Top 10 Department Stores in the USA
Retail sales in the United States of America totaled $7.1 trillion in 2022, an 8.2% increase from the previous year’s numbers. If you’re a small business whose target audience is in the USA, knowing where they shop helps you better understand their purchase habits and allows you to craft a more effective sales and marketing strategy.
In terms of total revenue, Walmart and Amazon are currently the largest retailers in the USA. But what about department stores? Here’s a look at the top 10 department stores in the USA in terms of popularity.
Top department stores in the USA
According to a recent survey, as of Q3 2023, Costco leads the chart of the top 10 department stores in the USA. The study ranks the stores by their popularity, determined by the percentage of consumers that view them favorably.
Results from the study shows that 68% of US consumers say they like Costco. The data also shows that Costco is more popular among millennials—72% of millennial shoppers say they like Costco, compared to 59% of boomers. Incidentally, Costco also ranks among the country’s largest retailers, generating revenues of over $160 billion in 2022.
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Second on the list of the top department stores in the USA is Target. Its popularity is one percentage point lower than Costco’s, at 67%. Dollar Tree, a discount retailer, and Walmart are in joint-third place—66% of shoppers say they enjoy their shopping experiences at these two department stores. The latter is also among the top retail and ecommerce companies worldwide.
T.J. Maxx and Marshalls follow in joint-fifth place, with 61%. The seventh most popular department store in the USA is J. C. Penney—60% of consumers have a positive opinion of it. Sam's Club ranks next, with a popularity rating of 59%. Big Lots, a discount retail chain, and Burlington Coat Factory, a New Jersey-headquartered department store retailer, are tied for ninth on the list of the top department stores in the USA. They are liked by 58% of shoppers. Both are also vastly more popular among females.
Top department stores in the USA: by generation
The rankings of top department stores in the US differ from generation to generation. For instance, Target, Costco, and T.J. Maxx are the three most popular stores among millennials.
Generation X’s top three are Costco, Dollar Tree, and J.C. Penney. Meanwhile, baby boomers’ preference is: Dollar Tree, Kohl’s, and Walmart.