How A CEO Can Wreck A Brand In One Interview

[Josephus]

I think the makers of fine yoga pants should also be exclusionary.

[PDH]

Exactly.  Fat chicks shouldn't be allowed to buy spandex.

[Grey Fox]

If there is anything wrong with modern society it's the "fat acceptance" and similar style movements.

Unlike most other industries that have succumbed to the lowest common denominator, the fashion industry has had aspired to the ideal for a long time, embracing not the fat, ugly and disgusting masses, but the few slim, pretty and young. Unfortunately, now even this is falling under the stampede of disgusting ugly slobs.

You used to be fat, eh?

[Valmy]

I think both the interviewer and the CEO look fine.

[derspiess]

Wow, so people are actually out protesting over this?  With people so easily offended these days I guess I shouldn't be surprised, but it's absurd.

http://gma.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs/abercrombie-fitch-faces-protests-backlash-not-selling-larger-134748591.html

I think I'll go protest the Big & Tall store for not selling clothes for people with normal BMI (and before anyone says anything, I lost weight  )

[Malthus]

A bunch of fat people boycotting a store that doesn't sell clothes to fat people?

I wonder if this doesn't work to the store's advantage. 

[The Minsky Moment]

Unlike most other industries that have succumbed to the lowest common denominator, the fashion industry has had aspired to the ideal for a long time, embracing not the fat, ugly and disgusting masses, but the few slim, pretty and young. Unfortunately, now even this is falling under the stampede of disgusting ugly slobs.

How strange that a profit making business should seek to sell to the many, rather than the few.
Surely business schools all over the world will puzzle over this unusual new business model.

[derspiess]

How strange that a profit making business should seek to sell to the many, rather than the few.
Surely business schools all over the world will puzzle over this unusual new business model.

Actually I'd think that several brands/stores would end up losing money in the long run by making & selling clothes for fat people.

[Legbiter]

How strange that a profit making business should seek to sell to the many, rather than the few.
Surely business schools all over the world will puzzle over this unusual new business model.

I wonder if you could sell exclusive fashion items to fatties?  Designer feedbags?

[The Minsky Moment]

Actually I'd think that several brands/stores would end up losing money in the long run by making & selling clothes for fat people.

I can say with confidence that very few brands or retailers can have a viable business selling entirely to the "slim, pretty and young."

[Phillip V]

I have trouble finding clothes at other retailers in "Small" (S) size.

[Valmy]

Wow, so people are actually out protesting over this?  With people so easily offended these days I guess I shouldn't be surprised, but it's absurd.

Protesting *fill in the blank*-shaming is in style these days.

[Malthus]

Actually I'd think that several brands/stores would end up losing money in the long run by making & selling clothes for fat people.

I can say with confidence that very few brands or retailers can have a viable business selling entirely to the "slim, pretty and young."

Their business is to sell to those who wish to be thought of as "slim, pretty and young" - a rather larger demographic. 

[The Minsky Moment]

Their business is to sell to those who wish to be thought of as "slim, pretty and young" - a rather larger demographic. 

Quite true.  And all the more reason it is a bad idea for the CEO of such a company to remind those people that really they are not, and rub their noses in it.

[Valmy]

Their business is to sell to those who wish to be thought of as "slim, pretty and young" - a rather larger demographic. 

Quite true.  And all the more reason it is a bad idea for the CEO of such a company to remind those people that really they are not, and rub their noses in it.

It wasn't a strategy he made faux-pas seven years ago.  In any case it sorta sounds like he is saying the opposite...that everybody who buys his clothes is by definition those things.