Table of Contents
Executive Summary
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- The market
- Plus-size women’s clothing outperforming womenswear market
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- Figure 1: Best and worst case forecast value sales of plus-size womenswear, 2006-16
- Larger menswear growing in line with the market
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- Figure 2: Best and worst case forecast value sales of plus-size menswear, 2006-16
- Value of petite market hits £2.0 billion
- Market factors
- Ageing population to boost plus-size market
- Changing body sizes
- Larger consumers do not enjoy shopping
- The consumer
- Nearly a fifth of consumers are plus-size
- Size trends
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- Figure 3: Clothes sizes bought by women, 2006, 2008 and 2011
- Figure 4: Clothes sizes bought by men, 2006, 2008 and 2011
- Plus-size population concentrated in the over-55s
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- Figure 5: Estimates of plus-size UK population, by age group, 2011 and 2016
- Supermarkets top choice for plus-sizes
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- Figure 6: Retailers from where people buy clothes in-store, by gender and size, April 2011.
- Bigger sizes marginalised by fashion retailers
- Larger women turn to specialists
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- Figure 7: Attitudes towards shopping for clothes, by gender and size, April 2011
- Size inconsistency causes frustration
- Plus-size women lack choice
- The minority have ease getting the right fit
- Fit is the major barrier to shopping online
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- Figure 8: Attitudes towards shopping for clothes, by gender and size, April 2011
- Women are more body-conscious than men
- Plus-size women in favour of larger models and mannequins
- Only petite women interested in size division in-store
- Have attitudes changed?
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- Figure 9: Attitudes towards shopping for clothes, April 2011 and April 2010
- What we think?
Issues in the Market
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- What is driving growth in the plus-size clothing market?
- Who is innovating in the plus-size market?
- Have plus-size consumers’ views of the high street changed?
- Should society be catering for or preventing plus-sizes?
- How do consumers feel about sizing and fit?
- How can retailers make finding the right fit easier?
Future Opportunities
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- Trend: Make it Mine
- Trend: Life Hacking
Internal Market Environment
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- Key points
- Overweight and obesity prevalent in the UK
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- Figure 10: Percentage of overweight and obese adults, in England by BMI, 2004-09
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- Figure 11: Percentage of adults who are overweight and obese in England, by gender, 1993-2009
- Figure 12: Proportion of obese population, by gender, 2005-50
- Highest rates of obesity within the 45-74 age group
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- Figure 13: Percentage of adult population, in England with BMI of over 30, by age group, 2000, 2004 and 2009
- Childhood obesity undesirably high
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- Figure 14: Children’s overweight and obesity prevalence, 2004-09
- Two in five women trying to lose weight
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- Figure 15: Adults agreeing that ‘Most of the time I am trying to lose weight’, 2010
- Larger sizes choose comfort over style
- Plus-sizes spend less on clothes
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- Figure 16: Attitudes towards clothes shopping, 2010
Broader Market Environment
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- Key points
- Ageing population to benefit market
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- Figure 17: Trends in the age structure of the UK population, 2006-16
- Socio-economic shifts present opportunities
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- Figure 18: Trends in the socio-economic structure of the UK population, 2006-16
- Tough trading conditions but light at the end of the tunnel
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- Figure 19: GDP, PDI, consumer expenditure and savings, at constant 2011 prices, 2006-16
- The macro-economic outlook remains fragile
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- Figure 20: Trends in GDP quarterly percentage change, Q1 2004-Q1 2011
- Caution prevails
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- Figure 21: Trends in consumer confidence, January 2008-April 2011
Strengths and Weaknesses in the Market
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- Strengths
- Weaknesses
Who’s Innovating?
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- Retailers target the more mature shopper
- Young plus-size fashion
- Shape issues
- Shift towards ‘real’ models
- Innovative technology to improve fit
Competitive Context
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- Key points
- Plus-size womenswear outperforms
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- Figure 22: Value sales of plus size womenswear, compared with all womenswear, at current prices, 2006-11
- Steady growth in larger menswear
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- Figure 23: Retail value sales of plus size menswear, compared with all menswear at current prices, 2006-11
- Online clothing market key for plus-sizes
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- Figure 24: Value sales of online clothing and footwear, compared with over-55s clothing, at current prices, 2006-11
- Three in ten over-55 women are plus-size
Market Size and Forecast
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- Key points
- Market segmentation
- Impressive growth of plus-size womenswear market
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- Figure 25: Value sales of plus-size womenswear, at current and constant prices, 2006-16
- Value of petite market reaches £2.0 billion
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- Figure 26: Value sales of petite womenswear, at current and constant prices, 2006-16
- Plus-size menswear shows stable growth
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- Figure 27: Value sales of plus size menswear, at current and constant prices, 2006-16
- The future
- Larger womenswear forecast to grow by 43%
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- Figure 28: Best and worst case forecast value sales of plus-size womenswear, 2006-16
- Menswear market to grow by 13%
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- Figure 29: Best and worst case forecast sales of plus-size menswear, 2006-16
- Petite market shows robust growth
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- Figure 30: Best and worst case forecast value sales of petite womenswear, 2006-16
- Factors used in the forecast
Retail Competitor Analysis
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- Key points
- Womenswear non-specialists
- Menswear non-specialists
- Specialists
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- Figure 31: Leading clothing retailers, 2009/10
- Figure 32: Leading non-specialist clothing retailers, 2009/10
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- Figure 33: Specialist plus, tall and petite clothing retailers and selected mail order operators, 2009/10
Companies and Products
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- Ann Harvey
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- Figure 34: Financial performance of the Alexon Group, 2009-10
- Artigiano
- Elvi
- Evans
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- Figure 35: Financial performance of the Arcadia Group, 2009-10
- Long Tall Sally
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- Figure 36: Financial performance of Long Tall Sally, 2009-10
- N Brown Group
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- Figure 37: Financial performance of N Brown Group Plc, 2009-10
- Shop Direct
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- Figure 38: Financial performance of Shop Direct Ltd, 2009-10
- Yours
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- Figure 39: Financial performance of Size Up Clothing Stores Ltd, 2009-10
Brand Communication and Promotion
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- Key points
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- Figure 40: Expenditure on advertising, by non-standard size clothing specialists, 2006-10
- Slight fall in adspend in 2010
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- Figure 41: Expenditure on advertising by non-standard size clothing specialists % share by media type, 2006-10
- Direct mail tops specialists’ adspend
The Consumer – Which Clothes Sizes Are Bought?
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- Key points
- Women
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- Figure 42: UK clothing sizes bought by women, April 2011
- Nearly one in five women wear plus-size
- A quarter of women are petite
- Age is the dominant factor
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- Figure 43: UK clothing sizes bought by women, by age, April 2011
- C2DE females wear bigger sizes
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- Figure 44: UK clothing sizes bought by women, by socio-economic group, April 2010
- Men
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- Figure 45: UK clothing sizes bought, by men, April 2011
- One fifth of men are plus-size
- Men’s size related to age
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- Figure 46: UK clothing sizes bought by men, April 2011
- AB men most likely to be plus-size
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- Figure 47: UK clothing sizes bought by men, by age and socio-economic group, April 2011
The Consumer – Who Shops Where, By Size
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- Key points
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- Figure 48: Retailers where people buy clothes in-store, April 2011
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- Figure 49: Retailers where people buy clothes online, April 2011
- Value retailers at the top
- Supermarkets are the first choice for plus-sizes
- Marks & Spencer attracts larger sizes
- Department stores overlook plus-size women
- Next fails to attract larger shoppers
- Fashion retailers alienate plus-sizes
- Specialists appeal to size 20+ shoppers
- Where plus-size women shop
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- Figure 50: In-store retailers where people buy clothes, by size, April 2011
- Size 18 and size 20+ women shop differently
- Where plus-size men shop
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- Figure 51: In-store retailers where people buy clothes, by size, April 2011
- Most XXL men shop at Marks & Spencer or supermarkets
The Consumer – How They Feel about Shopping for Clothes
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- Key points
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- Figure 52: Feelings towards shopping for clothes, April 2011
- Discontent over inconsistent sizes prevails
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- Figure 53: Feelings towards shopping for clothes, by UK women’s clothing sizes, April 2011
- Plus-sizes avoid fitting rooms
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- Figure 54: Agreement that ‘I prefer to try on clothes to check that it fits before buying it’, by UK women’s clothing sizes, April 2011
- Limited choice for bigger sizes
- Challenging for women to find clothes that fit
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- Figure 55: Feelings towards shopping for clothes, by UK men’s clothing sizes, April 2011
- Smallest dress sizes sell out
- Few shops offer fashionable plus-size clothing
- Female body shape concerns increase with size
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- Figure 56: Feelings towards shopping for clothes, by UK women’s clothing sizes, April 2011
- Plus-sizes most confident online shoppers
- Greater choice online for bigger sizes
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- Figure 57: feelings towards shopping for clothes online, by UK women’s clothing sizes, April 2011
The Consumer – Attitudes Towards Shopping For Clothes
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- Key points
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- Figure 58: Attitudes towards shopping for clothes, April 2011
- Size influences fashion choices
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- Figure 59: Attitudes towards shopping for clothes, by UK women’s clothing sizes, April 2011
- Larger shoppers want larger models
- Plus-size women in favour of larger mannequins
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- Figure 60: Attitudes towards shopping for clothes, by UK women’s clothing sizes, April 2011
- Size 14+ women opt for slimming clothes
- Half of petite women need alterations
- Petites interested in separate shopping areas, but not plus-sizes
- Size 18+ women dislike asking for their size
- Half of plus-size women believe they pay more
Target Groups
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- Key points
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- Figure 61: marketing targets based on clothes size issues, April 2011
- Little Interest (38%)
- Size Conscious (17%)
- Moderate Concern (21%)
- Image Conscious (25%)
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- Figure 62: Marketing targets based on clothes size issues, by gender, April 2011
- Figure 63: Attitudes towards shopping for clothes, by target group, April 2011
Appendix – Internal Market Environment
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- Figure 64: Agreement with statements on personal appearance, by demographics, 2010
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Appendix – Consumer – Which Clothes Sizes are Bought?
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- Figure 65: Most popular UK clothing sizes bought by women, by demographics, April 2011
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- Figure 66: Next most popular UK clothing sizes bought by women, by demographics, April 2011
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- Figure 67: UK clothing sizes bought by men, by demographics, April 2011
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Appendix – The Consumer – Who Shops Where, by Size
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- Figure 68: Retailers where women buy clothes, by UK clothing sizes bought by women, April 2011
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- Figure 69: Retailers where women buy clothes, by UK clothing sizes bought by women, April 2011
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- Figure 70: Retailers where men buy clothes, by UK clothing sizes bought by men, April 2011
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- Figure 71: Retailers where men buy clothes, by UK clothing sizes bought by men, April 2011
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- Figure 72: Most popular in-store retailers where women buy clothes, by demographics, April 2011
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- Figure 73: Next most popular in-store retailers where women buy clothes, by demographics, April 2011
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- Figure 74: Most popular online retailers where women buy clothes, by demographics, April 2011
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- Figure 75: Next most popular online retailers where women buy clothes, by demographics, April 2011
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- Figure 76: Most popular in-store retailers where men buy clothes, by demographics, April 2011
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- Figure 77: Next most popular in-store retailers where men buy clothes, by demographics, April 2011
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- Figure 78: Other in-store retailers where men buy clothes, by demographics, April 2011
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- Figure 79: Online retailers where men buy clothes, by demographics, April 2011
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Appendix – The Consumer – How They Feel About Shopping for Clothes
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- Figure 80: Attitudes towards shopping for clothes, by most popular UK clothing sizes bought, by women, April 2011
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- Figure 81: Attitudes towards shopping for clothes, by next most popular UK clothing sizes bought, by women, April 2011
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- Figure 82: Attitudes towards shopping for clothes, by UK clothing sizes bought by men, April 2011
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- Figure 83: Most popular attitudes towards shopping for clothes, by demographics, April 2011
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- Figure 84: Next most popular attitudes towards shopping for clothes, by demographics, April 2011
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- Figure 85: Other attitudes towards shopping for clothes, by demographics, April 2011
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Appendix – The Consumer – Attitudes Towards Shopping for Clothes
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- Figure 86: Attitudes towards buying clothes, by most popular UK clothing sizes bought by women, April 2011
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- Figure 87: Attitudes towards buying clothes, by next most popular UK clothing sizes bought by women, April 2011
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- Figure 88: Attitudes towards buying clothes, by UK clothing sizes bought by men, April 2011
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- Figure 89: Most popular attitudes towards buying clothes, by demographics, April 2011
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- Figure 90: Next most popular attitudes towards buying clothes, by demographics, April 2011
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Appendix – Target Groups
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- Figure 91: Retailers where people buy clothes, by target groups, April 2011
- Figure 92: UK clothing sizes bought by women, by target groups, April 2011
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- Figure 93: UK clothing sizes bought by men, by target groups, April 2011
- Figure 94: Attitudes towards shopping for clothes, by target groups, April 2011
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- Figure 95: Attitudes towards buying clothes, by target groups, April 2011
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