A former TK Maxx employee has shared insider knowledge on how shoppers can identify the best bargains using secret codes on price labels. Daniel Baker, a former senior merchandiser for the discount retailer, explained that each item's white label contains a single-digit number in the right-hand corner, indicating how the product was sourced.
According to Baker, the numbers to look for are one, two, and seven. A code of one means the item was made specifically for TK Maxx by another brand, so the recommended retail price (RRP) is an estimate. Code two indicates a 'close out' item—genuine stock from an existing brand that TK Maxx acquired at a bargain price and passed the savings to customers. Code seven denotes 'packaway' items from a previous season, such as unsold Christmas crackers.
Baker told Channel 5's documentary 'How To Bag A Bargain' that the most exciting number for shoppers is two, as it represents genuine stock previously sold at a higher price elsewhere. The documentary also noted that about 60% of TK Maxx items carry the number two code, offering a solid chance of finding a steal. Around 40% of products are produced specifically for the store, though this varies.
To enhance the shopping experience, Assistant Metro Lifestyle editor Jess Lindsay, a self-proclaimed 'TK Maxx addict', recommends having a goal before entering the store and starting with the clearance section, where yellow-sticker items can be reduced to as low as 20p. She advises checking items for faults and using Google to verify if a markdown is genuinely a bargain.
