A.J. Wright is a chain of about 129 American retail/outlet stores established in
1998 and owned by TJX Companies. Like its sister company T.J. Maxx, A.J. Wright
sells clothing, domestics, giftware, footwear, accessories, and fragrances at
prices between twenty and seventy percent below regular prices. A.J. Wright differs
from other TJX chains by refreshing its merchandise on a regular basis. For
most stores, new shipments arrive every weekday. Although A.J. Wright's
primary target market is moderate-income families, its recent expansion has drawn
additional consumer groups. The company's community service strategy
centers on monetary donations to the Boys and Girls Club of America and other affiliates.
A.J. Wright opened its first six stores in the northeastern region of
the United States in the fall of 1998.The first three stores – located in the
towns of Brockton, Somerville, and Malden, Massachusetts – were opened simultaneously
on September 20 of that year.During the initial openings, Johnson & Wales
University's marketing director, Mark Neckes, approved of A.J. Wright; he stated
that A.J. Wright strengthens TJX's coverage of urban markets, an area "where
people need a place to shop [and] a place where retailers understand what people
are looking for". A.J. Wright continued to open new stores as its customer
base increased. By 2000, A.J. Wright operated 25 stores across the United
States; by December 2001, the number had increased to 40.The chain opened an
additional 112 stores by the end of 2005, bringing its total to 152; however, this
number will fluctuate due to store closures. In 2006, one business article
stated that A.J. Wright was "in the red" and that TJX needed to "figure out the
future of its newer divisions, the less profitable A.J. Wright and HomeGoods stores
and the non-off-price Bob’s Stores". Therefore, the company chose to focus
on lowering the rapid expansion of the chain. |
