HomeSense (stylized as Homesense in Europe and the United States) is a Canadian chain of discount home furnishing stores owned by TJX Companies. It originated in Canada in 2001, and was expanded to Europe in 2008 and the United States in 2017. Outside of the United States, the chain is comparable to the TJX-owned HomeGoods. Within the US, where HomeGoods already operates, it features more big ticket items than its sister store.

History

Canadian operations

Since 2001 this brand operates in Canada, as of 2014, HomeSense holds over 100 stores including its "Mega-stores" which include full Winners and HomeSense stores combined. The Canadian chain is similar to TJX's HomeGoods chain in the United States. HomeSense operates along with Winners and Marshalls in Canada both of which share common ownership by TJX Companies. Homesense specializes in home furnishings, selling products that range from low end to name brand. Prices tend to be competitive to account for minor defects or discontinued lines; however they also carry products that are in excellent condition. Some of their items can also be found in other department stores.

European operations

In April 2008, TJX launched the HomeSense brand in the United Kingdom. The first store to open was in

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, and this was closely followed by stores in Cardiff, Bristol, Gloucester,

Northampton Northampton () is a market town and civil parish in the East Midlands of England, on the River Nene, north-west of London and south-east of Birmingham. The county town of Northamptonshire, Northampton is one of the largest towns in England; ...

and Manchester followed by Thurrock in October 2008 and Cambridge in March 2009. By the end of 2009 HomeSense are operating 14 stores and have opened an additional 6 stores between August and November in Worcester, Birmingham,

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, Romford,

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(London) and Nottingham. In 2010 HomeSense plans to open stores in Reading, Chichester, Tunbridge Wells, and

Chester Chester is a cathedral city and the county town of Cheshire, England. It is located on the River Dee, close to the English–Welsh border. With a population of 79,645 in 2011,"2011 Census results: People and Population Profile: Chester Loca ...

. The HomeSense flagship store is located in Westfield Merry Hill, Dudley, England, and opened in May 2010. Throughout April and May 2009, the original launch stores received minor refurbishments to bring design and decoration into line with newer stores. This coincided with a relaunch of the company's website, and the adoption of a new slogan, "It makes perfect HomeSense". Prior to this, the slogan was "Unique Finds, Irresistible Prices". The results of a customer survey completed in 2009 showed a 100% recommendation rate from customers, something which had been targeted prior to the brands launch. Staff aprons, the most distinctive part of the uniform, partially change on a seasonal basis. As part of TJX Europe's 'Real Responsibility' initiative, HomeSense has partnered with the homeless charity Emmaus. As well as donating unsold stock, the company has started selling

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bags for £1.99, of which at least 50p is donated to Emmaus. In 2009, the company also started selling Fairtrade cotton bags for 99p. The company does not give out any bags free in order to reduce its environmental footprint. Plastic bags come in three sizes and customers are charged 10p for the medium and large sized bags and 15p for the extra large. The revenue gained is used to cover the cost of manufacturing the bags with any remaining sum donated to

The Woodland Trust The Woodland Trust is the largest woodland conservation charity in the United Kingdom and is concerned with the creation, protection, and restoration of native woodland heritage. It has planted over 50 million trees since 1972. The Woodland Tr ...

; HomeSense does not therefore profit from the sale of its plastic bags. By the end of the financial year 2009/10 HomeSense estimates it will have sales of £270M, a 40% increase on the previous year. By the end of fiscal year 14 they expect to be one of the largest home and gift retailers in Europe. HomeSense opened its first Irish stores in Dublin and

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in June 2017.

American operations

HomeSense operates alongside and complements HomeGoods in the United States and so it differs from the original Canadian HomeSense stores and European locations. In the United States, HomeSense has a larger selection of furniture, art, and lighting from HomeGoods stores, and it even offers fixtures. Future plans for the chain include the addition of 400 more stores across the country. HomeSense opened the first U.S. location in Framingham, Massachusetts in August 2017. Later that month, the company announced plans to open two additional stores in New Jersey in East Hanover and

Seaview Square Shopping Center Seaview Square Mall was a shopping mall located in Ocean Township, in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. It has been repurposed as a power center and was renamed Seaview Square Shopping Center in 2012.TJX Companies, the parent company of HomeSense, as well as HomeGoods, Marshalls,

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, and TJ Maxx are slowly increasing their HomeSense presence in the United States. The HomeSense brand continues to open stores and expand at a slow pace opening stores each year.

Gallery

File:HomeSense HFX 2007.jpg, A store in Bayers Lake Business Park, Halifax, Nova Scotia, with the company's old logo used from 2001 to 2014 File:HomeSense in Downtown Toronto Yonge St 2023.jpg, HomeSense in Downtown Toronto, Yonge Street File:TKMaxxHomesensemetro.jpg, Homesense & TK Maxx joint store in the Metrocentre, Gateshead File:Winners & HomeSense in Vaughan Mills 2023.jpg, Homesense & Winners joint store in the Vaughan Mills, Ontario, Canada

References

External links

* * {{TJX TJX Companies Retail companies established in 2001 Furniture retailers of Canada Retail companies of the United Kingdom 2001 establishments in the United Kingdom Companies established in 2001