I read a blog asking
why stores don't carry plus size clothing and as a former employee working retail and someone who has taken 2 years of business and marketing classes, I can give you my opinion:
Most stores don't carry them because there is not enough of a market for someone to carry larger sizes. If you were a marketing exec working at somewhere like American Eagle, Hollister and other teenage-ish stores then you wouldn't really find a market for larger sizes. Most teenagers, are of a certain size, once you get into your 20's then you go to different stores like Gap, and Macy's. I myself love Torrid, because I fit in the 14-16 size category and I'm 23. Stores like Forever 21 and Torrid do market trendy clothes for larger sizes, I can go to Forever 21 to buy shirts that fit me and go to Torrid and buy jeans.
Another reason they don't carry them is the stigma larger sizes are placed. Larger women as a whole are viewed in society as not acceptable and not needing cute clothes. If you start marketing to a larger size group then in some ways, you will be known as "catering to those that are larger and can't fit the smaller sizes like they should." I remember when Forever 21 started marketing larger sizes and the controversy that ensued because of it. Most places don't want the controversy and would prefer to maintain their 0-12 size range.
It may not be right, but in marketing, the sales and repeat business make the company, and if there isn't a large enough portion of larger sized teens and girls in a certain area, they won't carry them in stores. Its sad you have to go online to get your size, I understand, I wait until absolutely necessary then I will drive 45 minutes to go somewhere to buy clothes, partially because its a road trip and partially because I need the clothes.
I want your opinion though, do you think its right not to market to larger sizes or do you feel its fair?
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Comments (67)
Yeah, I think that's the main reason. There has to be enough demand for it to be mass-produced.
i completely agree with this. thank u.
just like i have to often order my clothes online cos i;m too skinny (which is no chore for me), big people should do it too.
it is impractical to carry sizes outside the 'normal' range whether it be bigger or smaller. people should just deal with it instead of complaining ad infinitum
The same goes for smaller sizes too though. I'm 4'11" and most would agree a tiny person. American Eagle 00 Jeans dont fit, and most places (unless its a large store) tell me to order the 00/0 or xxs/xs online. Department stores such as JcPennys, Target, Walmart, Sears don't carry my size so forget about cheap clothing.
I work at Justice, (used to be known in the same chain as Limited Too). For those who dont know all Limited Too's turned into a Justice. Limited Too carried size 20 (for kids) and half sizes as well. Half sizes work that its wider in the wast shorter in length for larger children. so 10 1/2 = size 10 in length 14 in waste. Justice adopted it when the merge happened but they only adopted size 18 not 20. So maybe in children it is more common. These clothes aren't as common as the 8's and 10's but we have plenty of moms/daughters daily needing these sizes.
It all comes down to marketing, why produce mass of something that isnt going to sell as much? If you order it online it comes directly from the manufacture, and is made as needed. If the clothing is made too much, and not sold, the company will loose money. Its not that they have something against larger people, its just that it is not as common, and the company doesnt want to loose money.
No, it's not right. All people should have nice clothes. Not everyone in the world is a size 2. In fact, sizes 2-8 are the most common on clearance racks. Sizes higher than that are gone. Size 14 isn't fat either.
I had no idea size 14-16 was fat.
I think stores should be allowed to carry what they want to. As you pointed out they tend to buy for their specific target group. If a store doesn't carry what I want I may try asking the manager about it but if they can't meet my needs then I simply shop somewhere else.
Like you've mentioned, it's all about business. I don't think marketing execs care about being fair or ethical, unless they get bit in the ass for doing outrageous like slaughter animals for their skin/fur.
I work at an Old Navy and we carry clothes up to a size 20. But once you get up to size 18 you have to go online for shorts and longs. The same goes for our smaller sizes as well. We don't carry maternity in store or any clothes other than jeans in short, long, or tall. Most stores don't carry as it was said due to lack of demand but also because of store size. The reason why you see mostly smaller sizes in clearance section is because stores typically get less of the largest and smallest sizes.
It's fair. Why lose money selling clothes that won't sell? If you need a specific size, either go to another store or look online. Sometimes they sell better clothes online anyway.
I remember as a teen ager that hot topic's clothes run a little larger than the rest of the mall. I guess you can just wear bondage pants and band t's forever.
Kidding.Seriously though, the most fashion forward people I know are sizes 12+ But I live in a place were vintage stores break their necks trying to carry anything fashionable they find on ebay or goodwill- so all the hard work is already done for you and hanging on a rack somewhere in a shop called something quirky with a picture of a bird out front. These stores are privately owned (obviously) and often carry more average sizes and plus then tiny ones. When I worked at the mall they hired me because I was keeping the "image". It is gross, but they will learn if they want to keep making profits they will have to extend their sizes and change that ''image''.i think stores should at least HAVE a plus size section or line of clothes. if they're not selling enough, they don't have to make as many, but they should at least have some available.
@Salivarysatisfaction@datingish - i love hot topics clothes theyre not too tight, but not too lose either, and they have clothes that fit tall people like me
i also think that larger people aren't as avid shoppers as thinner people. I use to be really overweight,.. and the last thing on my to-do list was to stroll the mall with my size 16 butt every weekend like thinner people might do. And even if Lane Bryant or some trendy plus sized teen store was around,.. I wouldn't go,.. and I know a lot of fat teens/ twenties people who wouldn't go either. they rather stick to their one pair of jeans that fits decently and their 10billion hoodies that hides all than go shopping for more big clothes.
So in terms of supply and demand,.. you also have to think,.. are larger people demanding as much clothes as thinner people...NO. they might write blogs and complain how on the rare occassion when they shop they can't find things in their size,,. but I think most would admit that they don't make purchases often anyway,.. even in a store like lane Bryant that caters to them.
that's true, they have to be able to sell it to carry it in the store.
If a store wants to choose to lose out on potential profit, let them make the choice.
There are always other places to get nice clothes for people of all shapes and sizes. The way I see it, if there's nothing in a store for you to buy because they don't choose to cover your market, if you keep looking, you'll always find something nicer someplace else where they're willing to take your money. The store loses out, not you.
It's all about getting on with what you have to do until you find what you're looking for. There's always somewhere out there.
And if people start to complain, well hey, you don't have to stay around to listen.
Plus size is normal, more normal then wearing a size 00! Plus size girls are beautiful, why wouldn't they want cute clothes? Every girl wants cute clothes regardless of their size! The stores would sell a lot of size 16 jeans, that's the national average size for women, so why don't a lot of stores sell that size?
@Darla - My OldNavy carries size 20 in the store, and maternity clothes. So the sizes basically depend on store size.
Why couldn't they just have a small section of plus size clothes then? I mean if they sell less they don't have to carry as many...just sounds like excuses. I know that it costs money to create different styles of clothing so maybe there would also be less variety..but something at least.
@Meowmeowkimmaee@xanga - i said the same thing for the post up two weeks ago and got bashed for it. goddamn waht is it with people and hearing the truth?
This was a good post. And no, the social marketing part is not fair and companies should be banned for it.
It's fair and annoying but it's business and I agree.
While I can agree with what you said cause it makes sense, I really don't think it's fair that they do that to people. I think they should at least try to cater to everyone's fashion needs. Like for me, I'm on the opposite end of the spectrum. I'm 5 feet tall, and because of the anorexia I'm a double 0. And almost no stores carry a double 0. It's really hard for me to find pants. I will give that most girls aren't that size, but can't stores try to carry a little bit for everybody?
I work in retail and honestly, the XXLs and XXXLs don't sell. They end up on the clearance rack months after all the other sizes sell and it's a hassle for the store. So I can understand why alot of stores don't bother carrying those sizes.
I think it's legitimate. Plus there's always Torrid.
sales.. even if a store has a plus size area, its definitely smaller, and torrid is one of few, if not the only store, that just carries plus size clothes