Dive Brief:
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Thousands of advocates and customers have signed petitions on change.org urging Victoria’s Secret to offer larger sizes and feature curvier models in its advertising.
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The petitions argue that the retailer is inconsistent with its larger-sized offerings, and favors smaller sizes overall. Victoria's Secret came under fire recently for its “Perfect Body” marketing campaign, which it quietly changed after protests.
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Victoria’s Secret has cornered more than a third of the lingerie market, according to Forbes.
Dive Insight:
In a year when Sport Illustrated is featuring its first plus-size swimsuit model, advocates and customers are increasingly asking for better products and service in that market. Victoria’s Secret is being targeted for its merchandising as well as its advertising. And it may be leaving money on the table by ignoring this segment.
"My money and my credit are good enough for them, but the fact that I can only buy items like perfume, lotion, and body spray sends the message that my body is not," one customer wrote on a change.org campaign asking the retailer to add plus sizes to its product lines. "Every year I watch the Angel fashion show and would love to purchase the items I see on my screen but can't because Victoria's Secret doesn't sell plus sizes."
