Off-price retail chains offer designer brands for less

On Good Day Atlanta, we strive to help you stretch your family's dollar. We've showed you the great benefits and big savings of thrift stores, dollar stores, discount stores, and now off-price retail chains. That's where you can get designer brands for a lot less than department store prices.

Shelly Michael has her hands full. Between two growing sons and a busy IT career, who has time to shop?

"We're always on the go, running around, doing what we need to get done. I need a place where I can go in, get what I need, and come right back out," said Michael.

That's why a store that has everything she needs -- great pieces and great prices -- is a big plus.

"If I can get a good deal and get a big bang for my buck, I'm happy," Shelly says.

T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, and Ross are the country's top off-price retail chains. They all promise 20 to 60 percent off department and specialty store prices. How do they do it?  Lots of wheeling and dealing.

The TJX company, which owns Marshalls and T.J. Maxx, says buying for nearly 2,000 stores gives them great buying power so their buyers in fashion capitols around the world can make great deals with 14,000 designers.

Ross says it also has a big buying advantage with 1,000 stores nationwide and hundreds of buyers in the fashion hot spots of New York and L.A. But we can't tell you who those designer are. Part of being "shoppertunisitc" is not bragging about who you're working with. TJX and Ross did not want to talk about the designers they carry, but we can tell you they carry lots of top names.

So, we put the designer brands and price tags to the test to find some versatile outfits for Shelly's busy lifestyle. We picked four different head to toe looks and saw an average savings of about $116 between the department store prices and the prices at Marshalls and Ross.

Here's what you need to know when you go to shop at these stores: Go early and often. T.J. Maxx and Marshalls get about three shipments with 10,000 new pieces a week. Ross also constantly updates its selection with three to six shipments a week.

We just barely scratched the surface of what these stores offer.  Each chain also has huge housewares sections with big name products for every room of your home. They also carry lots of kids' clothes and toys.

LINKS:
Marshalls website
Marshalls Facebook

TJ Maxx
TJ Maxx Facebook

Ross Stores
Ross Facebook