So, if you haven't heard yet, Abercrombie and Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries revealed the reason why his store does not carry plus sizes for women. FYI, A+F only carries pants sizes up to 10 and shirt sizes up to Large. According to Jeffries, "larger" women do not fit in with his marketing scheme towards hot people. In a interview with Salon magazine
2006 he stated:
"That’s why we hire good-looking people in our stores. Because good-looking people attract other good-looking people, and we want to market to cool, good-looking people. We don’t market to anyone other than that,”
I read this article when it came through on my Facebook page yesterday from my favorite radio station's website blog. I shared it, thinking it may get some response. What I got was three of my friends, who are girls of varying sizes and shapes, commenting on this article in anger, disgust, and a bit of shock. It was because of these, and the push from them, that I had to post about this. Thanks Haydin, Chelsea and Hanna!
Well, tell us what you really think there Mikey! What this man fails to realize is that women (and everyone by extension) come in all shape and sizes.Whether you are slim, curvy, full-figured, or somewhere in between, you as a person are beautiful. I, personally do not want to trash Mr. Jeffries. I simply want him to think about what he's saying. You are telling potential consumers of your products that A+F does not want them in their stores. I just got a call, American Eagle, H & M, and Aeropostale all said "Thanks for the customers bro!"
Let's step away from the social impact of this. You are telling people not to spend money in your stores because they aren't "hot" enough to wear them. From a business prospective, as my good friend and Hall of Fame forward Charles Barkley so eloquently puts it, "That's Turrible." But if you don't want people to spend money to give you more profit, I'm sure after this little statement, they will not mind obliging to your wishes Mr. Jeffries. I'm sure that these people will have no problem shopping somewhere where everyone is considered "hot."
