The Curvy Coach

When it comes to buying products and services, a person’s size isn’t always a determining factor in the purchase. Sometimes you just want to go to a store, get what you need, and be treated like everyone else. What happens in many cases is that plus-size people are ignored, being stared at, and made fun of by the customer service representatives.

When we walk into a hairdresser, a spa, a shoe store, we just want to spend our money in peace. Think about it for a second, if a plus-size person knows that you can’t accommodate their needs or wants due to their size, they will not give you a dime let alone do business with you.

The reason the opportunities are so great for any business or company that invests in plus-size marketing and customer service is because people make our size a big deal [pun intended].

I can’t tell you how many times a plus-sized woman walks into a retail store and the customer service rep automatically ignores them because they know she does not fit into any of their clothes. What the rep may not know is she is prepared to spend $500 on gifts for family and friends. If you’re anything like me, when I’m not acknowledged after browsing around a store for a few minutes, then I tighten my purse and walk out. So with such terrible customer service, hundreds of dollars are lost all because of bad customer service.

For any business or company that builds their brand around great customer service should know that treating people of all-sizes in a professional and cordial manner has to be part of the training. Your sales/customer service representatives should definitely be aware of any size sensitiveness especially if you own a clothing store. While you may not be able to control what other patrons are saying, you have a say in how your employees treat their customers. More importantly, it is your duty to ensure they represent you and your business with professionalism and empathy (not sympathy) as any normal human being would.  It doesn’t require additional funds or a massive market research to know what to do. Simply treat your customers the way you would like to be treated.

What are your customer service policies? Is there room for improvement?