TK Maxx
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | 1994 |
| Headquarters | Watford , England |
Area served | United Kingdom, Ireland, Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Poland, Australia |
| Parent | TJX Companies |
TK Maxx is a retailer specializing in discounted apparel and home goods, established in 1994 and headquartered in Watford, England.
As a subsidiary of the American company TJ Maxx, it operates under the TK Maxx brand throughout Europe to avoid legal issues with the UK discount chain T. J. Hughes. The retailer has grown its presence in the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Poland, and Australia, while also conducting business under the name Homesense.
History
Originally founded in 1976 by Bernard Cammarata in Framingham, Massachusetts, TJ Maxx opened its first overseas outlet in Bristol, UK, in 1994 using the TK Maxx name to prevent confusion with T. J. Hughes. Expansion efforts in the Netherlands from 1999 to 2001 did not meet expectations. The brand’s inaugural German location was established in Lübeck in 2007.
By 2007, TK Maxx shifted its strategy from opening new stores in the UK to upgrading existing locations, introducing larger "Maxx Maxx" store formats aimed at elevating its image from a discount retailer to a department store alternative. In August 2008, it launched its first central London shop on Kensington High Street.
A proposed store at Piccadilly Circus in 2009 was rejected by the Crown Estate due to concerns over brand alignment with their upscale positioning, despite a £1.55 million annual lease agreement. TK Maxx’s appeal was unsuccessful even with public backing.
In March 2009, TK Maxx debuted its online platform, initially offering handbags before broadening its product range.
The company re-entered the Dutch market with a new store opening in Eindhoven in October 2015. In April 2017, TK Maxx expanded into Australia by acquiring 35 Trade Secret locations, quickly establishing stores across key cities such as Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne. The first Tasmanian branch opened at Hobart’s Northgate Shopping Centre in June 2023.
United Kingdom
TK Maxx UK served as the exclusive seller of Red Nose Day T-shirts in both 2007 and 2009, raising £2 million and £3 million respectively for Comic Relief.
Since 2004, TK Maxx has partnered with the Woodland Trust, initiating efforts like a Christmas card recycling program. Starting August 2008, the retailer implemented charges on plastic bags with proceeds directed towards planting 30,000 trees on a 15-acre plot near Elmstead Market, Essex. This initiative preceded the UK’s mandatory plastic bag levy introduced in 2015, which often benefits charitable organizations.
Additionally, TK Maxx promotes the 'Give Up Clothes For Good' campaign that encourages customers to donate unwanted garments to Cancer Research UK.
Ireland
In Ireland, TK Maxx supports Enable Ireland, an organization providing complimentary services for children with disabilities.