Slim Kingston discussion: Go shop elsewhere

By Joe Longley

At the risk of offending people I must say I am on New Look’s side. Businesses are always going to follow their own interests, and what is wrong with that?

I can understand the anger at not being able to find the clothes you want in the right size. Shopping is stressful enough even when everything goes to plan.

However, not being able to find clothes in the right size is the individual’s problem, rather than the responsibility of any local store.  

The last time I checked, New Look was a business and not a charity and so it is hardly surprising that it is trying to make money rather than spending it to keep a few customers happy.  

If their plus-size section isn’t selling well they are completely justified to discontinue the range — in the same way that they would stop selling any fashion style which is out of date and so no longer generating profit.

Every inch of shop floor that is taken up with unsellable clothes wastes money, especially as more people are deserting the high street in favour of internet shopping.

You may ask “Isn’t New Look worried about losing loyal shoppers?” But they are trying to keep their tall and large regulars happy with their “click and collect” service.  

This means the item gets sent to the Kingston store free and it also entitles the buyer to 10 per cent off their next purchase in store, with is probably enough to cover any petrol money.

How many plus-sized shops have we seen adverts for on TV recently that trade solely online?

Simply Be, Jacamo, One Stop Plus, and those are just the ones who splashed out on an advert. It looks as though that is just the way the plus-size trade is going.

Survey results and store closures are all pointing to this: a Vegas-sized, flashing, neon warning that it may be time to abandon plus-sized clothes ranges in the high street before they drag the rest of the business under.
New Look’s new range shows that shops will always cater to what we do have in Kingston, and that is students.

Who holds greater sway over what a clothes store will order: 25,000 plus students, or a few individuals?