Plus Size Ladies Clothing

travellingbid

I thinking of opening plus size ladies clothing store down west. I'm completely sick of paying over the odds because I'm a little larger than average and I'm sure there are others that feel the same.
I would be sourcing some designer brands, along with more affordable stock.
Do you ladies out there think this is a goer? Would appreciate any suggestions.

carolinespring

Having gone from a size 24 to a size 18, I would say that a shop that sold, nice, fashionable, well priced clothes would be a hit. At a size 24 I could oly shop in Evans, New look, and ann Harvery. Large ladies want to wear nice clothes as much as our slimmer friends so if the price is right i would say your shop would be a hit.

At a size 18 I can shop in most places and it just brilliant!!

Kelda09

I think its a fantastic idea, two of my friends are larger sizes and hate having to pay such higher prices for clothes. What I have heard my friends say, and seen while with them, is that a couple of shops catering for larger ladies that opened in the area (which subsequently closed) did not change or update their stock often. It could be the same clothes in the store for a long period, nothing added to the stock, just kinda seemed as though the staff were waiting for more to be bought before getting new stock in, this led to people going in less and less, which was a shame.

I say go for it!! Have a variety of styles ie Casual, funky, dressy (wedding or formal occasion etc) underwear and keep new stock coming in at a fairly regular rate and it could be a real goer.

Sorry if that sounds like im being condescending, Im not, I just think your idea has the ability to be fantastic!! Good Luck and let us know how you get on with it if you decide to go ahead, Im sure you'll get a few customers from boards

puppydogeyes

Hi
I worked in a plus size store that has since closed down but there was definitely a need for it. Like the other replies you need to keep the store turnover regular and not too expensive items. But still fairly good quality. I had a lot of little old ladies coming in looking for tweed skirts and large beige knits so you need to state clearly who you are catering for and promote this
Good luck if you decide to go ahead with it. I would if I had the capital needed

baby and crumble

As someone who is 28 and plus sized, there are a couple of things that really cheese me off about plus-sized clothes shops, which if you could figure out would make your venture pretty successful, in my opinion.

1) Don't model it on Evans'. It's a complete and utter rip-off for the quality of the clothes, and most of the stuff is incredibly old fashioned. The sizing is really weird, and there are some serious assumptions made about womens shapes, never mind sizes. I may be a plus size, but I have a tiny TINY arse that looks ridiculous in jeans from Evans'. They seem to be of the opinion that if you're over a size 14 your arse must resemble a small planet. Mine doesn't. A lot of peoples doesn't. That's why you see plus sized women with really baggy arses on their jeans that make them look twice as big as they actually are.

2) Keep it as cheap as possible. New Look at least have that right- most of the stuff there (to me) seems comparable in price to the rest of the store. TBH I shop in New Look a lot.

3) Basics. Us big chicks don't just need long sleeved v-necked tops or workshirts, or really awful looking spangly stuff. We need plain t-shirts, jumpers and shirts that aren't 3/4 length (seriously, wtf is up with EVERY plus sized shirt being 3/4 length sleeved? it's a seriously unflattering shape for someone who doesn't want to draw attention to the stomach, which it does by ending there!)

4) Maybe if it were possible you could source stock from some of the American stores that have plus ranges, they seem to have a far bigger range.

5) Nice underwear. if I have to go into M&S and spend 22 quid on one disgustingly bland and boring bra to keep my girls in check again, I'm going to scream.

best of luck with it, if you can get it right and keep it from being dowdy, then you'll do well.