)
Kohl's
and
Burlington
are both loved by shoppers for a number of reasons, including the low prices that both stores have on a huge variety of products.
Kohl's recently reported that comparable sales were up 2.5% in the third quarter, while Burlington reported last week that comparable sales were up 4.4% in the third quarter.
While Burlington has 679 stores in the United States, Kohl's has more than 1,100.
Both stores are benefiting from a disappearing middle class and a higher demand for budget options — two factors that have been hurting traditional department stores. In addition, because most Kohl's stores are located in suburban strip malls rather than shopping malls, it's less likely to be affected by the declining foot traffic that has hurt malls and the retailers that depend on them.
Even though Kohl's is a department store and Burlington is an off-price retailer, upon visiting the two stores we found that they were similar in many ways — the styles and quality of the products were nearly identical, and both offered recognizable brands for low prices.
But one store was better than the other for a key reason:
Burlington, in New Yorks Flatiron District, was my first stop.
)
Business Insider/Jessica Tyler
Christmas decorations and seasonal products were set up to the left of the entryway.
)
Business Insider/Jessica Tyler
Womens clothing was on the right.
)
Business Insider/Jessica Tyler
That section took up most of the first floor. The aisles seemed to go on forever.
)
Business Insider/Jessica Tyler
The aisles were very narrow and difficult to walk through, especially if more than one person was trying to shop.
)
Business Insider/Jessica Tyler
There was an overwhelming amount of clothing to go through. I saw a lot of recognizable brands like Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger, and most of the name-brand products were under $35.
)
Business Insider/Jessica Tyler
There were tons of jeans ...
)
Business Insider/Jessica Tyler
... jackets ...
)
Business Insider/Jessica Tyler
... and items on clearance.
)
Business Insider/Jessica Tyler
In the back of the store was a maze of handbags from brands like Juicy Couture and Betsey Johnson.
)
Business Insider/Jessica Tyler
There were a lot of makeup and beauty products at low prices ...
)
Business Insider/Jessica Tyler
... and even more womens clearance items. A lot of the in-store displays were pretty messy.
)
Business Insider/Jessica Tyler
There were a lot of snacks and small products for sale by the register, which had a very long line.
)
Business Insider/Jessica Tyler
When I went upstairs, I noticed that the second floor had a very long line for the register as well.
)
Business Insider/Jessica Tyler
There were a few aisles of shoes ...
)
Business Insider/Jessica Tyler
... but a lot of shelves were empty. The store was very no-frills.
)
Business Insider/Jessica Tyler
The second floor also carried toys ...
)
Business Insider/Jessica Tyler
... more clearance products ...
)
Business Insider/Jessica Tyler
... and a ton of mens clothing.
)
Business Insider/Jessica Tyler
There was a tailor shop at the back of the floor, though the area around it was cluttered and messy.
)
Business Insider/Jessica Tyler
There was even more packed into the third floor. There were aisles of womens coats ...
)
Business Insider/Jessica Tyler
... infant and toddler clothes ...
)
Business Insider/Jessica Tyler
... and plenty of baby products like car seats and strollers.
)
Business Insider/Jessica Tyler
Home products were also upstairs. It wasnt the nicest store to shop in. The wood floors were stained, and a lot of the carpets were dirty.
)
Business Insider/Jessica Tyler
There were flickering lights, long lines, and a lot of clutter.
)
Business Insider/Jessica Tyler
Next, I went to Kohls in Jersey City, New Jersey.
)
Business Insider/Jessica Tyler
Menswear was the first department I saw when I walked in. The store immediately seemed cleaner and brighter than Burlington.
)
Business Insider/Jessica Tyler
Kohls carried name brands like Adidas and Under Armour, but they were slightly more expensive here than at Burlington.
)
Business Insider/Jessica Tyler
Even though products generally seemed more expensive, there was a lot on sale.
)
Business Insider/Jessica Tyler
The organization of the floor wasnt great, but everything was more spread out than at Burlington, which made it more manageable to shop at.
)
Business Insider/Jessica Tyler
Between the mens department and womens department were accessories, many of which were 50% off.
)
Business Insider/Jessica Tyler
There were a lot of styles to choose from ...
)
Business Insider/Jessica Tyler
... and a huge beauty department, similar to that of a traditional department store.
)
Business Insider/Jessica Tyler
Womens clothes were also slightly more expensive at Kohls than at Burlington ...
)
Business Insider/Jessica Tyler
... but there was just as much to choose from.
)
Business Insider/Jessica Tyler
There were also a lot of sales.
)
Business Insider/Jessica Tyler
Further back in the store, there was a huge clearance section.
)
Business Insider/Jessica Tyler
Some products were as much as 80% off.
)
Business Insider/Jessica Tyler
Upstairs was a huge childrens department.
)
Business Insider/Jessica Tyler
There was a brand-new toy display from FAO Schwarz set up in time for the holidays ...
)
Business Insider/Jessica Tyler
... and a space set up for kids to meet Santa throughout December.
)
Business Insider/Jessica Tyler
The top floor also carried shoes ...
)
Business Insider/Jessica Tyler
... bedding ...
)
Business Insider/Jessica Tyler
... and a lot of home products.
)
Business Insider/Jessica Tyler
The electronics department was also brand-new. There were games, speakers, smart home devices, and more.
)
Business Insider/Jessica Tyler
Kohls even had a few tech products like the Apple Watch, which Burlington did not.
)
Business Insider/Jessica Tyler
Another thing Kohls had that Burlington did not was online-order pickup lockers. They looked extremely similar to an Amazon Locker.
)
Business Insider/Jessica Tyler
Even though Burlington was slightly less expensive, Kohls offered a significantly better shopping experience. It also had more electronics, order-pickup lockers, and plenty of sales to keep prices low, ultimately making it the clear winner.
)
Business Insider/Jessica Tyler
See Also:
SEE ALSO: These are the best stores to shop for toys now that Toys R Us has died