You can boost plus size shapewear sales in several ways. First, know what your customers need. Next, stock many styles and sizes. Train your staff to help with fitting in a kind way. Create ads that include all body types. Build a sense of group through events and real customer stories. Stores that focus on body love and size choices will connect better with shoppers. This leads to loyal customers and higher sales from real care and good products.
Introduction: The Growing Market for Inclusive Shapewear
Plus size shapewear is a hot market right now. Shop owners who stock these items do more than just sell clothes. They create spaces where all customers feel welcome. More people want good plus size shapewear every day. They look for comfy, helpful garments that work with their curves. These products boost confidence and offer great support.
Understanding the Plus Size Shapewear Market
Knowing the plus size market helps you make smart business choices. You need to learn what these shoppers want and how they shop. This helps you stock the right items and talk about them the right way.
The Statistics Behind the Demand
The numbers show a clear trend. The plus size clothes market will hit $696.71 billion by 2027. It’s growing fast at nearly 6% each year. Shapewear is doing very well in this area. Body love movements have changed how plus size shoppers see these items. They’re not to “fix” bodies. They’re tools for comfort and style.
Studies show that 68% of American women wear size 14 or above. Yet many stores give little space to plus size choices. This gap means stores are missing out on sales. They could serve this market much better.
Evolving Customer Expectations
Plus size shoppers want more than just bigger sizes now. They seek items made with their bodies in mind. Today’s plus size shoppers want comfort that doesn’t quit. They want pieces that work with many outfits. They need products that last through many wears and washes. They look for new fabrics that breathe and wick sweat. And they want ads that cheer their bodies, not shame them.
Stores that get these new needs will do well in this growing field.
Curating Your Plus Size Shapewear Inventory
Picking the right items to stock is key to sales success. You need a mix of basics, special items, and comfy daily wear. This gives shoppers options for all their needs.
Essential Categories to Include
A good plus size shapewear stock needs items for all needs and likes.
Everyday Foundation Pieces
These basic items should be in any good shapewear set:
Full-coverage bodysuits work for the whole body. They smooth from chest to thigh with no lines.
High-waisted briefs and shorts smooth the middle. They work with many top choices.
Shaping camis and tanks shape the upper body. You can layer them or wear them alone.
Thigh slimmers create smooth lines. They work well under dresses and skirts.
Special Occasion Solutions
When shoppers need shapewear for big events, they’ll spend more for great results:
Bridal shapewear works with wedding dresses. It’s made just for the big day.
High compression items give more shaping power. They’re for those times when looks really count.
Items for unique dress cuts work with tough styles. They help with low backs and weird necklines.
Everyday Comfort Shapers
Not all shapewear needs to squeeze hard. Many shoppers want light control:
Smoothing slips give light control. They cut down on extra layers too.
Shaping leggings feel like workout wear. They give gentle control with great comfort.
Good bras stop bulges while lifting. They make a smooth shape under clothes.
Size Range Considerations
“Plus size” means many body types and sizes. Smart stores know this and offer wide ranges.
Sizes should go from 1X to 4X at least. Going up to 6X or more will reach even more shoppers.
Sizes should be the same across all styles. Shoppers like knowing their size won’t change.
As sizes go up, shapes should change too. Just making things bigger doesn’t work well.
Quality and Material Selection
For plus size shapewear, quality means how it works and feels. Look for strong yet stretchy fabrics that won’t roll down. Find materials that wick away sweat. This helps with heat and wet spots. Choose items with strong seams that won’t split. Pick styles with breathable parts for more comfort.
Sourcing Strategies for Plus Size Shapewear
Finding the right makers for your store matters a lot. Good sources mean better products for your customers. This leads to fewer returns and more happy shoppers.
Finding Reputable Manufacturers
Not all makers do plus size well. Look for partners with plus size design skills. They should know how to make patterns for larger bodies. Ask for clear size charts. Check if they test fits on real plus size people. Look at their work with other plus size brands. Make sure they’re open about how they make things.
Evaluating Samples Properly
Test items well before you buy a lot. Try them on many body types in your size range. See how they feel after wearing for hours. Check if they keep their shape after washing. Test how strong the seams are under stress. See how easy they are to put on and take off.
Balancing Price Points and Quality
Plus size shoppers often want quality over cheap prices. Offer good, better, and best price levels. Tell shoppers why some items cost more. Point out that better items last longer and cost less per wear. Watch your profit margins with care. Plus size items can cost more to make.
Visual Merchandising Strategies
How you show your items affects how well they sell. Good displays teach shoppers about your products. They help people see how the items might work for them.
Creating Inclusive In-Store Displays
How you show your items sends a message about your views. Use plus size models or forms. Group items by what problems they solve. Show how items look before and after wear. Include many body types in your displays.
Effective Online Presentation
Online selling needs special care for shapewear. Show products on many body types. Add short videos about how items fit. Use real photos without too much editing. Let shoppers compare features like squeeze level and what areas items cover.
Educating Customers Through Displays
Displays should teach, not just show. Point out new design tricks that help plus size needs. Show what clothes work well with each shapewear piece. Tell how to care for items. Show parts that make items more comfy.
Staff Training for Plus Size Shapewear Sales
Your staff can make or break the shopping trip. They need to know about the products and how to help with care. Good training leads to better sales and loyal shoppers.
Sensitivity and Body-Positive Language
How your team talks about shapewear affects sales. Train staff to avoid words about “fixing” bodies. Focus on good things like comfort and support. Teach team members to use plain words without judging. Tell staff to follow the shopper’s lead about body talk.
Fit Expertise and Recommendations
Shapewear fit is tricky and needs special know-how. Teach staff how body shapes work with different styles. Train them to spot when a shopper needs a new size. Create steps for giving fit help with respect. Make guides for common fit issues and fixes.
Creating Comfortable Shopping Experiences
The shop should feel warm and kind. Set up private fitting rooms with space to move. Provide robes in fitting rooms for more comfort. Create ways to offer help without pushing. Train staff to read cues about how much help is wanted.
Marketing Your Plus Size Shapewear
Good marketing gets the right shoppers in your door. It shows that you get their needs and have solutions. Strong ads build trust before shoppers even visit your store.
Authentic Representation in Advertising
Modern plus size shoppers can spot fake ads right away. Show many plus size models with different body types. Don’t just use one plus size model among thin ones. Show shapewear in real life, not just perfect poses. Add stories from real plus size shoppers.
Effective Digital Marketing Strategies
Online tools can help you reach plus size shapewear shoppers. Study search terms that plus size shoppers use. Make blogs and videos that answer common questions. Work with plus size social media stars who have real fans. Use smart ad retargeting but know that shoppers often look many times before buying.
Building Community Around Your Brand
Good plus size stores often become group hubs. Host events that cheer all body types. Make social posts that ask for comments. Start reward programs for return shoppers. Ask for feedback and show how you’ve used it.
Customer Education and Support
Teaching shoppers helps them buy the right items. Good support makes them feel safe to try new things. Both lead to more sales and fewer returns.
Fit Guides and Size Charts
Clear size info is key, mainly for online sales. Give both the item size and what body size it fits. Tell how to measure right. Compare your sizes to known brands. Think about tools that give size tips based on user info.
Problem-Solution Matching
Help shoppers find just what they need. Make a tool that guides to the right items. Create charts that show which items solve which issues. Show how different shapewear works under various clothes.
After-Purchase Support
The link shouldn’t end at checkout. Give clear care steps to make items last. Offer fit chats if shoppers have questions later. Make returns easy for size issues. Check in to make sure they’re happy.
Analyzing Performance and Adapting
Tracking sales tells you what works and what doesn’t. This data helps you make smart choices. It shows where to put more money and what to change.
Key Metrics to Monitor
Track these signs to see how your stock is doing. Watch which sizes sell fastest. Look at return rates and why items come back. Check shoppers’ happiness scores for shapewear. Note how many people buy again.
Responding to Feedback
Shopper input should drive your changes. Create ways to gather and sort feedback. Make plans for fixing common issues. Share what shoppers say with your makers. Tell shoppers about changes you’ve made from their ideas.
Seasonal Planning and Trend Response
The shapewear market shifts with fashion and seasons. Stock lighter items for hot months. Plan for wedding season and prom time. Keep up with fashion trends that need special shapewear. Mix trendy items with basics that always sell.
Conclusion: Building Long-Term Success in Plus Size Shapewear
Growing your plus size shapewear sales takes more than just good stock. It’s about making an experience that honors your shoppers. Choose items with care. Train kind staff. Create displays that include all bodies. Keep your ads real. These steps build more than sales. They build trust.
Stores that win in this space know plus size shoppers have smart needs. They know these shoppers deserve great service. When you serve this market with real care and good items, word spreads fast. The plus size world talks about brands that get it right.
Your stock is just the start. How you show, talk about, and stand by these items matters most. Use the tips in this article. Stay open to your shoppers’ changing needs. This will help your business grow strong in this key market.
