Thanks for Visiting!

Register for free to get the full story.

Sign Up
Already have a Placer.ai account? Log In

Off-Price's Strong Summer

By 
Shira Petrack
August 16, 2021
Off-Price's Strong Summer
SHARE
Explore our free tools to get timely insights into key industries
Check out the latest trends for
No items found.
Key Takeaways

The off-price apparel category is experiencing an impressive recovery, with off-price visits regularly outperforming the wider apparel recovery rate. With the Back to School season coming up, Off-price’s strong summer could lead into an even stronger fall. 

Off-Price Continues to Show Strength

With the exception of February, where lower visit numbers could be due to severe weather conditions across the country, visits to Ross Dress for Less, T.J. Maxx, and Burlington have been up every month this year  when compared to 2019. And even though Marshall's only returned to visit growth in June, the store had been nearing a full foot-traffic recovery already in March while exhibiting a consistently and significantly smaller monthly visit gap than the sector as a whole. 

It seems that customers who missed the treasure hunt experience at off-price store are now making up for lost time. All four brands have experienced a powerfully swift and impressive recovery since the retail reopening over the spring. While July visits to the apparel sector only grew an average of 3.8% when compared with July 2019, Ross Dress for Less, T.J. Maxx, and Marshalls saw a year-over-two year increase in monthly visits of 11.3%, 17.2%, and 12.1%, respectively. And Burlington saw the most impressive increase with visits up 12.3%, 13.5%, and 25.4% in May, June, and July 2021 when compared to the equivalent months in 2019.

Impressive Weekly Visits Growth Compared to 2019 

And the rise in visits does not look to be temporary, at least partially because of an expected increase in store fleet, which made off-price apparel stand out in a recent landscape defined more by apparel store closures. Ross Dress for Less has announced 60 new stores by the end of 2021, and TJX Companies  – which owns Marshalls and T.J. Maxx – plans to open 122 net new stores over 2021. Burlington, meanwhile, expects to have 75 new stores by the end of 2021

Zooming into weekly visit growth over the last five weeks compared to 2019 emphasizes off-price’s increased strength. All four brands have been experiencing a remarkable growth in weekly visits, with visits for the first week of August up 12.6%, 17.8%, 11.6%, and 24.3% at Ross Dress For LEss, T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, and Burlington, respectively. 

Customer Loyalty on the Rise 

But the increase in visits is not just due to the opening of new stores. Over the last three full months, customer loyalty has gone up at all four brands. Between May and July, Ross Dress for Less, T.J. Maxx, and Marshalls each saw an increase of 5.4%, 10.0%, and 5.2% in return customers (customers returning to a brand at least once over the three months,) while Burlington saw an impressive 23.7% boost. 

Off-price’s success could be due, in part, to the same factor that many felt could ruin the sector at the height of the pandemic – its reliance on foot traffic. While other apparel leaders have a more extensive approach to eCommerce,  Off-price department leaders rely almost exclusively on in-store visits. In addition, they are uniquely positioned to drive value in a time where many other apparel retailers are seeing prices rise.

Will the off-price apparel category continue to outperform the sector as a whole? Will the Back to School season give the sector an even greater boost? 

Visit Placer.ai to find out.

Learn how downtown regions across US cities are measuring up with our free tools.
Check out the latest trends for
No items found.

Related Topics

Stay Anchored: Subscribe to Insider & Unlock more  Insights
Subscribe
SHARE
Get 3 brand & industry
breakdowns every week
Subscribe to the newsletter
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Get a Demo

Please enter your first name
Please enter your last name
Please provide a valid email
Please enter your email
Please enter company name

Thanks for reaching out!

One of our experts will be in touch soon

Try Placer.ai Free
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Get 3 brand & industry breakdowns every week

Subscribe to the newsletter
Old Navy's Foray Into Occasionwear
JonasCon Brings Even More Experiential to American Dream 
What Happened to Family Dollar? 
The Impending Transformation of Bev-Alc Retail
CVS and Walgreens in 2025
Target’s Bet on Babies 
The Changing Apparel Landscape in 2025
Trader Joe’s and Aldi’s Continued Success
Retailers Betting on High Income Households
Brooks Brothers Rightsizing Success
The Rise of Smaller-Format Home Improvement Retailers: How Ace Hardware and Harbor Freight Are Outpacing Big-Box Chains
Walmart’s Mall Purchase: Towards a More Diversified Portfolio 
Placer.ai Named One of America’s Best Startup Employers 2025 by Forbes
Darden Weathers the Storm
Diving Into Breakfast Chains: What “Eggs”actly is Going On With Eggs Right Now? 
Placer 100 Index, February 2025 Recap 
Why Chipotle’s 2025 Outlook Looks Conservative
Sportswear in the New Year
Placer.ai February 2025 Office Index: Is The Recovery Stalling? 
Discount and Dollar Stores in a Strong Position to Start 2025
Placer.ai Mall Index: February 2025
Allbirds: Flying Towards New Opportunities
Beauty Retail: Changes, and Challenges Ahead
Who Attends the Super Bowl and the Daytona 500?
The $1B Question: Why Dave’s Hot Chicken Is a QSR Powerhouse
Kroger’s Grocery Dominance in 2025
Walmart Goes to the Mall: Insights From the Monroeville Acquisition
Gap Inc. in 2025 – Recapping 2024 and Uncovering Banana Republic’s Athleisure Opportunity 
Department Stores Providing Value in Today’s Retail Landscape
Dine Brands Maintains Their Broad Appeal
Best Buy: Fully Charged for 2025
Shopping Centers Provide Havens for Residents Affected by the LA Fires
National Retail Chains Utilize Stores to Support LA Fire Relief Efforts
Dutch Bros. & Sprouts: Beverage-Led Success
Off-Price Apparel: Off to a Strong Start in 2025
Visitation Trends and Shopping Behaviors at Walmart & Target 
Restaurant Success in 2025: Experience, Convenience, and Familiarity
Home Improvement Segment Shows Stability
Fitness Starts Strong in 2025
The Meat of the Matter: Bloomin’ Brands in 2024
The Beat of the Bowl: Visitation Patterns for CAVA and sweetgreen
Women's Sports on a Roll: Packed Stadiums, The Sports Bra Bar & Restaurant, and Impacting CRE
Year of the Dragon, Luckiest Animal in the Zodiac: Will that Luck Hold for Asian-Themed CRE?
Washington DC: How the Population in Our Nation's Capital has Evolved Following the Pandemic
What First Half 2024 Visit Trends Tell Us About What to Expect in the Second Half
What Does Walmart’s Results Mean for Other Discretionary Retailers?
Warehouse Clubs: Younger Visitors Support Growth
Wayfair: Early Impressions from Wayfair's New Wilmette Store
We're All Mad for March Madness: NCAA Women's Basketball is Breaking All Sorts of Records
Warehouse Clubs: Finding the Perfect Timing
Ulta: A Thing of Beauty
The Sweet Smell of Success: How CPG Brands are Bringing Their Brands to Life with Experiential Stores
Urban Outfitters: High Income, Specialty Fleets Still Thriving
The Silver Lining to Mall Anchor Department Store Closures
Ulta Beauty: Store Visits and Target Partnership Driving Category Market Share
The Secret to Trader Joe's Success in 2023
Tractor Supply: Visitation Share Gains Continue Despite Weather-Related Disruptions
Takeaways from the 2024 Fast Casual Executive Summit
The Lure of Waikiki and Beyond: The Feel of Fifth Avenue on Oahu?
Target: Circle Week Shows Signs of Success
Suiting Up in Boston: Newbury Street Suitsupply Store Showing Signs of Strength
Takeaways from Shoptalk Fall
Stew Leonard’s: Specialty Grocery Still a Shining Example
Small Towns, Deepening Pockets: How Migration is Changing the Face of Boise
Studs: Reinvigorating the Accessories Category
South Asian Influence on Sports, Groceries, and Malls
Starbucks: Silver Linings After a Difficult Quarter
Shopping "High-Low": Escada and Club Monaco share space in Beverly Hills
Round1 Entertainment Expands with Spo-Cha Concept
Self-Storage: More Industry Consolidation Ahead
Self-Storage: Consolidation Driving Year-Over-Year Increases in Visits
Return to Office is Hot in Miami: Placer's New Return to Office Dashboard Launches
Restaurants: Bifurcation Here Too
Self-Storage: More Consolidation as Public Storage Acquires Simply Self Storage
Return to Office Insights: Miami and New York in the Lead
RFDC Takeaways: Lessons from CAVA and Other Restaurant Visit Share Winners
Pop-Ups Drive Excitement and Foretell Brand Demand
Restaurants: Where Do We Stand After Q1 2024
Restaurant Outlook 2024: Year of New Location Expansion Plans?
Reformation: Building an Apparel Destination
Pickleball and Padel: Saviors for Malls, but Threats to Tennis Courts?
Regional Grocery Update: Consumers Seeking Out Lower Prices
QSR Visit Trends: What Gives?
Performing Arts: Takeaways from the California Presenters Conference and Spotlight on Arizona Venues
Public Storage: Self-Storage Demand Resilient
QSR Chicken: Driving the Industry's Growth
Planet Fitness: Signs of a More Resilient Fitness Club Visitor?
Parks, Recreation Centers, and Redeveloped Malls: Community Glue
Outlet Malls: Ontario Mills Leads Black Friday, Arundel Mills Tops November Visitation
Olympics Boost: PR is Priceless
Olympic Inspiration: Is the Fitness Category Bringing Home the Gold?
Outlook for Holiday Thrifting: Inflation, Sustainability, and Gen Z Fuel Growth
Oklahoma, OK!: The Opening of Tulsa Premium Outlets Kickstarts Excitement
"Must-Have" Tenants for 2025: Top Brands to Elevate Your Outdoor Shopping Center
National Restaurant Association Show Takeaways: Who’s Winning the Food Fight?
Non-Traditional Anchors: Cheers or Jeers for Those Replacing Sears?
McDonald's: Where Do Whitespace Opportunities Exist?
Megamalls: All-Day Experiences, Entertainment, and Dining
Mercado Gonzalez: This Mexican Food Hall is a Magnet
Messi Mania hits Miami and LA