I worked in TK Maxx – the secret colour codes you need to look out for in the January sales & the best time to shop
CHECKING the display stands one last time Lou Smith takes a deep breath, straightens her name badge and heads to the tills.
As the clock hits 9am, the doors open at TK Maxx and post-Christmas bargain hunters flood in, pushing and shoving to get their hands on designer items at rock bottom prices.
It’s a scene happening around the country right now and for many retail giants is one of the busiest times of the year.
And former TK Maxx shop assistant Lou says that when it comes to the January sales nothing surprises her.
“I used to be shocked by what some customers did. Now nothing shocks me,” she admits.
“From swapping discount labels and even bringing their own label makers, some die-hard bargain hunters will do anything to pay almost nothing.”
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Lou, 27, worked at the designer discount store for six years from the age of 17 when she started out as a Christmas temp.
Now a chartered accountant who lives in Edinburgh with her long-term partner, she worked in two TK Maxx stores during her time with the chain.
“I was studying A Levels when I got my contract working twelve hours a week,” she says.
“When I moved to Lancaster, to study accounting at Lancaster University I transferred to the store there.
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“During Christmas and the New Year sales period I was working up to 35 hours a week while studying full-time.”
According to Lou, TK Maxx doesn't have Boxing Day sales as the stores constantly have items being rotated and discounted, but January is when shoppers will find the lowest prices.
“There are two major final clearances,” she explains.
“There is one in the middle of the year and the next is January. Most stores receive deliveries of products at least six days a week at 6am.
“Some days I would start at 5am, receive the deliveries and spend four hours leading up shelves and labelling new stock.
“If you see staff with a label maker then you know that products are about to hit the shop floor.”
Lou says when it comes to labels, shoppers should look out for certain colours.
“If you want the super bargain after Christmas look for the yellow labels,” she says.
“Red labels mean a product has been marked down. A yellow label is a customer’s ‘Holy Grail’ – it is the biggest bargain because it is a final clearance price and that could be as low as 20p.
“Each label has the week number when the product first came into store. That is the important number customers should remember.
“If you see a staffer with a label maker ask them what they have just discounted.”
Lou says that products will be discounted depending on how long they have been on the shelves.
“Six weeks after an item first arrives in a store it then gets discounted by almost a third or 30 per cent,” she explains.
“Older items will be discounted when the new deliveries come in, so if you have had your eye on something this is the time to be in the shop.
“Once an item has been in store for eight weeks it will be discounted again - this time by another 15 to 20 per cent.
“That discounting continues every two weeks.”
I have lost track of the number of customers who peel off the yellow labels and put them on fully priced items
Lou Smith
Lou adds that it is always worth checking whether items are correctly priced after a certain number of weeks.
“I tell people to look at the week number on the label,” she adds.
“If we are in week 50 and the product you are buying has week five on the label, take the item to an associate and ask them if it has the correct price.
“You may discover the item will have missed multiple discounts runs and you will get a real bargain.
“TK Maxx products continue in the discounting cycle until they reach 20p, that is the lowest price. Most of these items are sold in the store’s final clearance sales.”
Lou says that while most customers behave themselves in the sales there are a few things shoppers do that get on the staff’s nerves.
“TK Maxx doesn't keep stock out the back, everything is on the shop floor so don’t ask us to check,” she says.
“If a shop assistant does check out the back they are probably just stood in the store room for a few minutes as there is nothing to check.”
Fooling staff
Another pet peeve of Lou’s is when customers try to sneakily nab an extra discount.
One ploy is switching labels around in an attempt to fool staff.
“I have lost track of the number of customers who peel off the yellow labels and put them on fully priced items,” she says.
“If you put a twenty pence label on a new pair of designer shoes and take it to the register you will get caught. The codes will not match.”
But it isn’t just label swapping that cheeky customers try to bag a bargain.
Some take their own Kimble guns into stores illegally, a device which punches the white plastic tag through a garment and means a label can be reattached.
“Customers bring in their own Kimble guns,” Lou explains.
“Some take a big batch of clothes to try on in the changing room and swap the clothing tags.
How Does TK Maxx Flog Designer for Cheap?
- TK Maxx follows an off-price business model to get designer products for cheap
- It buys merchandise from various brands and designers at a discount and then sells it to customers at lower prices than traditional retail stores
- The selection at its outlets often includes overstocked items, last season's styles and goods from cancelled orders.
- The Gold Label is a premium collection of designer and luxury products offered by TK Maxx.
- If you love designer clothes, this is the tag you want to look out for on pieces.
“I was shocked the first time I discovered this. It is illegal and will be spotted at the register when the item is scanned. It happens in so many retail stores all over the country.
“Ultimately it means big stores lose money, there are less discounts and staff suffer.”
Lou says her top tip for January shoppers is not to hang around.
“From Boxing Day onwards my advice is if you see something you like buy it immediately,” she says.
“Do not assume it will be there tomorrow.
“Shopping as soon as the store opens or just before closing is the best time as the shops are always super tidy and you’ll find it easy to find what you’re looking for.”
And loyalty pays off with Lou adding: “Make sure you get a TK Maxx card. Instead of vouchers you get keys. Once you get five keys on a card you can choose a free gift online.
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“This can be anything from Christmas decorations and perfumed soap to an umbrella or a chance to go in the gift draw - and you don’t have to pay the postage on the item to be delivered.”
“Just remember to buy what you need, check the labels, look for red and yellow tickets and get the max value.”
