TK Maxx confirms arrival in Australia by rebranding Trade Secret stores

TK Maxx has confirmed its arrival to the Australian market in April 2017 by converting all 35 existing Trade Secret stores into TK Maxx shops. The company planned to open a handful of additional stores to new locations. The TJX Companies, Inc. owned the two labels -- TK Maxx and Trade Secret.

TJX Companies Inc. is a leading off-price home fashion and apparel retailer that operates and headquartered in US. It operates more than 3,800 stores worldwide. TJX spokesperson Tessa Buenen said the company saw the opportunities within Australia's discount department space. She said that the company's off-price model was unique to the market. “Australian shoppers are extremely savvy and value orientated, so we think our offer is going to be a winning formula here and we’re very excited about our growth opportunities for this market,” Buenen told Inside Retail.

Buenen did not comment on the existing competition in the Australian markets with big retailers including Kmart, Big W and Target. However, she said that the company believed in its value proposition including exciting shopping experience and unique selection of merchandise. She added that the physical store has a modern flexible store layout for easy-to-shop experience.

Customers can expect major and up-and-coming labels at a discounted price. It would also offer one-offs at an affordable price. The company buys throughout the year contrary to the practice of other companies that buy seasonally. "Because of the way we buy, we have several deliveries per week with thousands of new products hitting shop floors. This means that no two stores are the same, and with new products arriving regularly there will always be something new & fresh for shoppers to discover on a visit to our stores," Buenen said.

She said that the stores have no walls between departments to keep it flexible for expansion and to respond to the store's latest deliveries. “We also merchandise by size to make it easy for customers to shop – so for example, if a customer is looking for a dress and they’re a size 10, you’ll find all the size 10 dresses in one rack together. It makes it really easy to shop with us,” Buenen said.

It was reported that the sibling brand imprint of TK Maxx, TJ Maxx, will also arrive in the country and it will open at the Kingston Central Plaza at Moorabbin Airport. Apart from TK Maxx and TJ Maxx, the company also owned Marshalls and HomeGoods.