We shopped at TJ Maxx in New York and TK Maxx in London to see which store was better — and the winner was clear

As several major department stores flounder , TJX Companies the parent company of TJ Maxx , TK Maxx , Marshalls , HomeGoods , Homesense, and Sierra Trading Post continues to find a sweet spot in discounted goods, both in the US and abroad.

In a call with investors in May, TJX reported that comparable store sales across the portfolio rose 5% and total revenue rose by 7% to $9.3 billion in the first quarter. The growth was led primarily by the company's core brands TJ Maxx, TK Maxx, and Marshalls and point to continued consumer demand for lower-priced options.

Though TK Maxx which has 575 stores across Europe and Australia has a similar reputation to TJ Maxx's 1,257 stores across the US, many consumers fail to recognize the connection between the sister companies due to their different names .

When TJ Maxx opened in the UK in 1994, it changed its name to avoid confusion with the popular department store group TJ Hughes.

Despite a lack of shared moniker, both stores continue to boast legions of loyal shoppers and attract foot traffic that is outpacing its full-price department store peers.

"We believe this is a great indicator of the enduring appeal of our great values on an eclectic and exciting mix of merchandise and our treasure-hunt shopping experience, as well as the resiliency of our off-price retail model," TJX Companies CEO Ernie Herrman said during the earnings call in May .

While TJ Maxx and TK Maxx are, in essence, the same store, there are some pointed differences in the shopping experiences. We visited two comparable stores in the financial districts of New York City and London that both target a demographic of busy urban professionals.

Ultimately, TK Maxx's organized store layout and displays, paired with its stronger product assortment, came out on top:

When we entered the TK Maxx we were greeted by a large neon sign advertising the two biggest perks about shopping there: its cheap, and theres a constant turnover of clothing.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Business Insider/Mary Hanbury

It is instantly apparent that TK Maxx stores in the UK share the same fairly chaotic layout as their US equivalents.

Clothing is grouped by the garment type dress, t-shirt, and trousers, for example and size. This means that lots of different brands are jumbled together, and you might only find one piece in particular sizes and styles, which is why it's known as a treasure-hunt shopping experience.

At the front of the store is a small area marked as "Gold Label." These are TK Maxxs premium and pricier brands. In the US, this is comparable to TJ Maxxs "The Runway" section.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Business Insider/Mary Hanbury

We instantly spotted a garish Versace t-shirt here.

The other side of the entrance was a large makeup, beauty, and skincare section.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Business Insider/Mary Hanbury

Its likely that TK Maxx puts smaller items that are easier to shop at the front of the store to lure in customers.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Business Insider/Mary Hanbury

TK Maxx sources its inventory from several different places, including designer brands and up-and-coming labels.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Business Insider/Mary Hanbury

We spotted some local brands in the handbag department.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Business Insider/Mary Hanbury

Some products are manufactured exclusively for these stores. These items are generally cheaper to source, so TK Maxx is able to offer bigger discounts to its customers.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Business Insider/Mary Hanbury

Source: Business Insider

Analysts say that off-price stores have been successful in the age of online shopping because they offer a treasure-hunt shopping experience thats hard to replicate online.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Business Insider/Mary Hanbury

This is highly visible in the shoe department.

Customers are offered carts so they can load up with cheap clothing.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Business Insider/Mary Hanbury

We spotted dozens of Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein products around the store.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Business Insider/Mary Hanbury

These companies have said that they are looking to scale back from the off-price channel to improve their brand image, but there was still a ton in this store.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Business Insider/Mary Hanbury

Downstairs, there were rows and rows of clothing in a "Mod Box" section. TK Maxx describes this section as having its "most on-trend pieces." A quick rummage through revealed these were its low-cost and possibly lower quality fast-fashion items.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Business Insider/Mary Hanbury

Theres no real difference in the shopping experience at TK Maxx over TJ Maxx, aside from the fact that youre more likely to be shopping from brands that are better known to each region.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Business Insider/Mary Hanbury

Despite this, there were still lots of well-known US brands available.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Business Insider/Mary Hanbury

As we headed to the cashier, we came across TK Maxxs small food section. Similar to TJ Maxx, this mostly consisted of non-perishable items.

BusinessInsider USA Images

Business Insider/Mary Hanbury

Next, we visited a TJ Maxx store in Manhattans financial district. The store is located in the basement level of a building that was formerly home to the Bankers Trust Company.