Inventory Insights
August 13, 2025
Off-price retail isn’t a last resort anymore. It’s a growth channel. Brands like Mario Badescu are selling in retailers like TJMaxx while thriving in Ulta. Gen Z shoppers are discovering products in-store the same way they scroll TikTok: fast, visual, and value-driven. If you’re not planning for off-price in 2026, you’re already behind.
1. Off-price is brand amplification
Founders often fear that landing in off‑price means sacrificing prestige, but the reality is the opposite. Retail buyers across TJX, Bealls, Ross, and Burlington consistently tell us:
“The brands that move fastest here are the ones scaling on Amazon or in Ulta, Target, and Walmart.”
Off-price can extend brand halo when the strategy is intentional.
2. Mario Badescu’s savvy channel mix
Take Mario Badescu - A brand that stays stocked in Ulta, yet thrives in TJMaxx locations. They understand that being found at a great price in an unexpected context delivers both instant gratification and long-term loyalty.
3. Planning matters and price pressure doesn’t have to
The myth that off‑price demands pennies-on-the-dollar is just that… A myth. When product is sized, branded, and segmented strategically, off‑price buyers pay healthy rates. You’re not liquidating inventory, you’re creating opportunity.
4. The TikTok Shop-to-off-price loop
Consumers today discover brands across omnichannel platforms in a seamless loop. But it's not all smooth sailing.
According to the The Sun and Retail Dive, TikTok Shop has become a key source of discovery. 70% of users say they discover new products on the platform. Yet some brands are hitting turbulence. Issues like counterfeit listings, rising commission fees, and algorithm changes are prompting brands like Hair Syrup and Mallows Beauty to diversify beyond TikTok Shop (The Times).
That’s where off‑price becomes an amplifier AND a strategic backup.
5. Gen Z wants IRL discovery
In a world of swipe-first commerce, Gen Z craves real-world exploration. “Dupe Culture” is all about value-driven discovery where affordable alternatives mimic premium looks, creating social currency and joy in store (FT, Business Insider).
That sensory, serendipitous, “I found this” moment is exactly why off‑price works. It’s in real life and its content-ready.
At Common Shelf, we’ve seen this play out with some of our clients
Roofus stands out with a clean, premium look, and has soared through off‑price placements.
Fomin has driven major velocity in Bealls and TJMaxx using a viral-first product, gaining exposure without brand dilution. The brand has now secured traditional retail placements off the back of this off-price success
See the case studies → www.commonshelf.co/case-studies
Right now is Q1 planning season. If off‑price isn’t a part of your roadmap, you’re missing out.
The brands that crush it in 2026 won’t accidentally land in TJMaxx, they’ll plan for it. Audience-first strategy, intentional distribution, and cross-channel storytelling is how you hit 7-figure revenue in off-price.
Common Shelf helps you build that playbook.
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