by [TC]²
Is Custom Apparel Finally Taking Off?
Lands' End found success after deploying it. Bob's Stores is trying it out. J.Crew and Casual Male will start offering it to their customers later this year. The "it" we're talking about is custom-made clothing. It's a hot market right now for retail companies—both online and through in-store kiosks. Previously available only to wealthy consumers, custom clothing is now attainable and affordable, made possible by the Internet and changes in traditional manufacturing techniques. In fact, consumers expect to personalize their purchases more than ever before. A Jupiter Research study conducted last November revealed that 51 percent of people surveyed said they would pay an extra $10 to have a pair of pants custom fitted; 28 percent said they would pay $20; and 18 percent said they would pay $30.