Starting a clothing brand comes with its fair share of challenges. One of the most critical, yet often overlooked, is determining the size range to offer. The idea of inclusivity is compelling—who wouldn't want their brand to be accessible to as many people as possible? However, there's a delicate balance to strike between inclusivity and the financial realities of running a business.
@mikemonnette One of the least sexy, but most crucial things to get right when running a clothing brand is the size range you offer in your products. On one hand you want to open the door for as many people to participate in your brand as possible, but on the other, every additional size you offer adds cost. It complicates the manufacturing process and inventory management, and spending your cash on inventory you can’t find a customer for is the quickest way to kill any retail business. While I was working at Old Navy the CEO was even fired for trying to introduce wider size ranges to all stores, because it ended up being such a poor business decision. I’m at a crossroads on how to handle this going forward: I know that not being able to find your size sucks, but trying to carry sizes for everyone at this point jeopardizes the business’s ability to grow or even survive. Let me know how you would handle this in the comments. #mensfashion #smallbusiness #independentbrand #smallbrand #fashion #businessoffashion #abbreviatedapparel ♬ original sound - Mike
The Cost of Inclusivity
Every additional size you introduce into your product line adds complexity. Manufacturing becomes more complicated, inventory management more cumbersome, and the financial risks more significant. Stocking sizes that don't sell is a surefire way to tie up cash in inventory that won't move, which can be detrimental to any retail business.When I launched my brand, I started with a narrow range of sizes. Almost immediately, I received feedback asking for larger sizes. Some messages were polite, others more demanding, emphasizing the importance of inclusivity in today's fashion industry. Wanting to accommodate these requests, I expanded my size range in subsequent product drops.
The Reality Check
Despite my best efforts to be inclusive, the new sizes didn't sell. Even after directly reaching out to the people who had requested them, the inventory remained stagnant. This was a harsh lesson in the cost of inclusivity—sometimes, the demand for certain sizes is vocal but not substantial enough to justify the expense.The Crossroads
This experience has put me at a crossroads. On one hand, I understand the frustration of not finding clothes that fit—it's the reason I started a clothing brand for shorter men in the first place. I empathize deeply with anyone who struggles to find their size. But on the other hand, I have to face the harsh reality that spending money on unsellable inventory is the quickest way to kill my business.So, where do we draw the line? How far should a clothing brand go to be inclusive? It's a question that doesn't have an easy answer, but it's one that every brand owner must grapple with.
I'd love to hear your thoughts—how do you balance inclusivity with business viability?