To think I am not body shaming or ripping larger people off?

[BimBamBoomer]

I've NC because this is potentially outing!

I have my own tiny but fairly successful business making clothes. Mostly I make a few specific lines to order (via Etsy type websites) and have sizes 6-26 available. However I also have occasional sales on Facebook where I have a page and sale group. The sales are a mix of returned customer orders, things I made to the wrong size or colour by accident, slight seconds, unsold stock from events (festivals etc) and some one offs made with amazing material I've picked up or pieces I've upcycled. I tend to end up with most of my stock for the sales in sizes 10-16 just because a) that's what most people order so that's what I have most seconds of, b) if I'm making stock for an event I make more of the most popular sizes for obvious reasons, and c) if I get a bit of amazing material I try to make the most of it especially if it was expensive.

I've recently had my end of 2019 sale and since then have had a flurry of messages from unhappy larger people. I suspect I've been named and shamed somewhere as it's come out of the blue in the last week. They're not happy that I don't have enough stock in their size, and that the more unique one off pieces are mostly in the middle sizes. I've been replying explaining why and that they can order larger sizes from my standard range and have them made. If they wanted a replica of a one off they've seen, I can give a quote but it wont be cheap! But I've now had a few bad reviews on my page from people who think it's unfair that the some of the larger sizes cost more. I agonised over this but in the end felt I had to have sliding pricing on some items (not all - I charge the same for all sizes for about half my range). But a size 8 in some styles uses literally half the material of a size 24 - and I charge for materials plus an hourly rate for my time (at a rate that covers overheads etc). The materials I use aren't cheap and I don't know how to make this fair or how to answer the bad reviews. I'm quite upset and feel really down that people think this of me.

Am I body shaming, really and honestly?

I have large breasts. My bras cost more. That’s life. I don’t whinge to the shops about it. I know I am bigger than the average customer.

YANBU. It’s so easy for people to make negative reviews online

It's not body shaming but personally when I ran a clothing business I didnt do it.

It's not a simple access and ease of use for all consumers - and it puts more question into a decision purchase which ultimately makes a click through less likely. I also think whilst it may logically be fair, it doesnt feel kind.

Totally standard in kids to have varied cost on many websites. For example may say from £9 and increases in price as they get older.

The larger people know the answer to paying less for their clothes
and should rethink their lifestyles!

But whilst the OP isn't "fat shaming" at all these ^^ kind of dickhead comments help explain why fat people are primed to be defensive from the outset: because there's moronic cunts like this making comments everywhere.

My child is getting older. Therefore her clothes cost a couple of quid more. That's life.
Material is expensive. And just keep doing you and ignore the ones who are being negative. You're business is clearly successful. I would just ignore.
I love buying from small businesses but I do it only very occasionally as the stuff is expensive (and worth it)

TBH think it would be nicer to have consistent prices if at all possible. How many of the largest or smallest size do you sell, compared to the most popular sizes? If you sell 50 x size 12 (e.g at £50 each) for every 1 x size 20 (at £55 each), you could sell all sizes at £51.10 instead, for the same total amount.

I'm another fatty happy with your pricing policy. (and off to trawl etsy to see if I can find you 😊)

Usually I find in High Street sales there's a lot of stock left in vast and tiny sizes, and nothing in the middle. That's the way it goes - medium-sized people don't throw tantrums about it!

YANBU.

Have you searched on social media for your company name to see if anything has been posted?

@BimBamBoomer the sell by weigh also has different price per £ depending on the fabric so £ per KG for simple cotton cheaper that pattern/thicker/velvet etc.

Kids clothes are more expensive in bigger sizes, it makes sense for the same logic to be applied to adult items.

I don’t want you to put yourself OP, but I wish I knew what your business was! Sounds amazing!

• out yourself

It's not just volume of material required. Depending on the piece of clothing and the sizes in question it may be necessary to redo the pattern completely; you can only scale some things up so far and after a certain point the way jackets / trousers / shirts etc have to be designed changes quite significantly as the basic structure needs to be altered (assuming you want your clothes to be comfortable to the wearer). Simply scaling up a size 10 pattern won't always work.

It's not fat shaming, it's just handling the practicalities of the situation.

I don't think you're fat shaming. However, slim is considered superior by many, and I'd feel sad and embarrassed paying more to wear the same style in a larger size. That doesn't make it your fault of course, but customer satisfaction is obviously important to every business, and TBH I'd probably shop somewhere else the next time. I'm sure that wouldn't make a difference to you though, and I wouldn't whinge on social media!

YANBU.

Larger sizes cost more to make. If they don't like it they can shop elsewhere.... Or lose weight...

although I understand the use of more material, longer time to make etc

You clearly don't understand at all.

If you charge the same for a size 8 and 16 then I see no reason for not charging the same for a size 26

She isn't charging the same for a size 8 and 16.

All this "fat shaming" nonsense is getting ridiculous.

I wear large sizes and I don't think you are being unreasonable.

Unfortunately most people don't make their own clothes or buy fabric so they have no idea how expensive good fabric is.

It's annoying because I'm sure if they found themselves in your shoes, they'd want to charge different prices.

YANBU

I think this is a perfect opportunity to rebrand your business as part of the #slowfashionmovement.

The fast fashion brands such as fashionnova, Pretty Little Thing, Primark, Nasty Gal etc have brainwashed people into expecting that the price for size 8 is the same as size 24. And what looks good and hangs well on a size 6-12/14 doesn't always necessarily look flattering on a 18+ size body shape (I speak from personal experience).

So when people come across a niche independent clothing brand like yours they are unable to differentiate that quality & bespoke/handmade = increased costs.

I'd like to share my observations:

The current level of trolling on social media is ridiculous levels, please please try and develop a thicker skin; or you'll be crushed by the innocuous and spiteful comments left by the anonymous keyboard warriors who probably won't ever buy your products. Block & delete..

Use some of the feedback as market research to grow your business. I think you've stumbled across an excellent opportunity to launch a separate plus size brand. Take your time to source cheaper fabrics that are different to your "main range", and then produce a limited plus size range 2-3 times per year and when it's gone.... it's gone...you don't have to produce size 22, 24 if the sizes don't sell - do what's right for your business.

If you look at the high street brands Mango & Oasis they both have plus size brands that are only available online; the styles, fabrics etc are completely different from their main ranges available in the high street.

I wish I had the talents, skill and patience to make clothes or be creative, I completely admire & respect what you're doing.

Good luck ignore the trolls

Stick to your guns.
Shops tend to charge the same for a 6 or a 24. I find it odd.
I suspect that the smaller sizes are subsidising the larger sizes, given the differential in the amount of cloth and time taken to create.
Fat people should pay more... and I’m a hefty soul myself!

It's like that type of people who moan to the staff in a restaurant that spaghetti carbonara are a tenner because "I am not stupid. The ingredients in Aldi cost £1.30 hurdurdur"🙄

Clicked too early....
...hurdurdur"🙄
People just don't want to realise how many other factors make the price.

Hope you are feeling better and dealing with the reviews

Turning it around, you could be charging the same price for all garments as the large sizer, but you're obviously trying to keep costs low by reflecting the material costs in your end price.

I'm big and can appreciate that there's more material on me than others. I'm also a bit of a funny size so have to shop around for things that are cut right for me. I think you are just hearing people lash out because they are unhappy they don't have as much choice as others about what they wear. It's just how they are dealing with a crap situation, but it isn't your fault or your problem. Just have a neutral phrase you can copy and paste underneath the comments, explaining that your key business is bespoke.

I suspect that the smaller sizes are subsidising the larger sizes
Strongly agree with this!
I guess the crux of the matter is you either A) charge different sizes differently B) charge the same but make a slight loss on big sizes, profit on small sizes or C) charge the same but increase prices on your small sizes so you are making an even bigger profit on those - but your prices might be deterringly high.
C) would be what the big shops do

*I mean I strongly agree that's what is happening, not that it's a good idea! Unfair on small people to make them subsidise the larger sizes.