Budget-minded shopping is the best kind, and discount stores make it all the more doable.
An analysis from Deloitte even says, “Shoppers across income groups are switching to more affordable brands and discount retailers, seeking out private label or dupe products…”
Yelp recently released its ranking of the Top 50 Fastest Growing Brands of 2025, which is based on net new business openings, consumer interest and searches on Yelp. It measured consumer interest by analyzing certain interactions that people have with businesses on Yelp, like viewing business pages, posting photos or leaving reviews.
Yelp found that platform searches for discount stores increased by 46% last year, dollar store searches increased by 82%, and outlet store searches rose by 18%.
Certain discount retailers are growing faster than others.
Out of all 50 retail, restaurant and food chains, Ollie’s Bargain Outlet earned the No. 1 spot. It’s physically apparent how Ollie’s has been growing, too, as Yelp notes that Ollie’s opened 25 new locations in 2024.
Ollie’s was founded in 1982 in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, and now has over 550 stores spanning 31 states. It touts itself as “America’s largest retailer of closeout merchandise and excess inventory, offering brand name bargains at discount store prices.”
The store’s mix of goods includes cookware, toys, housewares and grocery items — all with a 30-day guarantee.
According to Yelp, this discount retailer is known for “quirky branding and for selling bulk items from brand stores at low prices.” It also has “a robust rewards program” that helps build customer loyalty.
Its biggest stand-out feature, Yelp says, is Ollie’s courteous staff.
Affordability and customer service were also important factors for the second- and third-ranked retailers on Yelp’s list, which happen to be discount stores: Dollar Tree and HomeGoods.
It’s no surprise that inflation is driving more folks to stores like Dollar Tree, which ranked among the five fastest-growing chains in the largest number of states (23).
Even if your favorite retailer isn’t in the top three, it may have made it into Yelp’s top 50. The following retailers did:
- Ollie’s Bargain Outlet (ranked No. 1 among all food and shopping chains included in Yelp’s analysis)
- Dollar Tree (No. 2)
- HomeGoods (No. 3)
- Rally House (No. 4)
- Ace Hardware (No. 15)
- Costco (No. 16)
- T.J. Maxx (No. 18)
- Marshalls (No. 22)
- H-E-B (No. 26)
- Grocery Outlet (No. 29)
- Ross Dress for Less (No. 34)
- Piggly Wiggly (No. 35)
- Total Wine & More (No. 46)
- Sprouts Farmers Market (No. 49)
Yelp also ranked the fastest-growing restaurant and food chains this year, many of which are also popular among consumers for their wallet-friendly prices. Find out more in “15 Restaurant Chains That Are Popping up All Over the Place.”
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