By Mark Seavy 

Discounts chains are gaining a new sheen—one that’s free from a previous reputation as the option of last resort to close out excess inventory. 

That is not to say that chains like TJX Companies, Ross Stores, Dollar General, Burlington Stores, and Ollie’s Bargain Outlet are averse to buying close-out inventory. But with store remodels, loyalty programs (Ollie’s Army has 17 million members), and greater access to national brands, these value chains have become a go-to for consumers looking to cut spending amid rising prices. 

Overall, retailers are expected to close 7,900 stores this year, the lowest number in three years (and down from a high of 9,300 stores during the pandemic in 2020), according to Coresight Research. That follows a year in which several large chains—including Party City (700 locations), Big Lots (901) and Joanne (815)—closed. And, according to Coresight, about 5,600 stores are expected to open this year. 

In particular, the growth of value and discount retailers is underscored by their store opening plans. Dollar General (450 new stores), Aldi (168), TJX Companies (146, including T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, Sierra Trading Post, HomeGoods, and Home Sense), Tractor Supply (100), and Dollar Tree (33) have all announced plans for expansion. These growth plans have caught the attention of vendors, although in some cases—like Dollar General (which opened 611 new locations in 2025), Aldi (225), and Dollar Tree (442)—the store openings planned for 2026 are down compared to a year ago. 

Dinnerware supplier Lifetime Brands, for example, counts Walmart, TJX Companies, and Costco among its key customers. Walmart accounted for 17% of Lifetime Brands’ $647.9 million revenue in 2025, with TJX Companies (11%) and Costco (11%) following close behind. Yet Lifetime chose Dollar General to launch a licensed Dolly Parton collection in 2025, distribution that’s set to expand to other retailers this year. 

“Companies will develop products for these retailers specifically sometimes,” said David Mackrell, President of Lifetime’s Dinnerware Division, which posted $18 million in sales with Parton products in 2025. “It is different from years ago where companies went to the [discount] retailers to get rid of inventory. Now, that is a small part of the business. Consumers go into these stores and feel that if they see it, they need to buy it because it might not be there next week. These retailers create a sense of urgency, where some other retailers might have that same product on the shelf for eight months.” 

Creating that feeling of urgency has been built into many value retailers, some of which also operate full-price stores. H-E-B, a grocery chain in Texas, started the discount format Joe V’s Mart Shop in 2010 and has gradually expanded it to 14 locations with another one due to open in Garland, TX this year. Off-price chain Ross Stores operates more than 1,900 locations under its Ross Dress for Less banner but also operates 366 dd’s Discounts locations, with long-term plans for 700 stores. dd’s offers 10-70% discounts and a more moderate selection of products, while Ross has 20-60% discounts and more national brands. Additionally, Ollie’s is adding furniture to its merchandise mix and dropping wall-to-wall carpets after buying 40 former Big Lots locations that feature furniture displays. 

“There has been an evolution of our business as we continue to grow, maybe more like an off-price chain, with closeouts as the most important driver of our value proposition,” TJX Companies CEO Ernie Herrman said. “That is how we see our business as we move forward, especially as we grow and scale.”