TJ Hughes

TJ Hughes is a weird place.
It’s full of some fairly rubbish tat, but also some pretty amazing deals.
There are 3 floors (I think), covering everything from home appliances, crockery, garden stuff, make up, aftershave, clothes and curtains etc.
Basically it’s a huge department store. The clothes tend to be fairly conservative, but they do an OK range of ‘young folks ’ stuff.
Quality wise it can be hit or miss. But it’s somewhere I’d recommend having a look in for housey things.
Most recent buy in here was a mop for a couple of quid.
And they do great Xmas sales — particularly on aftershaves /​perfumed.

Searching for something I know I can purchase during the Christmas months, but looking to gift said item next weekend, I popped into TJ Hughes hoping they might have Christmas items out. (I know, slap my hand, it’s only August). Alas, no Christmas goodies to be had, but I decided to have a quick browse around.
TJ Hughes is quite an interesting store. It kind of reminds me of a place in the states called Ocean State Job Lot, which is a huge store that sells overflow stock from big name stores. In it, you can find all sorts of amazing deals, much cheaper than at the usual stores.
It’s kind of the same here. While looking around, I noticed loads of good deals on hair products from shampoos, conditioners to things to style hair with. They also have a wide variety of toiletries on offer and that’s on the first floor.
They have a full men’ and women’s section with all your clothing needs as well as some interesting shoes for sale. I did notice that the men’s section does have name brand shoes like Addidas, A bargain is abound if you just look.
My favourite section of this store is the home section. I always like to go up and take a look to see if there’s anything more that I can add to our collection. We are in need of random things that we always forget about whilst we’re out, but I was able to score a muffin tin for £2.99 and a name brand mixing bowl– on special for £1.99! I have some baking I need to do for charity, so this is perfect timing!
All in all, this isn’t a bad store, it’s nicely laid out and everything is organised for the most part. The staff can be a little wonky at times, but it all comes with the territory I suppose.

I remember getting dragged in here on a Saturday by my maw and my grannie on the quest for a bargain when I were a young un. Here I am fifteen years later saying to myself «I wonder what has become of TJ Hughes?» and having a wee donner doon to the more dubious end of Argyle Street/​Trongate.
I was pleasantly surprised to be honest. Aye, you have to look past the tatty décor and the chewing gum stained, flea ridden carpet for a good quality bargain, but there are some gems to be found amongst the «bluetooth jukeboxes» of TJ Hughes.
What’s the going rate for a Nails Inc. nail polish these days? About £9 for one bottle? What’s the going rate for a bottle of OPI nail polish? TJ Hughes are selling both for £2.99(!!!) a pop! And they have a great quality range of cosmetics and perfumes. It’s seriously worth a walk down from the city centre. I also got a hairdryer for my boyfriend’s flat for £6.99! I even got a pair of black, good quality brogues down to £9.99.
No wonder my maw and my grannie love TJ Hughes. My maw wants to go next Saturday, but she can’t find it unless I’m with her you see…

Although not my favourite shop I have to confess I often turn to it when I cannot find items elsewhere, and I am usually not disappointed.

I agree with most people when it comes to being a hit or miss. Shh! Secretly though I love this place. I can spend a very long time in here, especially getting lost in the lingerie department but not in a Father Ted way. Whoever I end up shopping with my mum, dad, boyfriend, friend we’re guarenteed to be there a while and most likely to bump into someone you know. So bumped into my friend’s mum and also loads of grannies. It is pretty much full to the brim with grannies but you gotta look past that.
It’s not a fancy department store, yes it’s a bit shabby but hey I don’t mind I’m low maintenance. It’s cheap it’s cheerful and does great bargains. I’ve picked up some lovely brand purchases for Christmas and birthday presents. You have to be quick with the perfume though, they had my perfume reduced at Christmas but it was sold out when I went in to buy it, very popular.
My man and I wandered around household appliances as he was in need of a new iron. They sell 3 – 6 plated buffet racks, the kind you get at Indian restaurant. It was massive! At £20 I was tempted to buy it but I’m like «When I’m I seriously going to use that, I cannae even cook proper.» I couldn’t believe my eyes at some of the things they sell.
So after I don’t know how long we were in there for and we didn’t even go to the restaurant, must try that one day, we came out with an iron and I got a chalky mug for 50p. Now I can write on my mug in chalk so my colleagues know exactly how I take my tea. I had to buy something, ok.

T J Hughes has an air of depression about it, but occasionally I will satisfy my curiosity by having a browse.
Once I’m in, I rarely make it up to the first floor. It looks like it’s been left behind by the early 90s, and since it has the atmosphere left by the last Tory government, it fits this post recession downer quite well.
Their make up collections are cheap and look like they’d crumble or give you pink eye if you ever applied them. They occasionally get some good brands in but it’s usually a bit outdated. They sell a small amount of designer perfume and low priced household wares but usually they lack the charm of discount stores such as Primark.
This place reminds me very much of What Everyone Wants, but without the personality. I’m sure if you dig deep you may find something you like — they have a surprisingly good electrical department — but it’s about as grey as John Major, and so I usually avoid it.

Hmm. Hmm. Now, I am not a particular fan of discount department stores. (Please not my previous review of Walt Bros). And, well, TJ Huges is most definitely no exception.
I know you can get things for a lot cheaper in here. I know that if you follow the giant yellow sale signs and rummage about a bit you’ll find things so cheap it would be economically unviable NOT to buy them. But. But. To be honest I’d just rather go to John Lewis and pay more for a better shopping experience.
I imagine that if you spent too much time in here you’d be elbowed repeatedly by viscous bargain hunters and run over by old lady shopping carts. To be honest, this isn’t my idea of a saturday afternoon’s shopping well spent.

Hit and miss, but worth a look.
It has a huge variety of goods, being a department store, but it’s not as shiny or impressive as Debenhams or John Lewis. It doesn’t help that it’s situated in a bad spot either.
I have picked up some decent clothes in here and they have electrical goods in here that are well-​priced.
I dive in infrequently when I read an ad on a sale and often see bits and bobs at a much better price than other places.
The TK Maxx of department stores.

I have to agree with the previous reviewer, TJ Hughes definitely is a bit hit or miss but when it comes to getting a last minute perfume or aftershave for a relative you’ve forgotten about then it comes up trumps every time.
My brother is a huge fan of the newest Gucci aftershave, which is still around £45+ in Frasers, Boots and The Perfume Shop. I was shocked to see it here for less than half the price! They have a huge range of fragrance, from old classics to the newest of the new. So it’s always worth a look.
It’s a little bit disorganised and you will often find yourself fighting your way past grannies as they always know where the bargains are at.

This is one shop that i would be happy never to visit again!
It’s like a huge warehouse of stuff folk don’t want any more, a jumble sale of rubbish and randomness which gave me a headache.
I like my shops to be organised, but this was unreal. I went with my mum just before Christmas and it was absolutely mobbed with people picking up stocking fillers and toys for kids, and aftershaves like Brut and Old Spice which should have went out with the arc.
We ate in the canteen and honestly, it was like a morgue. No music, no chatting, just hordes of old folk sipping tea. I couldn’t get out of there quick enough.
Similar to Watt Brothers on Suchiehall Street, but nowhere near as good.

Situated towards the dodgier end of Argyle Street, TJ Hughes is frequented by grannies and gadgies alike. Despite its dodgy exterior, there are a lot of treasures to be found within.
Amongst the Z list «celebrity» perfumes that greet you on arrival, you’ll find some decent, if a little outdated, fragrances that your auntie or granny would be grateful of.
The best part of this store has to be the home ware section, with electrical goods and furniture at ridiculously low prices. This is also a great place to pick up good quality bedding, quilts and pillows for a snip of their original retail price.
There are gems to be found amongst the junk, you just have to rummage.

A massive, cheap department store, unlike Frasers or Harvey Nichols you won’t find many gold cards here, but lots of people spending their Provident loans.
It’s disorganised, grubby, and easy to sneer at, but if you’re prepared to look past all the dross then you will find «brand names for less» as they promise, and I’ve noticed enormous LG TVs in the window for a lot less than elsewhere.
It’s ideal for Christmas time, where you can pick up bath salts /​selection of whisky minatures /​cheap perfume for a relative you can’t be bothered spending more money on.

T. J. Hughes — In the building where the old C&A used to be years ago, T. J. Hughes is a giant department store. It’s quite similar to Watt Bros, which I reviewed previously.
There are good deals on Wrangler and Lee jeans, cheap perfume and make up, and cheap electronics like T.V.s. This is also kind of an old lady shop, but it is also a ned shop.
Near the dodgy end of Trongate, a security guard has been installed recently to curb the inevitable shoplifting. I remember on one occasion a few years ago I saw several people just taking things. One woman stuffing towels into her jacket and another just pocketing make up.
The make up is one of the highlights of this place. Again, it’s just luck what you find when you get there, but recently I have found Urban Decay, Stila and Lancome, at prices much less than half price. The clothes sections are vast, but aimed at an older age range, so aren’t of much interest to me.
Stick to the beauty products and you’ll be good.

This department store has some seriously good bargains!
The makeup and perfume department is particularly good, and I have also got some fantastic electrical bargains.
They also sell clothes, soft furnishings, crokery and kitchen essentials.
The prices are fab and they often have sales.
Close to the Merchant City it is easily assessible by bus or train and a short ride from the tube.

Brilliant store, has everything in it, clothes to make up to kids toys to home furnishings! Great prices