a combination of brand, fashion, price, and quality. Unlike traditional retailers, we generally don't do promotions, sales, coupons, or other gimmicks — just exciting merchandise at amazing prices, every single day!

What do you know about HomeGoods? ›

HomeGoods is an off-price retailer. For us, value is a combination of brand, fashion, price, and quality. Unlike traditional retailers, we generally don't do promotions, sales, coupons, or other gimmicks — just exciting merchandise at amazing prices, every single day!

What is the best day to shop HomeGoods? ›

“If your schedule allows it, Tuesday through Fridays middays are the best time to shop at HomeGoods,” she says. “Everyone is at work and the store is quiet and well-organized. The staff also puts out new inventory these days and the aisles and floors will be filled up.

Is HomeGoods owned by Hobby Lobby? ›

HomeGoods is owned by TJX Companies and is a sister company to T.J. Maxx, Sierra Trading Post, and Marshalls. The size of each store varies by location. There are locations in the United States that combine both the HomeGoods and the T.J.

Why do people love HomeGoods? ›

Of course, this wealth of choice isn't always possible at HomeGoods. That's part of why we love it. “It's the excitement of scarcity,” says Barbara Kahn, a marketing professor at Wharton. “Something that's scarce or rare is definitely perceived to be more valuable.

What did HomeGoods used to be called? ›

1. The company dates back to 1919. It was founded by two brothers, Max and Morris Feldberg, and was called the New England Trading Company.

What is the slogan for HomeGoods? ›

At HomeGoods, you don't go shopping, you go finding.

What religion is Hobby Lobby affiliated with? ›

It owns a chain of arts and crafts stores with a volume of over $5 billion in 2018. The chain has 1,001 stores in 48 U.S. states. The Green family founded Hobby Lobby to express their Christian beliefs and the chain incorporates American conservative values and Christian media.

Why did Hobby Lobby get in trouble? ›

The Hobby Lobby smuggling scandal started in 2009 when representatives of the Hobby Lobby chain of craft stores received a large number of clay bullae and tablets originating in the ancient Near East.

Are TJ Maxx and HomeGoods the same owner? ›

TJX Companies
FormerlyZayre Corp.
Number of employees270,000 (2018)
DivisionsHomeGoods (HomeGoods, HomeSense) Marmaxx (Marshalls, TJ Maxx) Sierra (Sierra) TJX Canada (Marshalls, Winners, HomeSense) TJX International (TK Maxx, HomeSense)
Websitetjx.com
Footnotes / references
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What celebs love HomeGoods? ›

' and then we go for another round.” Other celebs who have reportedly been spotted indulging in a little retail therapy at the store include Justin Theroux, Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth, Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' Lisa Vanderpump, E! News' Jason Kennedy, Amber Rose and Ali Larter.

Who is the target audience for HomeGoods? ›

HomeGoods Threats
HomeGoods Overview
Target MarketWorking middle class and upper middle class families, looking to add style to their homes
PositioningPlace of unique and beautiful finds offered discounts in department and specialty store prices every day
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What does HomeGoods do with returns? ›

If you're not satisfied with your purchase, please return merchandise accompanied by a register receipt within 30 days of purchase, for an exchange or refund. Returns with receipts over 30 days or without a receipt (but otherwise eligible for return) will receive store credit only.

What are the duties of a HomeGoods employee? ›

Responsibilities:
  • Role models established customer experience practices with internal and external customers.
  • Supports and embodies a positive store culture through honesty, integrity, and respect.
  • Accurately rings customer purchases/returns and counts change back to customer according to established operating procedures.

What should I wear to a HomeGoods interview? ›

You should dress in business casual when going for a non-managerial position at a large retailer. That entails refraining from wearing sneakers, flip-flops, jeans, hats, caps, hoodies, and T-shirts with text or designs. This holds true even if you're having a job interview at a big box or home improvement store.

What is the difference between TJ Maxx and HomeGoods? ›

T.J. Maxx and Marshalls function like department stores, selling everything from pet supplies to cosmetics. Sierra sells many of the same products but is geared more toward outdoor apparel and athletic wear. Homesense and HomeGoods focus on furniture and decor.

What are the benefits of working at HomeGoods? ›

Eligible part-time and full-time HomeGoods employees can get access to optional life insurance. With this benefit, your loved ones will be taken care of financially if you can't be there to support them. HomeGoods also has a 401(k) retirement plan. Each time you get paid, you can set aside a portion of your wage.

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