Discount department store Target has partnered with the world's leading apparel fit expert Alvanon to launch Australia's first and largest country-wide sizing study.
Target, which is part of the Wesfarmers brand stable, is encouraging adult men and women from around the country to participate in the national campaign, and will use international three dimensional (3D) technology to measure figures consistently and develop a national sizing standard.
The state-of-the-art 3D AlvaScan machine, developed by Alvanon, will measure consumers’ bodies in less than 60 seconds, providing them with a take-home print out of their exact measurements.
Target Australia managing director Dene Rogers said Target plans to scan up to 20,000 Australians as part of the national sizing study, with the results set to revolutionise the brand's product offering.
“Sizing inconsistencies are a major cause of customer frustration across the retail industry and the leading contributor of return rates for clothing both in-store and online,” he said.
“In 2008 the federal government conducted a review of the Australian textiles, clothing and footwear industry and a key recommendation was to allocate $5 million from the 2009 budget to develop a national sizing standard. Having never been adopted, Target is conducting its own national adult sizing study designed to improve the fit and consistency of Target’s sizing range.”
The 3D AlvaScan machine will travel around Australia for five weeks from April 26 to May 29, giving people in the capital cities in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia the chance to be involved.
Locations and dates are as below:
NSW Westfield Parramatta - Thursday April 26 to Monday April 30
QLD Westfield Carindale - Thursday May 3 to Monday May 7
VIC Westfield Southland - Friday May 11 to Tuesday May 15 SA
Westfield Tea Tree Plaza - Friday May 18 to Monday May 21
WA Westfield Whitford - Friday May 25 to Tuesday May 29