Meijer incorporates plus sizes into all stores

Michigan-based retailer Meijer just recently added a new category for its apparel. Announced on November 1, the one-stop shopping concept has decided to add plus-size departments to its locations.

The new plus-size department will be incorporated into each of the company’s 230 stores across the U.S. by early 2017. The department will be mixed in with the women’s and missy’s departments of the store. Meijer is making this change to create a new shopping experience for customers that doesn’t exclude certain sizes. The plus sizes and the smaller sizes, ranging from S-3X, will all be on the same rack instead of in separate departments, like most stores. This fresh approach to shopping represents a continuation of that commitment, giving our customers the trends they're looking for, regardless of what size they wear,” Peter Whitsett, executive vice president of merchandising and marketing, said in a statement.

The plus size apparel will also have equal pricing for items, unlike plus size apparel at other retailers. "Plus-size apparel is often priced higher than missy or women's sizes," Annette Repasch, group vice president of softlines for Meijer, said in a statement. "We believe all our customers deserve to pay the same price for the same trends, regardless of size." This is a way that Meijer seems to be making a stand-out change, differentiating itself from the pack.

The combination of all of the sizes into the same department also allow for Meijer to expand its retail space in other ways. Instead of dedicated an entire section to plus size, the retailer can allow for more trends and styles to be offered in apparel.

This new process has already begun in some stores and is currently available in 15 locations across the U.S. The roll-out will be officially complete in all of Meijer’s stores in early 2017.