Okay. Let’s talk about pricing.

It is hands down the hardest part of running this shop.

You all know I like prices that don’t hurt your feelings. Plus-size clothing already costs more at retail. We’ve all felt it. That built-in upcharge for extended sizing — what people call the “fat tax” — is real.

So when I’m pricing items, I’m constantly thinking about that balance.

Most like-new items start around 35–40% of retail.
New with tags usually start between 45–70% of retail.

That starting price depends on brand, season, style, fabric, and demand. A trendy jacket in fall is different from a basic tee in summer. A standout dress is different from an everyday layering top.

But here’s what makes it complicated.

I can look up one shirt online and find it listed for $5, $12, and $20 — all at the same time. So pricing isn’t just copying what someone else hopes to get. It’s about researching what actually sells and staying consistent within our brand ranges.

When I price something, I’m thinking about:

• Brand demand (here and nationally)

• Size demand (3X and 4X almost always move fastest)

• Season

• Fabric and quality

• Market saturation

• And what someone will realistically feel good paying

It’s not just math. It’s judgment. And experience.

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What If It Doesn’t Sell?

If something doesn’t move, we don’t let it just hang there forever.

We start discounting in-store first, then later online.
We accept reasonable offers on eBay.
We host live auctions on Whatnot.
We run regular sales.

At any given time, we have a few hundred pieces in clearance, marked 40–80% off our already amazing prices.

Some shoppers want first pick at new arrivals.
Some are full-on shopoholics who love a good sale rack moment.
Some wait for clearance.

And honestly? I love that. We try to create space for every kind of shopper and every kind of budget.

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The Balance: Shoppers + Consignors

Here’s where it really matters.

We want to ease some of that pressure that comes with paying more for plus-size clothes. No one should feel priced out of something that fits.

But we also want our consignors to trust us.

They paid retail. They invested in their wardrobe. My job is to price items fairly and realistically so they actually sell — because something that moves is always better than something that just sits there.

When items sell, that’s supplemental income going back into local households. And because we’re a small, locally owned business, those dollars stay here. They circulate in our community. They support families. They help with gas money, tuition, groceries, or whatever is needed that week.

And sometimes? Consignors use that money to shop with us — to find clothes that fit better, feel better, or match who they are now. That starts the cycle again. Clothes move. Money circulates. Confidence grows. It strengthens the whole ecosystem.

We are a for-profit business with a heart. Both things are true.

And when something doesn’t sell — or it’s just a little shy of our quality standard but still perfectly wearable — it doesn’t go to waste. Many of those pieces go to The Curvy Closet, where they’re redistributed through our nonprofit partnerships and outreach work. Almost nothing gets wasted here.