PRIMARY RESEARCH: INTERVIEW WITH A VICTORIA'S SECRET EMPLOYEE:
'I don't know if it will turn out to be a brand that crashes and falls but I get the impression that it's going that way. I'm not sure if it is from working there or from what i've read online but I know since 2012 each year they get less and less views on their runway show which is interesting.'
'No I don't actually know about the campaign!'
I got in touch with an employee that works at Victoria's Secret (name: Charlotte Sendall, Age: 19) and asked her some questions about the brand (I included some of the same ones from the Instagram Poll as I believe they were important and significant questions):
1. Do you think the brand sends out the right message about body image?
'Personally for me no,because the only people they advertise wearing their brands are models sized 4/6 (UK) and are generally quite petite.'
2. Do you think Victoria's Secret includes diversity within the brand and models?
'I tink due to recent news about Victoria's Secret not being diverse enough, they ought to bring in plus size models, but then again this has always been their image for their brand. On the opposite side to bring in a different aspect of it - I worked alongside girls at Victoria's Secret and we were all different sizes. So it's not as though Victoria's Secret decline people just based on what they look like/if they don't fit their category or image.
'I tink due to recent news about Victoria's Secret not being diverse enough, they ought to bring in plus size models, but then again this has always been their image for their brand. On the opposite side to bring in a different aspect of it - I worked alongside girls at Victoria's Secret and we were all different sizes. So it's not as though Victoria's Secret decline people just based on what they look like/if they don't fit their category or image.
3. Do you think the products are worth the money?
'Yes, I think the majority of their products are worth the amount of money that they are. They may be on the more expensive side but it is top quality materials.'
'Yes, I think the majority of their products are worth the amount of money that they are. They may be on the more expensive side but it is top quality materials.'
4. Do you think the brand is sustainable in any way?
'I don't know if it will turn out to be a brand that crashes and falls but I get the impression that it's going that way. I'm not sure if it is from working there or from what i've read online but I know since 2012 each year they get less and less views on their runway show which is interesting.'
5. Do you think the brand empowers ALL women?
'No I do not think the brand empowers all women. Since I was a Christmas temp in the store, I dealt with a lot of returns after the Christmas period/new year. A lot of women who came to the cash wraps said they didn't like how it looked on them/that it made them look 'fat' especially after christmas and eating lots. This may not relate to the question you asked, but just hearing feedback from customers made me realise that not everybody feels great about their bodies when wearing the products because they see what they 'should look like' and obviously compare this to themselves.'
'No I do not think the brand empowers all women. Since I was a Christmas temp in the store, I dealt with a lot of returns after the Christmas period/new year. A lot of women who came to the cash wraps said they didn't like how it looked on them/that it made them look 'fat' especially after christmas and eating lots. This may not relate to the question you asked, but just hearing feedback from customers made me realise that not everybody feels great about their bodies when wearing the products because they see what they 'should look like' and obviously compare this to themselves.'
6. Do you think the brand should incorporate more diversity into the models?
'Honestly, to save themselves from the backlash of the media at the minute, I would say that including more ranges of cup sizes/sizes of clothing would help the brand regrow immensely. And since all our sizes are USA sizes, a typical UK size 10 would be a size 12 in Victoria's Secret. Or a size small in the UK would be a size medium in the USA. The difference between one size in the shops might make someone feel differently about themselves.'
'Honestly, to save themselves from the backlash of the media at the minute, I would say that including more ranges of cup sizes/sizes of clothing would help the brand regrow immensely. And since all our sizes are USA sizes, a typical UK size 10 would be a size 12 in Victoria's Secret. Or a size small in the UK would be a size medium in the USA. The difference between one size in the shops might make someone feel differently about themselves.'
7. Do you think the fashion shows are out dated considering 2018 was the lowest view count in the history of the fashion shows?
'I would definitely say that people just don't want to watch them anymore due to women's self esteem. If women don't watch it, then they won't feel bad about themselves. But I think that maybe they need to think of something else that will gain more views. Such as bring in celebrities that are plus sizes, or not the typical kind of person you'd see walking down the runway. It may be something that sets their brand off again but in a positive way.'
'I would definitely say that people just don't want to watch them anymore due to women's self esteem. If women don't watch it, then they won't feel bad about themselves. But I think that maybe they need to think of something else that will gain more views. Such as bring in celebrities that are plus sizes, or not the typical kind of person you'd see walking down the runway. It may be something that sets their brand off again but in a positive way.'
8. Do you think the brand is damaging to young girls?
'I think the brand is very damaging to young girls and their confidence as they're growing up into young adults. not everyone is as skinny as Victoria's Secret models are, and its almost as though they've set one category. And if you don't fit into that category then you're viewed as 'ugly' or 'fat or 'overweight' etc.
'I think the brand is very damaging to young girls and their confidence as they're growing up into young adults. not everyone is as skinny as Victoria's Secret models are, and its almost as though they've set one category. And if you don't fit into that category then you're viewed as 'ugly' or 'fat or 'overweight' etc.
9. Do you know about the perfect body campaign?
'No I don't actually know about the campaign!'
10. Is there any word about incorporating different sized models within the brand and fashion shows?
'I haven't heard anyone say anything as such, but I think its a great idea if they want people to be interested in their brand again.'
'I haven't heard anyone say anything as such, but I think its a great idea if they want people to be interested in their brand again.'
Comments
Post a Comment