Trends & Statistics from the apparel industry

97%

97% of market research respondents said they would use the mybestfit™ service (Definitely would = 83% Probably would = 16%)

77%

77% said they have never purchased jeans on the internet. 48.5% said the reason was “concern about fit.” 4% said the reason was they “don’t like returning.”

- May 2010 Market Research, Unique Solutions

…the second quarter of 2010 is the third consecutive quarter of positive year-over-year growth for apparel retail e-commerce… ”As online video, virtual-sizing tools and inter-active marketing tools continue to improve, online sales will continue to gain share on retail as the preferred shopping method for consumers on their trusted brands.”

- Bill Palmer, founder, Activate Media Group
California Apparel News 8/20-26, 2010

Outsize apparel (petite, big & tall, plus-size) is the most dynamic segment of the apparel market, both in the changes that occur in it daily as well as the profit potential to be found. From less than 5% total market share in 1980, the proportion of outsize apparel in the world approached 20% in 2008 – and will approach 40% in 2014 in certain countries such as the United States.

  • The growth is fuelled by several factors: “People are increasingly mobile on a global scale. Changes in dietary and work habits affect the proportions of petite, plus-size, and tall individuals. Globalization means companies have to market their products to an increasingly global – and differently-shaped – audience in order to gain market share. By combining body scan data, sophisticated customer and sales feedback techniques, and leading-edge manufacturing systems, they are able to create clothes that fit and enhance customers like never before.”
  • Tall customers represent a small but fast-growing segment of the total apparel market, increasing 40% in three years. It is the most under-represented of the outsized segments.
- U.S. Dept. of Commerce and Just-Style Report

#1 complaint of women shoppers is inconsistency of fit

  • 62% can’t find clothes that fit well
  • 57% don’t fit into today’s standard sizes
  • 58% say clothes aren’t made for “real” bodies
  • 55% hate or refuse to try on clothes
  • Women’s fitted apparel has the highest retail return rate
  • Over 25% is due to inconsistent or incorrect fit
  • 75% of online returns are due to poor fit
- Source: Kurt Salmon, NPD Group

28% of women hate to shop for clothes

  • They don’t know what looks good on them.
  • Feel uncomfortable trying on clothes in dressing rooms.
- Source: (Worth Global Style Network)

About 20% of the population wants custom apparel – and they’re willing to pay an extra 30 percent or more for it. According to 2005 survey by TCTC:

  • 54% of consumers have difficulty in finding clothes that fit
  • 68% don’t bother to try them on because they find it such an unpleasant experience
  • Retailers that provide consumers with the ability to customize their apparel size could earn up to 25% more per purchase.
  • Only 10 to 20% of American fit the national standards (which date back to body size studies from WWII)
 - Source: (Jim Lovejoy, director of industry programs, Textile Clothing Technology Corp.)
  • 62% of women admitted to not knowing their own measurements
  • Only 16% said they regularly check the size chart when shopping in a store and nearly 19% said they did only when shopping online or via catalog.
- Talbots 2006 national study
  • 64% of women said trying on clothes in public lowers their self confidence
  • 14% of women have refused sales help so they wouldn’t have to reveal their size
- Fitness Magazine survey: Aug. 2008
  • Women spent slightly more time browsing the Internet for apparel in an average month (125 minutes) than shopping in stores (112 minutes)
  • 72% of women claimed to look online for apparel; higher the income, the more they use the internet (66% of women making $25,000 or less compared to 79% of women making $75,000 or more)
- National Retail Federation survey

Analysis of buying behavior shows Macy’s customers who shop both online and in-store spend DOUBLE that of the store-only shopper. Every dollar spent on macys.com influences an additional $5.77 spent in stores within 10 days.

- MACY’s Online Research

Online shoppers who use the “finder” fit guide convert to buyers three times more often than shoppers who don’t use that feature.

- WWD – Oct. 14, 2009


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