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Original poster

To think high street clothing retailers should stock larger sized in store?

109 replies

PandoraMole · 05/12/2016 16:45

Just back from a lovely Christmas shopping break in a nearby UK city, but ended up cross, frustrated and disappointed with several clothes stores who cater for larger women online where they are happy to take our money, but won't stock bigger sizes in their high street stores.

Dorothy Perkins had something of an excuse as their branch is quite small, not so New Look whose enormous store doesn't stock anything - really disappointing as their online range is great.

H&M had a small range, tucked out of the way round the furthest corner at the back of their stores with next to signposting. Just a shame it comprised little more than oversized shirts and shapeless jumpers in Sixty Shades of Sludge.

It's not an unknown that lots of us come in a size beyond 16 for many reasons and we all feel differently about our bodies.

While some people prefer to shop online, I imagine that lots of women, like me, would like to buy clothes in pretty designs and colours that flatter our curves and we'd like to be able to go out shopping for them on the high street with our 'normal' sized friends, daughters, mums, sisters etc and be able to enjoy choosing clothes and trying them on in Real Life.

Not only are many retailers not giving us that choice, those that do tuck 'our' range out of the way with little signage which is a pain in the arse and not much fun for the less forthcoming types who would feel uncomfortable asking where to look for them (I'm a mouthy so and so and I didn't particularly enjoy it tbh).

Why should we have to be hidden away in discreet corners and on the internet? It has an undercurrent of body shaming to me and surely in 2016 this should be a complete non-issue?

OP posts:
Toffeelatteplease · 05/12/2016 16:52

Having drooped from a size 18-20 to a 12-14. I'm absolutely delighting in being able to properly shop again.

I have to say no I'm glad the shops didn't stock larger. I was big and the fact I could still shop even if it was limited normalised it.

Being able to pick and chose to clothes I likedon't as opposed to just wanted fitted has beenabled a major incentive.

So for me no I hope they don't

WorraLiberty · 05/12/2016 16:59

It's supply and demand isn't it.

They'll always stock what sells, so if the bigger sizes don't sell so well, they wont want them taking up space in the shop/stock rooms.

Same as 'outsize' shoes etc.

AnchorDownDeepBreath · 05/12/2016 17:02

Worra is right. They stock what sells; it tends to be the middle-ish sizes that do. When I was 18, the shops were full of size 8/10 clothes, now there tends to be one or two 8s, a few 10s, more 12s, lots of 14s/16s, not many 18s/20s/22s.

There used to be a lot of research to suggest that people buying the bigger sizes didn't like to try things on in stores, so did more online shopping, although I'm not sure if that's still true.

If more people buy bigger sizes in store, they'll make room for it and get rid of something that isn't selling so well. Otherwise they are always going to stock the things that sell the best.

Original poster
PandoraMole · 05/12/2016 17:04

I take your point about normalising but don't you think we should have a choice?

What about people who are bigger than average because of health issues, for instance? Or those who are trying their hardest to lose weight but it's a long struggle?

I have a completely knackered thyroid, compounded by anxiety and depression over the years. I've had/am having treatment for all three conditions but it's unlikely I'll ever be smaller than a 16 and I couldn't even hazard a guess how long it'll take me to get there (and I'm a 24 atm, so whilst very overweight not a million miles at the other end of the spectrum).

Should I, and others in similar positions, really be made to feel like an embarrassment, and unable to participate in a completely normal everyday activity?

Seems unfair to me.

OP posts:
WatchingFromTheWings · 05/12/2016 17:05

Even in larger stores, floor space is at a premium. They need to sell what they can shift quickly. When I was a size 22 I hated shopping for clothes and had as few as I could get away with. I'm a 14/16 now and shop a lot more than I did.

ChicRock · 05/12/2016 17:07

Agree it's supply and demand... and it's equally impossible to go into most shops and try on and purchase clothes if you're a size 6.

Original poster
PandoraMole · 05/12/2016 17:07

I take your point Worra.

What was particularly annoying in the case of New Look in this instance is that it's a huge city centre store which used to stock larger sizes but now the closest place to buy them is another branch in a town 30 miles away.

And the top I wanted was sold out in my size online...harrumph.

OP posts:
RentANDBills · 05/12/2016 17:09

Clothing stores are run for profit, as such they are only going to have stock that they believe they can sell. There is less demand for bigger clothing.

Are you proposing there be a law to force retailers to stock a bigger range in store?

Original poster
PandoraMole · 05/12/2016 17:12

When I was a size 22 I hated shopping for clothes and had as few as I could get away with.

That very much used to be me, and I hope I'll get to that 14/16 eventually but it's going to take a while and in the meantime I'd like to dress well and look as I good as I can and it would be nice to have the option of doing it in shops tbh. Ordering online can be great but it's a bloody massive faff repacking and returning stuff that isn't right which atm, working full time, going through a divorce and living with elderly parents I really don't have the time, energy or inclination for.

I guess that's just the way it is, but I'm surprised more people don't find it annoying.

I will make do with t'internet but still think it's all a bit shit really.

OP posts:
SarcasmMode · 05/12/2016 17:12

I think it depends really.

18 or maybe 20 might be worth having in store but 22+ there won't be many customers of this size so it's just not profitable to have it.

I agree with normalising it too and I'm a 14-16 so not small.

5moreminutes · 05/12/2016 17:14

Pandora the first post making it into a moral issue is just that person's feelings - Worra and others are right about it actually only being about bald facts of supply and demand.

Shops don't stock many ladies shoes over a size 8/9 or men's over 11. It's not because they are on the front line fighting the good fight against bigger feet Blush nor because there is a retail decree on what kind of feet are nicest, it's just because there isn't as much demand for ladies shoes over size 8/9, or men's shoes over size 11...

Women with size 2 feet or size 9 feet are inconvenienced just as women with tiny or bigger clothes sizes are - there is no moral decision not to normalise size 2 nor size 10 adult women's feet or size 2 or 22 work wear, it's just about money.

Retailers care about the bottom line, not fairness to customers.

Original poster
PandoraMole · 05/12/2016 17:16

Are you proposing there be a law to force retailers to stock a bigger range in store?

I probably would go quite that far! It just seems very Hmm to me that major retailers are quite happy to take larger women's money but won't make it easier/give us a choice of doing it on the high street. It does rather smack of being an embarrassment to these retailers - they want our money but don't want large people in their stores where they can be seen.

Of course not every store can cater for everyone, but it would be nice if enormous 2 storey ones in large, diverse cities could be relied upon to offer that choice.

OP posts:
fiorentina · 05/12/2016 17:18

I'm afraid its supply and demand. They stock what sells most. It's why maternity clothes are nearly all online too.

Original poster
PandoraMole · 05/12/2016 17:19

It's not because they are on the front line fighting the good fight against bigger feet...

Grin
OP posts:
Bluntness100 · 05/12/2016 17:19

I think to say you're being made to feel like an embarrassment is maybe a bit strong and over emotional? If the demand was there they would stock the clothes, but with only x amount of space they will clearly stock what's most popular. Is it shit, yes, but they will stock what makes them most profit. They are after all a business and they need every inch of floor space to turn over as many units as possible.

toffee1000 · 05/12/2016 17:21

Hmm It's not that they don't want large people in their shops. It's supply and demand. As others have said there just aren't that many people over size 16.

Christmassnake · 05/12/2016 17:26

I'm a size 18 and having been a 30 in the past and at the mercy of evans (shudders),I did think there would be more choice..in an 18..my local new look never has any size 18s in ,I asked,they said they don't sell....weight loss has ground to a halt now,but hoping to restart in January.on line ,fashion world is good.does from a 12 to 30. ..got some bargains in the sale,..primark is good I always find an 18 there,and quite a few 20s too

DailyMailCrap · 05/12/2016 17:29

Most high street shops stock up to an 18-20. Beyond that I agree with others it is a supply demand issue, but it also works for smaller sizes too. My dsis is a size 4 and tbh most shops will stock a sizes over 20 before they stock a size below 6.

In really posh places the largest sizes can be smaller than the mid-range sizes presumably because they don't want overweight people in store. I'm a 16 bottom but the size 16 in one really well known store wouldn't fit so the shop assistant gave me a 14 instead and said the 12s and 14s have more room than the 16s (something about the brand not wanting really overweight women to shop in-store). Law and behold it was too big. Ended up walking out with a size 12 Hmm So I do get where you're coming from.

Sirzy · 05/12/2016 17:30

As others have said it is supply and demand.

I have to say having been a size 20/22 and now a size 6/8 I found it much easier to get "bigger" clothes than I do to get smaller.

crazyoldc4tlady · 05/12/2016 17:30

guess supply and demand. I need extra long legs/sleeves and can get these often only online. staff say there is not enough demand in store. frustrating.

WorraLiberty · 05/12/2016 17:34

It does rather smack of being an embarrassment to these retailers - they want our money but don't want large people in their stores where they can be seen.

Sorry but I think that's you projecting your emotions onto a quite simple business decision.

It would be nice if everyone could get what they wanted in stores, but they always have and always will, mainly stock items that have the highest turnover.

LivingOnTheDancefloor · 05/12/2016 17:36

It is supply and demand.
I have the same issue with small sizes.

Sonders · 05/12/2016 17:37

Added to supply and demand is the cost issue. A dress size 24 takes significantly more fabric than one in size 10. A retailer will only charge one price, meaning the overall margin for the dress is much lower.

They also need to have different patterns for the clothing. For the more common sizes they can just scale up designs but when you get to a certain point it's not possible and you need a different pattern which means more resource in design and manufacture.

The places that specialise in larger sizes have been designed with larger bodies in mind and should (in theory) be more flattering. It would be great if everyone could shop happily on the high street but it just doesn't make enough sense for the individual businesses.

Original poster
PandoraMole · 05/12/2016 17:46

A retailer will only charge one price, meaning the overall margin for the dress is much lower.

I wish Joe Browns charged the same for there larger sizes - my bank account would be much happier!

OP posts:
Scuttlebutter · 05/12/2016 17:48

I'm a large size, and long ago gave up on finding this frustrating. What actually helped was shopping with a number of friends and DH who are "normal" sizes and being surprised at how often items they wanted weren't in stock (Marks seems to be particularly bad for this) with assistants just coming out with the "we're happy to order it online for you". That was no good to DH when he wanted to try on a jacket to assess the fit.

Now, if I want that sort of "social" shop, I focus on looking at accessories, shoes and beauty products and that way I don't get frustrated. The paucity of nice clothing in larger sizes online is another matter but a subject for another day. I actually find online shopping quite enjoyable - far less stressful and time consuming than driving into busy city centre, fighting through crowds, wrestling with bags etc. These days with free returns etc it's very straightforward.

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