The first public face, outside of the original Charm Shoppes store, of Charming Shoppes was the Fashion Bug stores which opened in the 1960's. Considered pioneers of computerized inventory management and sales, Fashion Bug stores were wildly popular and expanded quickly all the way through the 1990's.
In 2000 Charming Shoppes purchased Catherine's Stores Corporation in an effort to firmly plant themselves into the plus size women's clothing market. They followed this quickly with the purchase of Lane Bryant in 2001, adding the plus size powerhouse to its already successful Fashion Bug and Catherine's dynasty. It quickly followed the Lane Bryant acquisition with the launch of Pettite Sophisticate, a store catering to smaller size women.
If we take a look at the company's financial performance based on their stock price, we see that in 1993 they split their stock, and immediately afterwards saw a sharp decrease in stock price over the next three years (adjusted for split price). That brings us to 1996, a year when the Charming Shoppes successfully remade itself as a socially responsible company by helping women and children in need, focusing on women's' health issues, and brining attention to family and financial issues that women face. This program was championed by then CEO Dorrit J. Bern, and marked an immediate, sharp rise in stock price that lasted through the year.
Charming Shoppes stock price continued to fluctuate up and down over the next several years, but moved generally in an upward trend. It was seemingly unaffected by the acquisition of Catherine's and Lane Bryant, and was in a holding pattern through much of the late 1990's and early 2000's.
In 2003 we see a sharp rise in the stock price that has continued through h2007 before seeing any decline whatsoever. This can be directly tied to the opening of the Lane Bryant website to internet sales, a move that brought an incredibly lucrative new revenue stream in for the Charming Shoppes Corporation. Sales have declined in 2008, one can assume in part due to the prevailing economic conditions in the country.
Compared to previous years, sales for the Charming Shoppes Corporation are down $265 million over the first two quarters. That's 20% of their total sales. Not something to take lightly. Taken as separates, Lane Bryant is down $47 million, Fashion Bug is down $69 million, and Catherine's is down $24 million. It's possible that they'll make up the difference in the second two quarters of the year, but historically they have had very few strong 3rd and 4th quarters.
What does this mean for the plus size fashion industry? Not much, but the Lane Bryant sales figures are a good indicator that there is quite a bit less demand for plus size clothes so far this year. One can assume this is due in part to less disposable income due to the slowing economy and gas prices since none of the other large fashion houses has seen a comparable rise in sales.
Women have, available to them, several means of buying clothes. Should their size be more common, they could find clothes at retail outlets or department stores. Alternatively, they can shop on the Internet or through mail-order catalogs. A more pricier option would be to have their clothes tailor-made.
Department stores and boutique stores have realized that by promoting their plus size clothing selection they can improvise their total sales revenue as well as their bottom line. Shoppers will spend more when they are enjoying their shopping experience. It is fun shopping for plus size clothing when there are stylish plus size clothes available in your sizes.
Many major department stores and boutiques now sell sexy plus size clothing. It is even possible to buy an attractive plus size dress because many dress manufacturers have begun to consider the needs of larger women. You can purchase plus size clothing from a catalogue or online store. Just be sure to use a business which has a generous return and exchange policy.
Plus size clothing is available in a wide variety of colors, shapes, styles, and materials. Larger women, however, still need to look through this variety to find the clothing that best fits their needs. One major consideration always needs to be the fit of the clothes, because clothes that don't fit well will draw more attention to body features big beautiful women really would prefer to hide.
Fashion advice which applies to smaller women can also be used to advantage by plus size women, because let's face it, few people ever feel their figures are perfect. Darker colors in slacks and dresses can help the body look slimmer. Adding a bright scarf and some lovely jewelry can draw attention away from other areas of the body. If you have excess baggage on your hips, there are clothing styles which will skim them and detract from the bulk. Bulges and wrinkles can be minimized by appropriate undergarments. While it might take a little looking, there's no reason now that women of every size can't find fashionable, flattering clothing.
Both Allen Wright & Eric Menzies Menzies are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Allen Wright has sinced written about articles on various topics from Modelling, Insurance and Property Sale. Allen is a freelance writer who follows fashion topics at many different levels. Look for more information on ,. Allen Wright's top article generates over 550000 views. to your Favourites.
Eric Menzies Menzies has sinced written about articles on various topics from Fashion Tips, Hair Care and Marketing. Andrea writes about . Visit us for plus size deals on. Eric Menzies Menzies's top article generates over 110000 views. to your Favourites.