Marshalls

Marshalls, you are my latest obsession! For people to easily spend $ 200 at Costco, this is MY version of Costco ’cause I’ll drop at least $ 50…on stuff that I don’t even need!
For the most part, I just buy stuff here ’cause I know how much they retail for and it’s a GOOD DEAL.
Note: Prices are inconsistent here from other locations and even on the same product within the store. However, it benefits the customers, so it’s all good! Shhh…
— I literally saw a cape at the Outlet Collection Marshalls for $ 79.99 and it was in the clearance section here for $ 30, score!
— a candle that was $ 9.99 in the actual candle section was near the cash for $ 7.99
— a Stila waterproof eye liner that I just bought at NOTL for $ 9.99 was $ 12.99 here
So keep this in mind when picking things up!
I think I’d rather shop here than Winners Heartland. That location is waaay too packed, especially during the Holiday season. And as per my last review, there are actual designer stuff here, no random no-​name brand/​cheap qualities items.
I also love the Housewares section too! You can furnish your place with some pretty nice things here. :)

I seriously don’t get it. What is the difference between this place and Winners? It literally looks the same and I think they have similar prices. They are also just as unorganized with open packages everywhere so you have to look for the «un-​opened» item.
But for whatever reason, this place is always super busy.
Verdict: Same as Winners, no point in coming here if you already went to Winners.
Business advice: Can American companies do some research on the Canadian market before coming here instead of just trying to replicate the same business model? Didn’t work for Krispy Kreme, not working for Target and won’t work for Marshall’s either.

As far as discount stores goes, this one is pretty good. Most discount places are in disarray and you would have an easier time finding a date as 40 year old male virgin than finding clothes to buy in these types of stores. It is super rare that I buy clothes from Marshall’s. I don’t have 1hour to sift through the racks BUT their shoe and beauty area are really well organized. I come here only to do a walk by for those 2 areas. If I’m lucky, ill score some amazing deals.
Winners and Marshall’s are like the lottery. Sometimes you hit the jackpot. More often you walk away empty handed. I really like the shoe area for kids and me. It’s organized nicely by person (woman, man, kids) and type of shoe (casual, dressy, boots…). I can easily see the styles and find my size which has the inventory all neatly in boxes below the display shoes. The prices are clearly marked as well. The first discount is not great. I always head to the clearance section where the cut is steep but selection can be lousy. I’ve scored Ferragamo and LAMB leather heels for only $ 80 each here. I’ve also bought Columbia and Nike kid shoes for only $ 12. You really have to wait it out and get lucky.
The cosmetic area is not large here but I can grab salon brand shampoo and conditioner 1liter for $ 14 each. That’s a great deal. The perfumes are usually lousy here. I only see the celebrity perfumes and often at mediocre prices. Last time they had 10 bottles of Paris Hilton. Ugh… I cannot imagine what that smells like. Blonde bleach hair dye mixed with desperate has-​been drunk driving breathalyzer odors. Lovely I imagine.
Service is friendly but it can be panicked during lunch times. The wait at cashiers càn go from no wait to a line up 20 people in seconds. Avoid this store on Saturdays at all cost. It makes the Toronto Zoo look tame in comparison. You’ll have 200 families here all shopping with strollers and kids dropping tantrums non stop. That being said, they supposedly start the new clearance Friday night so Saturday has the best pickings.

This is terrible compared to the Marshalls in the US. If you go to an American Marshalls, you’ll notice it’s packed with people and inventory and the discounts are big.
This store on the other hand is quite big but not that much actual inventory as far as clothing goes. The prices aren’t high but not really any discounts on the good stuff. I went here when it opened and when I go now, it’s clear that they have no plans to replenish their stock. I can’t comment on the shoes but the men’s clothing selection is fairly poor and they don’t carry some of the other neat random things that Winners have.
It might just be this location but I don’t think Canadian Marshalls was ever going to work because they can’t offer the same types of discounts as in the US. My advice would be to go to Winners first and if you can’t find your clothing from there or elsewhere then go here (and just avoid it altogether if you’re a guy, the kids selection also seems better at Winners).

Poooooop!!!
Being American, I had clear expectations of what to expect from Marshalls and this Canadian branch fails. :(
Important to note: This location does NOT carry housewares. At all.

Yikes. This is going to be long, sorry! Previous reviewers (for a different location) called Marshalls out for being Winners in disguise– well, they’re right! Though I can’t say they ever hid it, as they are owned by the same parent company and always have been. The Winners here in Canada was originally based off the US Marshalls. Winners was not purchased by Marshalls and Winners isn’t going anywhere. They’re just also bringing Marshalls up into the mix. (The illusion of choice is a great business tactic!) It is not in any way like the Zellars Target acquisition: Zellars was not the same inventory as Target. Zellars wasn’t always owned by Target. Also, and maybe this is because I lived in the States and am very familiar with what Target carries, but I am really excited that Zellars is on the way out and Target is on the way in. But this isn’t about Target or Zellars, it’s about Winners. Er, Marshalls.
Personally, I don’t mind having two (or three!) stores that offer a great selection of high quality things. How is more selection a bad thing?
As for it being «a poor man’s Winners», I don’t really think that’s accurate either because they get a lot of the same inventory and they even have the same prices. Also, the shoe sections have higher quality brands than you will find at any of the other Winners and the prices reflect that!
Maybe I’m just a Winners fan but I know from experience that each Winners is good for different things. Men’s designer suits? Winners in Heartland. Goodies for the home (like shelving)? Winners at Winston Churchill. Active wear for women? Winners in Heartland. Organic goodies? Winners in Milton!
I mean, I could go on and on, but I think you get my point. Marshalls is no different. So, really, I don’t understand what’s WRONG with this store. Everyone is giving it two stars because it’s Winners. Well, I like Winners!
Something to note about this particular Marshalls: they have an INSANE collection of shoes. (I’ve now added: «Looking for shoes? Marshalls by Heartland!» to my ever evolving list!)
The only complaint I personally have is one that will change in time. It is a very big store, but it is very busy right now since it just opened. I imagine once the hype dies down a little it will be a great place for women’s clothing and the like and I’ll be able to really get a sense of what they carry that the others don’t. I can’t really expect a store like Marshalls (or Winners), with its thrift-​like first come first serve nature, to have a good selection when 300 people are jammed in the store at all times raking the racks.
So, to sum it up, if you like brands at a discount, and you like Winners– give Marshalls a shot. The things to note at the moment are great shoes, no home sections, though they do have a nice section for organic food!
And you may want to wait to go at a time that is less busy (say August or September). Or perhaps go during the week.
Happy hunting!