Marshalls: trendy styles for all ages

Marshalls has over 1,000 American stores, including larger stores named Marshalls Mega Store. The chain covers 42 states and Puerto Rico.

Marshalls 1,102 U.S. Store Locations

In 1956, the late Alfred Marshall brought together a group of east coast entrepreneurs to collectively start up the brand names for less concept.

With the both the economy and the suburbs booming, Marshall and his colleagues opened a self-service department store in Beverly, Massachusetts. The store offered fashionable clothing and housewares at very low prices. Separate sellers sublet floor space within the store to sell shoes, hardware and sporting goods. This, of course, was invisible to customers.

The original store had another sublet called the
A & M Luncheonette. It was an old-fashioned soda fountain and grill owned by Alice & Mickey Masters.

As the 1970’s recession affected the spending habits of most shoppers, the off-price industry really began to boom. Marshall’s strategy was to buy up manufacturers’ post-season, overrun, and close-out stock, and offer fashionable designer items priced 20 to 60 percent lower than those sold in department stores.

In 1976, Marshalls was acquired by Melville Corporation, owner of CVS.

By 1993, Marshalls had expanded throughout 42 states including Hawaii. In 1995, Marshalls was purchased for $606 million by TJXX, the parent company of its main competitor.

Today, Marshalls and T.J. Maxx operate as sister stores, offering near-identical price points. The main difference between the two stores is that Marshalls offers a larger selection of footwear and more emphasis on men’s and juniors’ apparel.

Marshalls participates in fundraising efforts to help children, families, and their communities through a number of programs, including, Domestic Violence Prevention. Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, National Youth Anti-Drug Campaign, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the United Way.

Gloria Sauvé
Communications and Marketing

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