retail profiles // classy // le soutien

Co-owners: Sharon Nelson & Rita Hapgood
Number of stores: 1
Square footage: 1,300
Year opened: 1994

Amanda Torres Price, BODY: Describe your store.

S.N.: Le Soutien has a very comfortable atmosphere. The main emphasis is bras accounting for 75 percent of business. The bras are all stored in dresser drawers and displayed on panels above the dressers [giving] the store a very uncluttered look. [We also carry] corsets for bridal, limited styles of camisoles and nightwear, and of course panties. [We are] known as the premiere bra fitting store in Denver. We believe in high-quality products and for that reason most of our inventory is European.

A.T.P.: What makes your store special?

S.N.: Outstanding customer service and professional bra fitters.

A.T.P.: What brands are important to your store?

S.N.: Prima Donna; Chantelle; Conturelle; Panache; Anita; Simone Pérèle; Cosabella; and Marie Jo.

A.T.P.: What styles are currently popular among your customers?

S.N.: Marie Jo’s Avero is the number one bra. [Also popular is] the Cosabella Never Say Never stretch lace thong, boyshort and bralette. The seamless category is still strong.
A.T.P.: What is your price and size range?

S.N.: Bras [are priced from] $55 to $150, [in sizes] 32A through 42H.

A.T.P.: How would you describe your customer?

S.N.: Females, (this is really a store where women buy for themselves), ages 25 through 65; mostly working women.

A.T.P.: What is your average customer size?

S.N.: [Best-selling sizes are] 34D and DD, and 36D and DD.

A.T.P.: What does the typical customer spend in per visit to your store?

S.N.: $150.

Store Address: 246 Milkwaukee Ave., Denver, CO 80206.