Online Lingerie Wears Well in Economic Downturn

Sales of lingerie are proving relatively resilient during the downturn, with sales of more risqué products holding up well.


While overall retail sales, excluding online and grocery shopping, are expected to drop by 4 per cent in 2009, the lingerie market will decline by 0.8 per cent, according to data by Verdict Research.
Bra Queen predicts further growth in 2009.
She said that as couples stay at home, rather than going out, to save money, more women were tending to invest in sexy apparel to add spice to their relationships.
She said: "It makes women feel good about them selves and we all need a bit of cheering up at the moment."
Ann Summers, a lingerie retailer with 134 stores, has also reported its recent growth to people spending more time at home.
In a trading statement in February, it said it had broken all of its sales records around Valentine's Day.
In the week to February 15, sales rose 14 per cent on a like-for-like basis and internet sales rose 47 per cent. As people are opting to go online to by lingerie without the intimidation of the sales staff, males and females are thinking alike. With detailed information on sizing that is available on the net it is much easier to purchase online.
Elsewhere in the A to C Cup sector, the lingerie market is still challenging due to ferocious competition and pressure from discount retailers. However there is still a huge gap in the market when it comes to catering for the larger cup sizes.

HOW TO FIND YOUR BRA SIZE

If you need any help please ask! I am the Bra Queen, HA!

Substance or Lack Of?

Do you Love Substance or Lack Substance?

I’m walking this morning with my 2 girls in the pram as I do 5 times a week and I see the lolly pop man and he said “Haven’t you worn out those tires yet?” & I said “No but I’ve worn the tread of my runners!”

That got me thinking this-
I have had both the same amount of time nearly 3 years
I walk 5km 5 times a week. I LOVE my pram thank you Valco Runabout! You serve me well!
My runners yes are nearing the end but again served me well thank you Asics!
My favorite bra 3 years & like my pram still going strong. Lift tick, shape tick, comfort tick, support tick, sex appeal tick! Thank you you serve me well.


I am a true believer in quality & substance @ an affordable price!

Just because something is expensive doesn’t mean it’s the best. It’s about what is best for you and your lifestyle.

Bra Queen x

Pacific Brands

Aussie Icon Condemned or Congratulated

The Truth about the Bra Industry

There has been so much controversy recently regarding Pacific Brands shipping their production to China. But should we be condemning or congratulating them?

Here is the truth about the Bra Industry…..

For years now the majority of intimate apparel has been made in China. Now this is no shock to anybody.

The truth is Pacific Brands were the last company to make the switch to China quoting CEO Sue Morphet “It will help protect another 7000 Australian jobs.”

Now we are all in agreement that the 1850 people who lost their jobs is horrible and you wouldn’t wish it on anybody and of course wish them well.

But before we say anything else about Sue Morphet and Pacific Brands hear this:

The leading Australian Intimate Apparel outlet who has their own label which is also made in China buys their average bra for $2; now they sell them for an average of $49.99. THAT IS A MARK UP OF 2400%.

They also stock less of the other brands opting to have their own label, why?
They have to go through a wholesaler therefore it becomes more expensive.
So instead of costing them $2 per bra it becomes $25 per bra which is still a respectable 50% mark up which is normal for any business. Not quite as attractive as a 2400% mark up and quality is pretty poor.
In their defense their service is usually good and their bra fitting assistants are usually quite good as well.

The leading department stores that have a huge variety of lingerie source their lingerie via wholesalers which is again a respectable 50% mark up which is crucial for business growth, all of which is made in China but has the backing of their big name brands; Quality is average to above average.
On the down side their service is not so good and has no fitting specialists.

I will only make one comment on the bras from the department stores from the lower entry level.
Really what do you expect for $20 do you really think that is going to offer you the comfort and support you need? But least they aren’t deluding you to fact that they obviously don’t pay too much for them, therefore not having a ridiculous mark up.

Then you have your small business they don’t have the monopoly of the industry. They can’t afford to buy crazy amounts of stock to lower the cost. They would love to have a 50% mark up but often have to lower it just to compete with the giants. The quality is always better and the service is fantastic as well.

When you go online what can you expect? Great quality lingerie sourced usually from USA or UK. The price is normally really good as they have little overheads and being imported a lot of it depends on the strength of the AU$. But for the quality you get, it’s worth it.
Look for a well laid out and researched size guide and you can’t go wrong.

The downside is you can’t try on a bra before you buy but you can usually return. This is where the above mentioned informative size guide comes in.

Upside the quality is better and you aren’t bombarded with a huge lingerie selection. This is good for both guys and girls.

So……..
Is Pacific Brands so bad? Time will tell, if the quality is sacrificed but the price is still high then yes I would recommend looking around and re thinking what you buy.

Do you feel more ripped off knowing that for years you have been paying good money for a bra when it only costs $2 to make?

Ask yourself now where you would buy your lingerie from?

Accountability is the New Black

There’s a hole in my bucket Dear Liza, Dear Liza
Well fix it Dear Henry, Dear Henry!

Is it really that simple?

Are you a culprit, have you ever thought any of the following?

• If I just loose 5 kilos I’ll be happy, you loose 5 kilos and you’re not. Now you want to do something else.

• If we move we’ll be happy, you move & you’re not.

• I’ll be happy once I change jobs, you change and you’re not.

• I can’t do this now because that needs to be fixed first. You fix it and hello! There is just something else that needs to be fixed first.

It’s important to have goals however it is even more important to celebrate them once the goal is achieved. If you haven’t been satisfied when you achieved them.


Ask yourself this. Think about the answer, you’ll only be lying to yourself.

Have you EVER been satisfied?

Chances are you probably don’t even realise that you haven’t.

Now do you want to know why?

Accountability!

YOU are avoiding the truth. You think by fixing other areas of your life it will make everything better.
But you know what, it won’t.

How do you fix it?

Accountability!

Stop blaming other people &
YOU need to address your core/big issue.
Do you know what it is or how you can fix it?

Be accountable, I know it’s scary and huge and possibly life changing. But is it really as scary as NEVER being satisfied therefore happy?

Food for thought! Eventually maybe it will turn into chicken soup for the soul.

What does this have to do about Bras? Nothing!

Do You Choose Now or Never?

It’s your choice

I think as a society, as a woman or as a mother we always delay things or procrastinate about certain things especially when it comes to us.

A friend of mine bought one of my lingerie sets and when I asked her how she was enjoying them she said “Great, I love them. I save them for when I go out”

Now I don’t know about you BUT I have 2 kids and my going out days are few and far between.

I always tell my clients it doesn’t matter who you are, where you work, what you do, how much money you earn it’s all totally irrelevant. It’s about feeling good within YOU.

And that starts from within. one way to do that is to wear nice lingerie EVERYDAY. I don’t care if I’m doing housework or running around after my girls or in a corporate meeting. It makes me feel good so I do it. If I feel good I’m a better Mother, Partner and Business Owner. I am much more positive and proactive through out my day.

It is not going to solve your problems or fix the world however it will clear your head and give you confidence so you can tackle everything you need to.

So what do you choose NOW or NEVER?

This week a friend of mine lost her brother in-law. He is my age 31 and he leaves behind a wife and 2 children (same age as mine) 2 ½ & a new baby.

Now I can not imagine what that would feel like and I hope I never do. But every time a think about it my heart aches for them.

It just makes you think about how precious life is.

Bra Dictionary

I don’t know about you but have you been in a Lingerie store recently?

Where do you start we have gel bras, cream bras, water bras, molded bras, padding, soft cups ARHHHHHHHHHHH

I just want I bra that fits, looks good and comfortable. Too much to ask, sometimes yes!
Then you ask yourself is the sales assistant telling the truth or is she trying to sell me something or on the flip side you can’t find anyone to ask, FRUSTRATING.

You get it home wear it and it’s uncomfortable or pulling at it all day long and can’t wait to take it off at the end of the day.

Let me give you the down low-

Gel Bras: - Has exactly that. Gel inserts to make your breast look bigger. The 1st gel bra was invented by U.K brand Ultimo. They were the bras Julia Roberts wore in the film Erin Brockovich. They give you a very natural shape and are very comfortable.
Not available in Australia however Alluring Lingerie do stock Ultimo and happily do special orders.

Their have been variations since like: -
Water Bras- Are the same as gel except they have water. Popular however they can be heavy and depending on the shape can look a bit pointy.

Cream Bras: - Are again designed to make your breasts look bigger. I have found that you will either love or hate the cream. They feel quite firm being a harder consistency then gel or water.

Molded Bras: - A lot of people confuse a mold as padding. It isn’t padded it is a slight mold to give you shape and contouring. Ladies like these because you can’t see your nipple under your t-shirt.

Padded Bra: - Has foam at the base of the bra to give lift and enhance your bust size. Personally I think they aren’t as comfortable because the foam isn’t flexible so your boobs aren’t able to mold with the padding.

Soft Cups: - Are just that, a lot of women are a bit spectacle of wearing soft cups because they are paranoid about nipple showing. However for the large or fuller breasted lady these are probably the best you can wear. Your breasts don’t have to try to suit the mold and the shape.

Golden Rule: - If it feels uncomfortable when you try them on then that won’t change when you get them home.

Things to look for: -

• You want the band to fit snugly on the loosest hook and sit evenly from front to back.
• Straps snug and you should be able to fit your finger under it.
• Cups are to have no spillage or gapping
• Underwire is to sit flush against your chest.


Be careful- Sometimes Professional Fitters are still “sales” and sometimes when you are a larger size they will alter the size to something they have in stock. As you know the majority of people don’t cater for the larger cup size. But fuller cups NEED the perfect fit in order to get support and comfort. It will even improve your posture and it is very slimming as it gives you lift and shape.

If you need more help finding your Bra Size please read How To Measure Your Bra Size