The first store we visited was Kohl’s in Upland, California, on a Monday afternoon around 2 p.m. Upland is a suburb about 40 miles east of Los Angeles.
Danielle Bauter
Located near the entrance was a selection of toys aimed at holiday shoppers. My mom quickly made a friend.
Danielle Bauter
Kohl’s also had an extraordinary selection of games and puzzles.
Danielle Bauter
At Kohl’s, almost everything was on sale, Adidas included. I appreciated how prices were clearly marked and that similar items were displayed together.
Danielle Bauter
I was also drawn to the Levi’s display, and I appreciated that the jeans were folded neatly, making it easier to find the right size.
Danielle Bauter
The one exception to the store’s organization was the clearance sections in each department. In the shoe department, shoes were spilling onto the floor with no real semblance of order.
Danielle Bauter
Kohl’s also had a large selection of luggage, with prices marked down to 50% off for American Tourister.
Danielle Bauter
The housewares department at Kohl’s also featured name brands like Ninja and Keurig, but the discounts didn’t seem that great — the Ninja coffee maker only had a $20 markdown.
Danielle Bauter
It seemed the word “sale” was ever-present around the store, with Food Network cookware also featured.
Danielle Bauter
But once again, the clearance section was a mess.
Danielle Bauter
There was quite a selection of comforter sets that were marked down to 40% or 50% off.
Danielle Bauter
The home decor section also featured merchandise at 60% off, with some items under $10.
Danielle Bauter
Surprisingly, I found Lands’ End coats at Kohl’s. I thought Lands’ End clothing was only available online, so I made a mental note of this.
Danielle Bauter
There was also a selection of stylish purses by Simply Vera Vera Wang. The renowned designer started the collection for Kohl’s in 2007. I loved how they were neatly displayed and organized.
Danielle Bauter
Source: Kohl’s
At the back of the store was a whole wall of Lego merchandise, with games for all ages.
Danielle Bauter
Former reality TV star and lifestyle maven Lauren Conrad also has a line at Kohl’s.
Danielle Bauter
The jewelry department boasted sales up to 60% off, and watches by such brands as Bulova and Seiko.
Danielle Bauter
At Kohl’s I saw about 15 people in the store, while T.J. Maxx had at least three times that many. This may have been because it was a little later in the day.
Danielle Bauter
Unlike Kohl’s, The T.J. Maxx accessories department was right near the front of the store, which included a selection of handbags, scarves, hats, and neck pillows.
Danielle Bauter
The luggage section was perhaps the most organized in the store, even though it was right next to the accessories.
Danielle Bauter
The jewelry department also had no semblance of order, and prices were not clearly marked.
Danielle Bauter
Even though T.J. Maxx had a large selection of handbags and wallets, I just couldn’t get over the clutter enough to want to browse through it.
Danielle Bauter
The bath and body display was similarly cluttered, with no separation by particular brands. Prices were marked individually and most seemed to be marked down by about 30%.
Danielle Bauter
