Hello Ladies,
After a small hiatus, the statistical analysis of our sales returns with a discussion of bra size! Earlier we dissected demographics, band sizes, and cup sizes, and today, we are pulling all of the information together to examine what bra sizes we sold the most often since opening. Below are a series of graphs demonstrating which cup sizes sell the best for each band size:
Top 5 Best-Selling UK Bra Sizes:
- 32DDD/E
- 32FF
- 38FF
- 36F and 36FF
- 34F and 36G
Observations and Notes:
- Given that E-G cup sizes account for 65% of our sales, it is not unexpected that they would make a strong showing in nearly every band size or that all of our best-selling sizes would be contained within the range.
- Last year, only 44 bands had a good distribution for GG+ cup sizes; however, this year many of the bands saw purchases in these sizes with 34-38 bands having the most.
- In multiple band sizes, the dispersion of cup sizes continues to approach a bell curve distribution, and I will be interested to see if this trend continues over the next several years.
- We have sold bras in the 48-56 band size range, but the data points are scarce. I feel like including them would not aid in identifying any trends or explaining our inventory selection.
Larger Cups and Smaller Bands
As a large cup/small band woman, I despise the lack of selection in 26-32 band sizes and GG+ cup sizes; however, my sales percentages are low for this demographic. For the 9% of our customers wearing a 28 or 30 band, only 15% wear higher than G cup. Even women in the 32 band are overwhelmingly likely to be a G Cup and under, with the 32DDD/E size being our best-selling for the entire store. When we reach the 34 band size, the sales in the GG-K cup range improves immensely. Nevertheless, despite the smaller sales figures, these percentages are way up from last year. I had not seen anyone in a 28 band who wore higher than GG cup in my first year, and in 30 and 32 band sizes, higher cups were pretty scarce. In fact, it was 38-44 band sizes which accounted for the majority of my GG+ sizes whereas this year, it shifted to 34-38 bands. Data like this emphasizes the importance of and strengthens my commitment to our special order policy. Given our sales records, we cannot afford to overbuy in the small band/big cup market, but hopefully, as we are in business longer, the growth will continue.
A Small Bands Addendum
During both statistical series, I have heard from several small band women who cannot understand why we do not have more sales here. Holly from The Full Figured Chest wrote a great piece on the 28 band dilemma, but I want to add a few brief thoughts here as well. With most of our 28 and 30 band size customers wearing between a DD and G cup, we’re looking at women who may not even realize how large their cup size is. If these women shop at places using the +4 method, they could inadvertently be wearing anything from 32-36 A-DD. In fact, most of the women who leave the store with a 28 or 30 band often came in wearing a 32C, 34D, or 36C bra. Because their breast tissue isn’t as heavy as someone who wears a 32J, for example, they may never find the need to educate themselves about their correct bra size. Furthermore, the options in the 28 and 30 band market, in general but especially in higher cup sizes, can be of lower design quality. By this, I do not mean the manufacturers use shoddy materials in those sizes but rather that the overall fit of the bra has not been scaled as well to suit the needs of the small band customer. I would like to elaborate more on this point in a future blog, but suffice it to say: If it is hard to find a 28E bra which contours to your breasts as well as the 32C does, these women may just stick with the easier to find (and potentially cheaper) alternatives.
Bigger Cups for Every Band
Last year, I made a plea for more options in the G+ market for women wearing 40+ bands; however, this year, I’m extending this call to include every band size. In the last six months alone, I have seen multiple women who need bra sizes higher than a K cup. For women needing KK, L, LL, and even M cups, there is nothing that I can do short of recommending alterations, providing the name of companies which custom make bras, or discussing how to endure bras that do not fit properly. After reviewing my post a year ago, I mentioned how I hoped Panache’s Sculptresse line would bridge the gap for higher bands, but again, the sizes are more consistent with Elomi. There is a large market of women wearing 28-42 bands needing higher than a K cup, and there are just as many women in the 44-50 range needing higher than H cup. Even if manufacturers only produce one, well-designed and well-executed style for these women, it would be better than the current options.
The Bell Curve
As I mentioned in the observations, I was excited to see our statistics for this year are approaching a bell curve with less spiking for certain sizes. Part of this change comes from the overall increase in sales, meaning we have more data points to consider, but another component is how we have become known as a great bra shop—not necessarily a bra shop for certain demographics only. As we expand inventory and continue to grow, I’m interested to see if the graphs continue to approach a standard bell curve.
Now, that you’ve seen all of the statistics, what are you thoughts? Are there any other store owners out there willing to present an alternative view? Professional fitters feel free to offer a view as well!
Erica
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