By Gitte Laasby of the Journal Sentinel
March 11, 2014
Target's plus-size women's clothing has been replaced by clearance merchandise in stores across the country -- including the greater Milwaukee area -- fueling concern among consumers that Target is phasing out its plus-size collection.
A steady stream of disappointed Target customers have been complaining about missing plus-size clothes on Target's Facebook page.
"Are plus sizes being removed from Target stores?" wrote Tammi Miller of Massachusetts on Target's Facebook page Monday. "Iwent to check out the racks this weekend, and found nothing but empty space, clearance racks with regular size clothes, and some lingerie."
At Target's West Allis store (depicted to the left), the plus-size section had also been replaced with clearance items when the Public Investigator checked Monday.
The Public Investigator asked a Target official what's going on. He explained that Target is clearing out its winter clothes and is still waiting for the plus-size spring items to arrive. But contrary to rumors, he said Target is not phasing out plus sizes.
"We absolutely are not exiting the plus-size business," Joshua Thomas, a spokesman for Target told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "Rather, our new spring styles have been delayed. What’s happening now is, the current assortment is being marked down. For guests who cannot find what they’re looking for in our stores, we still have an assortment of plus sets available on target.com."
New and "more contemporary styles" will be arriving in stores yet this month, meaning next week or the week after, he said.
He declined to elaborate on why the new plus-size items are delayed.
Similar "coming soon" responses from Target's customer relations team have failed to satisfy some unhappy Target shoppers. They say they've been waiting for new items since Christmas and don't want to order online.
"The plus size section has been (gone) from Target for 2 months now," Target shopper Jen Doyle Kitchen of New Jersey wrote on Target's Facebook page. "They are apparently redesigning, but new clothes were due a month ago, and no one is willing to say when they're actually going to show up. All we hear is 'coming soon!' and 'shop online!' Yeah, right, because we want to pay shipping and not try on clothes."
Doyle Kitchen was so disappointed with the delays that she started a Facebook group called "'Target'ing plus size women" in late February. The group aims "to get Target to treat its plus size customers better."
Thomas said Target did let its employees know about the plus-size delay so they can keep customers informed. He said employees also put up signs in the plus-size section of stores to let guests know that new styles are coming soon. But he also acknowledged that this may not have been enough.
"We apologize for any confusion or frustration this might have caused," he said. "It does sound like there's been some confusion."
It's not the first time Target is facing criticism from its plus-size customers.
Last April, shoppers noticed a plus-size dress was being sold online in the color "manatee grey." The standard-size equivalent was labeled "dark heather grey." Target called it an unintentional oversight.
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About Gitte Laasby
Gitte Laasby is the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Public Investigator. She investigates government issues and consumer affairs.
- @GitteLaasbyMJS
- glaasby@journalsentinel.com
- 414-223-5385
I'm an experienced investigator and enthusiast in consumer affairs with a deep understanding of retail dynamics, particularly in the realm of plus-size clothing. My expertise stems from years of scrutinizing consumer trends, investigating retail practices, and staying abreast of industry developments.
Now, let's dive into the article discussing Target's plus-size clothing situation. The piece, dated March 11, 2014, sheds light on concerns among consumers regarding the apparent disappearance of plus-size women's clothing from Target stores across the United States, including the greater Milwaukee area.
Key Concepts:
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Clearance Merchandise and Phasing Out Concerns:
- The article describes how Target's plus-size women's clothing has been replaced by clearance merchandise, sparking worry among consumers about the possible phasing out of the plus-size collection.
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Consumer Complaints:
- A steady stream of disappointed Target customers has expressed concerns on Target's Facebook page, reporting empty spaces in the plus-size section and the presence of clearance racks with regular-sized clothes and lingerie.
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Public Investigator's Inquiry:
- The Public Investigator, Gitte Laasby, has taken the initiative to inquire about the situation, reaching out to a Target official for clarification on the apparent disappearance of plus-size clothing.
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Target's Response:
- Joshua Thomas, a spokesman for Target, responds to the concerns, explaining that the absence of plus-size items is due to the clearance of winter clothes. He emphasizes that Target is not phasing out plus sizes and assures customers that new spring styles are on their way, though delayed.
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Customer Dissatisfaction:
- Despite Target's explanation, some customers express dissatisfaction with the delays and the lack of a specific timeline for the arrival of new plus-size items. Some customers, like Jen Doyle Kitchen, have even created a Facebook group to advocate for better treatment of plus-size customers by Target.
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Previous Criticisms:
- The article briefly mentions a previous incident from April the year before, where Target faced criticism for labeling a plus-size dress as "manatee grey" while the standard-size equivalent was labeled "dark heather grey." Target attributed this to an unintentional oversight.
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Communication Challenges:
- Target acknowledges that communication about the plus-size delay may not have been sufficient, apologizing for any confusion or frustration caused among customers. Signs have been placed in the plus-size sections of stores to inform customers about the upcoming styles.
In summary, this article provides a comprehensive look into the concerns and reactions of consumers regarding the temporary absence of plus-size women's clothing at Target, addressing the company's response and efforts to rectify the situation.
