As an avid discount shopper who loves tracking down quality goods at bargain prices, I‘ve come to rely on Ross Dress for Less as my go-to retailer for brand name apparel, stylish decor and everything in between. But even as a Ross devotee making weekly pilgrimages to scope out fresh inventory deliveries, I understand the appeal of mixing up your shopping routine.
Luckily for us bargain hunters, Ross is far from the only player in the off-price retail game focused on scoring steep discounts direct from manufacturers to pass onto savvy shoppers. Numerous brick-and-mortar and online merchants have adopted similar business models anchored around negotiating wholesale deals in order to sell designer merchandise at 20 to 70 percent off regular retail.
In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll outline 10 thrilling stores like Ross that serve up a familiar treasure hunt shopping experience. Expect details on typical discounts, product range, brand assortment and shopping tips so you can determine which retailers deserve a spot in your regular rotation.
Overview of Stores Like Ross
Before getting to my top 10 list, let‘s define the core characteristics that categorize a retailer as a store like Ross:
Brand Name Goods: Offers products from major manufacturers like Nike, Ralph Lauren, Dyson instead of exclusively private label items
Wide Product Selection: Sells a diverse range of merchandise including apparel, accessories, footwear, home goods, toys, electronics etc. rather than niche categories
Deep Discounts: Advertises at least 20%, but up to 70% off MSRP through tactics like buying overstock and surplus
Rotation of New Stock: Frequently introduces latest inventory finds usually via direct shipment relationships with vendors
Stores that check these four boxes provide thill-seeking shoppers like us with an unpredictable, dynamic selection of steeply discounted products. Now let‘s explore 10 alternatives that can deliver the same adrenaline rush.
#1: Marshalls
Our first entry comes from the same parent company underpinning Ross and its discount sibling T.J. Maxx…
As nearly identical off-price outlets, Marshalls stocks an abundant range of designer brands across men’s, women’s, children’s apparel, alongside beauty, pet products, athletic gear, kitchenware, furniture and home decor. Impressive labels like Ralph Lauren, DKNY, Nike and more make regular appearances thanks to Marshall’s keen ability to score bulk surplus buys passed onto shoppers at 20 to 60 percent off typical prices.
Marshalls maintains over 1,000 US locations from Manhattan fashion districts to rural shopping plazas allowing treasure hunt enthusiasts to unearth premium products at bargain rates within their geographic vicinity. Daily inventory deliveries translate into a sense of FOMO, so I recommend stopping into your local Marshalls at least biweekly to sidestep shopper’s remorse. Don‘t forget to scour clearance racks with additional red tag reductions on out-of-season items.
Typical Discounts: 20% to 60% off MSRP
Top Brands: Ralph Lauren, DKNY, Nike, Michael Kors
Price Point: Mid-tier designer brands at significant mark downs
Major Perk: Identical business model to Ross makes Marshalls an obvious alternative with big name product in an expansive range of categories
#2: T.J. Maxx
As retail trailblazer and off-price innovator opening its first location in 1976, T.J. Maxx deserves credit for pioneering the discount formula Ross later adopted. As part of the TJX family of brands, T.J. Maxx behaves as a close cousin to Marshalls with savvy buyers sourcing excess inventory for pennies on the dollar to sell at up to 60% less than department stores.
Beyond the usual offerings of clothing, accessories, beauty items and home goods, seasoned Maxx shoppers know that this merchant sets itself apart through ANTHM, The Runway at Maxx, and The Find dedicated sections centralizing deals on premium brands. For example, recent ANTHM merchandise spanned Gucci sneakers marked down to $250 alongside a classic Saint Laurent leather moto jacket priced at 60% less than retail.
With over 1,200 locations and a higher total store count than Marshalls, T.J. Maxx gives shoppers increased opportunities to pursue what I call "high/low thrills" – designer merchandise at basement bargain prices.
Typical Discounts: 20% to 60% off MSRP
Top Brands: Michael Kors, Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren
Price Point: Spans value brands through luxury names like Gucci
Major Perk: Badge as off-price pioneer; specialty sections for elevated brands
#3: Nordstrom Rack
Transitioning from Ross sister sites to standalone off-price chains, Nordstrom Rack offers a prestigious pipeline of merchandise as the outlet store subsidiary under Nordstrom…
Compared to Ross, Nordstrom Rack puts greater emphasis on aspirational brands at various price points – think Kate Spade purses and sunglasses, premium denim from Joe’s Jeans, Stuart Weitzman heels at 60% reductions and men’s suits from powerhouse Hugo Boss. As Nordy employees unload last season‘s styles alongside customer returns, Rack cherry picks the best merchandise for further markdowns spanning 30 to 70% deductions.
Beyond the marquee Nordstrom name that holds sway for shoppers seeking high-quality investment pieces, Rack also impresses with store count exceeding 240 locations from urban storefronts like NYC‘s Union Square outpost down to suburban strip mall outlets. Increased accessibility heightens the convenience factor for deal seekers.
Typical Discounts: 30% to 70% off MSRP
Top Brands: Hugo Boss, Kate Spade, Tory Burch
Price Point: Mid-tier contemporary through luxury discounts
Major Perk: Association with upscale Nordstrom parent brand brings elevated merchandise to outlet Rack stores
#4: Stein Mart
Shifting focus to regional discount department store chain Stein Mart headquartered in Florida but steadily expanding outward across 30 states…
While Ross concentrates efforts around securely mid-market names, Stein Mart injects luxury into its offerings at 20 to 60% reductions from estimated retail. Massive savings apply to investment bags from Coach and Dooney & Bourke alongside prestige beauty brands like Lancome, Clarisonic and Smashbox. VIP labels in apparel and shoes range from Stuart Weitzman to Vince Camuto, Tahari, Lacoste and Tommy Bahama.
Beyond marquee merchandise, the true thrill of Stein Mart comes from its sales stacked on top of already reduced prices. Time your visit to coincide with seasonal clearance events, and you can snag staggering 70%+ discounts off original sticker prices.
Typical Discounts: 20% to 60% off MSRP + Additional Clearance Sales
Top Brands: Coach, Stuart Weitzman, Vince Camuto
Price Point: true high/low mix from casual brands through luxury names
Major Perk: Prestige assortment overall, especially handbags, ladies‘ shoes and jewelry
#5: Gabriel Brothers
A smaller regional outlet player that still packs a punch in its 150+ store fleet concentrated across the Midwestern and Eastern United States…
Gabriel Brothers intersects big box appeal with small town sensibilities, bringing steep 70% markdowns on brand name overstock to rural communities often overlooked. Beyond considerable cost savings, shoppers gravitate to Gabriel’s for its wide range from children’s, women’s and men’s apparel to beauty, pet supplies, seasonal items, home furnishings and automotive accessories.
Nabbing merchandise in coveted sizes before shelves clear out presents some challenge given lower total inventory levels, so I recommend keeping an eye out for newly introduced product and clearance price cuts revealed each Saturday.
Typical Discounts: Up to 70% off MSRP
Top Brands: Nike, Disney, Carter’s, Ralph Lauren
Price Point: Value to mid-tier brands
Major Perk: Huge cost savings for small town shoppers across all categories
#6: Five Below
Shifting gears to examine discount retailer Five Below catering to tweens, teens and college shoppers…
This quickly expanding chain stretching across 40 states owes its success to a straightforward model: all merchandise priced at $5 or less – hence the name. Shoppers enjoy curated selections of relevant impulse purchases like phone cases, string lights for dorm decor, Anastasia Beverly Hills cosmetics and even robust Lenovo Bluetooth speakers…all costing just $5 even.
What Five Below lacks in prestige brands it compensates for with irresistible deals on trendy accessories, beach essentials, room decor, beauty products and electronics that appeal to younger demographics. Impressive expansion efforts show no sign of slowing down, so expect new locations providing convenient access to seasonal items and hot ticket teen gear.
Typical Discounts: Fixed $5 or less pricing
Top Brands: Anastasia Beverly Hills, Remington, Revlon, Disney
Price Point: Trendy brands—not luxury names
Major Perk: All products capped at $5 even delivers extreme budgets
#7: Ollie‘s Bargain Outlet
A one-of-a-kind category killer bringing rock-bottom pricing through buying truckloads of closeout merchandise and special purchase opportunities simply not accessible to smaller retailers…
Ollie’s stocks an ever-changing product mix dictated by closeout availability spanning flooring, tools, cookware and more alongside traditional staples like foodstuffs, cleaning supplies, paper goods. Weekly inventory resets encourage repeat visits to uncover deals as merchandise comes and goes at warp speed. Shoppers willing to sift through irregular items and unlabeled surplus ultimately reap rewards with total cost savings ranging from 30 to 70% every day.
With over 450 locations stretching from small town America into larger suburban regions, Ollie’s model resonates by mixing extreme bargains with recognizable brands. Expect to spot names like Kellogg’s, Glad trash bags, Purex laundry essentials and even Star Wars merch marked down significantly.
Typical Discounts: 30% to 70%+ off MSRP
Top Brands: Hanes, Dial, Kellogg’s
Price Point: Value brands, closeout goods
Major Perk: Absolute lowest pricing possible for excess inventory and overstock
#8: Zulily
As retail landscape continues shifting online, flash sales site and app Zulily emerges as leader in web-based off-price events offering endless style discoveries at up to 70% off thanks to a boutique-style curation process…
Zulily‘s web and mobile platforms feature daily shopping events spanning apparel, footwear, accessories, home goods, toys and electronics. Each themed sale event cherry picks inventory personalized to customers predicated on individual account data – so what appears for a new mom looks entirely different than selections for a twenty something fashionsta.
The model is built around scarcity and urgency heightened by extreme price reductions and limited quantities as little as a single unit per size and color . Procrastinators can risk missing out on coveted merchandise that may not rerun in future events should items sell out rapidly.
Typical Discounts: 50% to 70%+ off MSRP
Top Brands: Pier One Imports, Poketo, Melissa & Doug plus kids’ apparel
Price Point: Constant rotation – value brands through contemporary
Major Perk: Personalized daily deals strengthen merchandise relevance to each shopper
#9: ThredUP
A sustainable secondhand retailer extending high quality clothing lifecycles while delivering tremendous value for eco-conscious shoppers. As the largest online consignment thrift store, ThredUp offers coveted styles at up to 90% off retail.
Unlike sketchy resale outlets, every single ThredUp item withstands rigorous inspection accepting only contemporary wares devoid of pilling, stains, snags or defects from brands like Anthropologie, J.Crew, Free People and Madewell. Sophisticated backend algorithms then recommend styles to users based on fashion preferences and sizing.
For the sustainability-minded, ThredUp provides opportunity to score quality pre-owned threads at basement bargain rates compared to mall prices. So both your personal values and your wallet can feel rewarded.
Typical Discounts: Up to 90%+ off retail
Top Brands: Anthropologie, J.Crew, Madewell
Price Point: Resale rates on contemporary apparel brands
Major Perk: High quality secondhand clothing supporting circular economies
#10: Amazon Warehouse
Our final entry examines little-known division of Amazon called Warehouse consisting entirely of open box items listed at huge markdowns after undergoing rigorous inspection…
Populated with customer returns, Amazon Warehouse offers steep discounts on home goods, electronics, video games, home appliances, apparel, even outdoor living. Shoppers willing to purchase open box items returned with original packaging and accessories can save up to 80% while still backed by Amazon’s returns policy.
The very nature of selling former returns creates striking diversity in merchandise availability. On any given visit expect singularities like a high-end Miele dishwasher, gaming laptop from Razer or outdoor patio sectional alongside everyday products like AmazonBasics paper towels and single serve coffee makers.
Typical Discounts: 20% to 90%+ off MSRP depending on open box condition
Top Brands: Continually fluctuating inventory from Target brands through luxury names
Price Point: Value buys on up with premium open box deals possible
Major Perk: Amazon inspection process and backing increases confidence for open box items
Key Takeaways
While Ross rightfully earned popularity amongst bargain shoppers for its winning combo of big name products, broad merchandise categories and reduced prices of 20 to 60% off retail, plenty alternatives bring similar capabilities to save money without sacrificing style and quality.
The 10 retailers outlined above truly mimic the beloved treasure hunt environment I personally associate with Ross thanks to discounted designer brands delivered via direct wholesale relationships and overstock purchases. Whether in search of apparel to build out an entire family wardrobe or a singular investment handbag, variety and opportunity connect Marshalls to Zulily to Ollie’s for considerable cost savings every day.
No longer limited to my favorite standby Ross when craving discounted goods, I can now inject new excitement into the persistent pursuit of scoring well-made products at the best possible value. Without getting stuck in a financial rut, refreshing my go-to rotation creates new discovery potential. Happy treasure hunting, fellow savings seekers!
