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When money expert Clark Howard talks about great deals on the radio show, you often hear him mention stores like Walmart, Ross Dress for Less, Aldi and Dollar Tree.
But when’s the last time you visited Roses Discount Store? It’s a regional off-price chain that you don’t want to overlook!
Read more: 12 money-saving secrets to know about T.J. Maxx and Marshalls
The retailer is part of Variety Wholesalers, a North Carolina-based company that operates nearly 400 stores under a handful of banners, including Roses and its smaller sibling, Roses Express.
Currently in 17 states from Ohio to Florida, a company spokesperson told Clark.com that Roses is in growth mode. It’s on track to open 25 new stores and remodel 25 existing stores in 2017.
Roses is known for selling the everyday staples you need for life, plus one-time closeout buys — at very low prices.
“Our model isn’t to rollback prices. We offer the deepest discount possible at everyday low prices,” said Rachel Wing, VP of marketing at Variety Wholesalers. “So it’s not like a shopper has to wait and come back when it’s marked down.â€
What exactly can you find at your neighborhood Roses or Roses Express? I stopped by a store outside Atlanta to see for myself!
To find the best bargains at Roses, you have to understand how the store is organized.
The perimeter of the store features apparel, shoes, home decor, auto care, toys, electronics and seasonal items, while the beauty and food departments are located in the middle of the store.
Popular closeout buys can be anywhere, but featured sale items are generally located in the aisles and on banquet tables.
In one of the aisles, I stumbled upon this huge table of $10 Wrangler jeans. They had all sizes in regular and slim fit. And the price is about $7 less than the cheapest pair of Wranglers at Walmart.
Ben Sherman ties are only $3.99 at Roses! The store also has $10 dress shirts, $8 belts and $18 dress shoes. Similar Ben Sherman ties sell for $17.97 at Nordstrom Rack and $12.99 at Burlington.
If you’re paying more than $1 for a gift bag, you’re paying too much. Medium bags are $1 at Roses and there are smaller ones for $0.50. The store had an entire aisle of bags to choose from.
Gift bags are also on my list of the best things to buy at Dollar Tree.
When Roses has a great deal, there are signs everywhere to tell you about it. Where else can you buy a travel pillow for less than $2? The “Unbeatable Value” signs spotlight items you’ll want to grab before they’re gone.
Every throw pillow in this bin is priced at just $2.50! And just like the travel pillows I showed you, this incredible value was located in the center aisle of the store.
Along with many other off-price retailers, Roses is finding that customers can’t get enough of home decor. Here are just some of the super-low prices I jotted down:
$29.99 bed-in-a-bag sets
$10 photo collage
2 for $5 bath towels
Although Roses does release a sale ad a couple of times per month, its mission is to offer low prices every time you shop. If you’re 55 or older, the savings don’t stop there. Show your ID to get an extra 10% off on Wednesdays.
Many traditional retailers have a separate clearance area in the back, but I discovered marked down merchandise at Roses mixed in throughout the store. Keep an eye out for the yellow signs and tags!
Speaking of clearance items, check out what I spotted in the furniture section. The price of this charcoal gray sofa was slashed to just $200. That’s even cheaper than Ikea!
Read more: 5 ways to buy nice furniture on a budget
Roses’ assortment of food, toys and supplies for your pet takes up a few aisles. It reminded me of the selection at other off-price retailers such as T.J. Maxx and Marshalls. Lots of dog beds for just $5!
Roses is not a dollar store, but several areas of the store are quite similar to Dollar Tree and Family Dollar. Candy, shampoo and coloring books are a few of the items that sell for a buck.
Read more: 7 foods you should never buy at the dollar store
$1 boxed candy
$1 shampoo from VO5 and White Rain
$1 coloring books
I hadn’t been to a Roses in probably 10 years until just recently, but I ended up leaving with a bag of stuff — including the $3.99 tie and $1.99 travel pillow featured in this story.
If you’re trying to save money, embrace the treasure hunt at various off-price retailers. You may be surprised what you find!
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