I really don't want to moan…besides the sun is out!

Thu, 27 May 2010 01:23:01 > A quick thought

The year started very optimistically but soon plummeted when I heard the news that Harrods might be ‘editing’ and ‘relocating’ their plus-size department. In London it was the only department like it within a major store that had it’s own particular location and specialist staff. Selfridges abandoned their plus-sizes ages ago and have even be known to refuse customers over a size 14 in their personal shopping department. Unfortunately the House of Fraser show no sign of including anything either.

The Harrods plus-size department looks great right now with summer collections including Anna Scholz, Elena Miro, Persona and ‘Class’ by Roberto Cavalli – it all looks colourful and full of variety. I asked a member of staff at Harrods how this could be allowed to happen and she shrugged and said they will probably only be keeping three labels that were guaranteed bestsellers – these three labels happen to be aimed at the older market and were obviously chosen as safe fall-backs.

So yet again plus-sizes will be relegated to the ‘older market’ and not seen as part of the general fashion sector.

At this uncertain time for Harrods all I can hope is that someone has a re-think about such an important department and instead of loosing an area full of potential they keep it going and put some development into it.

Excuses…

I have yet to hear any management that make these decisions – usually with the excuse of falling sales actually admit that the reason these departments are not working as well as they could is because they are being bought so badly with no on-going investment being made to attract the moneyed plus-sized customer.

Instead they seem far too eager - in my mind, to admit defeat far too quickly and condemn the department outright. I can assure them that there are plenty of neglected women looking for larger-sized fashion clothing of high quality and they are prepared to pay for it and most importantly stay loyal – I would have thought that is exactly what stores need right now.

Make an effort and widen you ideas when it come to plus-sizes!!

I am tired of being told ‘they can buy their clothes on the internet…’ a comment I regard as short-sighted and dismissive – we are desperate for retail outlets that make buying plus-sized clothing a treat – offering advise, fitting and alterations as a norm.

French Elle in early spring, finally acknowledged that there are plus-sized women in France and in fact they are quite lovely. They bravely dedicated a whole issue to them - I believe to see the reaction - which was unsurprisingly huge. The issue was publicised widely to ensure ‘maximum’ attention – and they certainly got it!

So to all Retailers!

Us big girls are here to stay- that is a fact!…
Would you be so kind as to include us in your assortment as we would love to buy some clothes from you. We’re kinda fed up with buying absolutely everything online – and would really like to walk into a store - talk to and get served by someone for a change!’
Many thanks!