Plus-size retailer Torrid is one of the latest retail chains to be closing their brick-and-mortar shops en masse. But it isn’t due to lack of demand.
The market for women’s plus-size clothing continues to expand, even as sales move further online.
Data from Verified Market Reports puts global revenue for plus-size clothing at $23.6 billion in 2024, with the market expected to reach $37.4 billion by 2033. Growth is projected at roughly 6.5% annually through the period.
Online shopping now accounts for more than 60% of sales of plus-size apparel, surpassing brick-and-mortar stores. North America remains the largest region, responsible for over 35% of total revenue, followed by Europe and Asia Pacific.
Some mass retailers have expanded inclusive sizing in physical stores. Back in 2022, Target partnered with designer Kahlana Barfield Brown, offering 120 items in sizes XXS to 4X, both online and in stores. Most pieces are priced under $35, the company said.
Despite such expansion efforts in physical retail, sales continue to tilt online. That shift has hit specialty chains like Torrid harder.
Torrid announced earlier this year that it plans to close up to 180 underperforming stores. At the time, the company operated about 632 locations.
In its first-quarter earnings release, Torrid reported that digital sales accounted for approximately 70% of total demand. Chief executive Lisa Harper said the company was accelerating its move toward a more digitally led business.
Store closures have rolled out gradually. By the end of the third quarter of 2025, Torrid had closed 74 locations, leaving 560 stores nationwide.
The company reported declining sales and a wider quarterly loss compared with last year. Additional changes to pricing and assortment are planned for 2026, according to the company.
The transformation highlights a stark reality facing specialty retailers—even in growing markets, companies must align their physical presence with shifting consumer behavior or risk being left behind. For Torrid, the path forward is clear—become a digital-first brand with strategic physical touchpoints.
Source: The Street