Abercrombie and Fitch does not want their brand on fat people

[CaliBear]

What is this smell everyone keeps mentioning? I'm sure I've been in the store before, but a smell isn't ringing a bell. I wouldn't shop there now, after reading this.

 

[topolino]

What is this smell everyone keeps mentioning? I'm sure I've been in the store before, but a smell isn't ringing a bell. I wouldn't shop there now, after reading this.

It's the cologne that they sell. You can smell it outside of the store, in the mall, when walking by.

They pump the smell into the air, similar to what Disney does at Main St. Bakery and other locations.

 

[pigletgirl]

What is this smell everyone keeps mentioning? I'm sure I've been in the store before, but a smell isn't ringing a bell. I wouldn't shop there now, after reading this.

It's their signature scent. It's very nauseating! It's blown throughout the store.

 

[Colleen27]

I'm curious. Are others of you shocked by this? Does this change how you feel about the company? Will it prevent you from shopping there (or encourage you to shop there, I suppose)?

The only thing that shocks me is that he said it out loud. He didn't have to - their sizing says it all. Men's styles come in a full range of sizes and run pretty true to size, while women's styles come in a narrow size range and run small. My 2XL BIL (who is NOT an athlete unless Call of Duty has become a sport) can shop there, but my son's size-10 girlfriend can't. That screams "No Fat Chicks" even without the CEO saying it.... Or in the very non-PC words of Peter Griffin from Family Guy, "Fat men aren't fat. Only fat women are fat."

 

[chiefmickeymouse]

We had never entered an A&F store until we moved to Oklahoma. When DD entered 7th grade, she was told by all the "popular" girls that she had to wear A&F and Hollister clothes. We bought her a couple of things, but DD is 5'7 and wears a women's 10, so not much fit her. She soon decided she didn't really like the "popular" girls and fit in much better with the anime nerds, so it's no longer an issue. That's a good thing because I won't ever step in one of those stores again.

 

[NaLisa]

I don't shop there now but will make a point never to step foot in their store again. I find the CEO's comments highly offensive and just plain stupid.

 

[Liberty Belle]

Offensive, stupid, and contradictory. They went teens with "good attitudes"?

Thank goodness my son doesn't wear their clothes anymore.

 

[Jennasis]

His comments are sad, infuriating and yeah even hilarious. He talks about vanilla...he talks about exciting people. Frankly A&F and Hollister clothes are THE most vanilla, boring, poorly made things ever. I don't understand how they ever became the "in" thing to wear.

He should probably find a sturdy cardboard box for his personal effects. I bet he'll be looking for a new job very soon.

 

[chiefmickeymouse]

I also wanted to add that I have a huge problem with the large pictures of mostly naked young people that are hanging in the entrance of these stores. The models are clearly underage.

 

[Metro West]

Well...I'm too old and fat to advertise for A & F and Hollister by wearing their clothes.

BTW...has anyone seen a picture of A & F CEO Mike Jeffries? He's pretty scary.

 

[cabanafrau]

The only thing that shocks me is that he said it out loud. He didn't have to - their sizing says it all. Men's styles come in a full range of sizes and run pretty true to size, while women's styles come in a narrow size range and run small. My 2XL BIL (who is NOT an athlete unless Call of Duty has become a sport) can shop there, but my son's size-10 girlfriend can't. That screams "No Fat Chicks" even without the CEO saying it.... Or in the very non-PC words of Peter Griffin from Family Guy, "Fat men aren't fat. Only fat women are fat."

Precisely, he's a complete idiot for saying it.

Cold-blooded & analytically, there's probably some genuine market savviness in the idea, i.e., if their clothes are only seen on the preferred specimens, it only ups their image. Aero is a good example of what happens to the stores in this market segment when the masses stampede in. Now that you see tweens, elementary age kids & moms wearing Aero, the HS set will have nothing to do with them.

I'm not saying It's right, I'm just saying in a numbers on reports kind of way, there is some logic there. It's very disturbing that a CEO of a company of that size would have no hesitation about voicing their strategy in that way. But then again this is the same company that only a few years ago was running a pictorial ad campaign with seven year olds in thongs and they were the notable holdout among this market segment, refusing to lower their prices in the heart of the recession when their competitors did. Last I knew they were struggling. Can't say I feel bad about that.

 

[Lorelei Lee]

My daughters used to shop there when they were in high school. Both were recruited by store employees to work there. Older dd worked as Christmas help her senior year and was let go after the holiday. just as well, she hated retail and has never had another mall job.


Younger dd worked there most of her senior year, and also when she was home from college on break. She has a good eye for how to combine clothes into a "look" and she's very good at selling clothes. She eventually moved on to another store that paid better -- A&F does not believe in raises.



A&F is a lot of hype. Example -- their job title was "model", not "sales help", and they were expected to dress accordingly. That meant wearing the brand exclusively while at work. Not a problem for my kids since they were wearing the brand anyhow. Well, except for the time when younger dd had to buy those plaid shirts because that's what they were "pushing".



I'm very glad they've outgrown that store and moved on. I'm glad -- the CEO won't design or sell clothes for me, a plus sized mom, but he had no trouble taking my money for his rags.

Sent from my SCH-I800 using DISBoards

 

[princessjen23]

While it does not change how bad this is, this interview is actually from January 2006. It hasn't affected the business much in the 8 years since he said it, as his stores are still packed and thriving. For one example, head to their flagship store on 5th Ave in Manhattan, every day there is a line blocks long outside the door.

(I can't post links, but do a google search for the interview with "Salon" on January 24, 2006)

 

[Malibustyle23]

Think he was crazy for that quote read this article http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mobil...tch-ceo-corporate-jet-rulebook_n_1980960.html

 

[Liberty Belle]

I just google image searched Mike Jeffries. Dude's crossed that all important line in plastic surgery.

 

[Pigeon]

What this clown failed to mention in the interview is that the A&F "look," in addition to being limited to the thin, is also largely limited to being white.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18560_162-657604.html

 

[E&BMom]

Here is another article about Mike Jeffries

http://abcnews.go.com/US/lawsuit-ou...jeffries-rules/story?id=17519006#.UYpCEJVZNvc

 

[jgh]

Well, that's just rude.

 

[Malibustyle23]

I just google image searched Mike Jeffries. Dude's crossed that all important line in plastic surgery.

He is 68 years OLD!!!!!

 

[NHdisneylover]

While it does not change how bad this is, this interview is actually from January 2006. It hasn't affected the business much in the 8 years since he said it, as his stores are still packed and thriving. For one example, head to their flagship store on 5th Ave in Manhattan, every day there is a line blocks long outside the door.

(I can't post links, but do a google search for the interview with "Salon" on January 24, 2006)

I wonder why it is only just now being published in so many places? Too bad a big deal was not made over this interview 7 years ago. I'd have never spent a dime there if it had.

What this clown failed to mention in the interview is that the A&F "look," in addition to being limited to the thin, is also largely limited to being white.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18560_162-657604.html

I saw some stuff about that while I was googling this morning. I dislike this company more and more the more I read.