Few stores inspire devotion in their customers like HomeGoods. Treasures abound in HomeGoods locations across the country, and for that reason shoppers are seriously dedicated to the brand. In fact, news about an up-and-coming HomeGoods spin-off store has fans eagerly awaiting the next discount home retailer.
Still, shopping at HomeGoods makes me curious. Where do buyers find the merchandise? How do certain items end up at my local HomeGoods, and not elsewhere? I have so many questions, but so few answers.
It turns out I'm not the only one. The company is notoriously secretive about their corporate processes. Fortunately, some answers are out there if one does a little digging. If you'd like to know more about the magical store that is HomeGoods, then read on.
HomeGoods is owned by TJX Companies, which also owns Marshalls and TJ Maxx.
At the end of 2014, there were 487 HomeGoods locations in the US and Puerto Rico.
The CEO of the HomeGoods parent company TJX is a woman named Carol Meyrowitz. Forbes ranked her as the 76th most powerful woman in the world in 2015.
HomeGoods, and TJX as a whole, are known for a serious dedication to privacy, as they don't want competitors discovering the secrets to their success.
TJX finds items from over 16,000 vendors to stock HomeGoods and its other subsidiaries.
HomeGoods does not sell their products online. Its sister site TJ Maxx, however, does. There may be e-shops for all TJX business one day.
At HomeGoods, as with all TJX stores, a "door to floor" approach is used. Fortune detailed the TJX system, in which new inventory gets out on the shelves and racks quickly rather than gathering dust in a storeroom.
Mario Lopez was recently treated to a guest house makeover from HomeGoods. E!'s Jason Kennedy and Lauren Scruggs, meanwhile, outfitted their house with pieces from HomeGoods, too.
One rule for vendors working with TJX and HomeGoods? Don't talk about working with TJX and HomeGoods. It's all a part of their culture of secrecy. "We're absolutely fine with every vendor saying they don't do business with us. It's a very important part of our relationship," CEO Carol Meyrowitz told USA Today.
TJX stock hit a record high in August, 2015. HomeGoods specifically had an excellent third quarter of the year.
The HomeGoods team runs a blog on their website with frequent updates from style professionals.
The company, and TJX, is based in Framingham, Massachusetts.
The HomeGoods and TJX "core customer" is described as a woman between 25 and 54, middle to upper-middle income, who also shops at high-end department and specialty stores.
The company says that TJX and HomeGoods buyers travel around the world 40 weeks a year sourcing goods for the stores.
HomeGoods was introduced by TJX in 1992.
HomeGoods has extended into foreign countries as well. The shops are called HomeSense in Canada and the UK.
CEO Carol Meyrowitz confirmed that most of what is sold across TJX's many stores is actually new, not from past seasons. She told USA Today that 85 percent of inventory is from the current year.
Celebrity party planner Mindy Weiss has worked with HomeGoods, as has food and entertaining expert Katie Lee. Even celebrity designer Nate Berkus has to get his HomeGoods fix once in a while!
HomeGoods has long had a feature called StyleScope, which helps aspiring decorators figure out their design style.