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In with the Swim: Bathing Suits by Bra Size

An expansion effort by Sophisticated Pair to provide the fit you deserve with swim tops by bra size!

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In with the Swim: Bathing Suits by Bra Size

In with the Swim: Bathing Suits by Bra Size

In with the Swim: Bathing Suits by Bra Size

In with the Swim: Bathing Suits by Bra Size

In with the Swim: Bathing Suits by Bra Size

An expansion effort by Sophisticated Pair to provide the fit you deserve with swim tops by bra size!

An expansion effort by Sophisticated Pair to provide the fit you deserve with swim tops by bra size!

An expansion effort by Sophisticated Pair to provide the fit you deserve with swim tops by bra size!

An expansion effort by Sophisticated Pair to provide the fit you deserve with swim tops by bra size!

Erica Windle
Erica Windle
Erica Windle
Erica Windle
2 Campaigns |
Burlington, United States
$4,500 USD 50 backers
45% of $10,000 Flexible Goal Flexible Goal
Highlights
Mountain Filled 2 Projects Mountain Filled 2 Projects
Overview
How many times have you shopped for a swimsuit and been excited? Not often, right? For most people, it's hard to find beautiful swimwear which fits well and offers proper support. I'm Erica from A Sophisticated Pair in Burlington, NC, and I know firsthand the struggle is real. I want to help by offering a broad range of sizes, styles, and colors in swimsuits that fit by bra size instead of some generic system. Consider contributing because the more we raise, the more we bring in the shop!

Why bra sized swimsuits?

As a co-owner of A Sophisticated Pair, a lingerie boutique in Burlington, NC, my ongoing goal is to provide customers with a range of products, styles, and sizes as well as offer expert fit advice in a "Judgement Free" space. For over five years, I have been fitting men and women in the correct bra size, helping them choose the right style for their breast shape, lifestyle, and budgetary needs, and now I want to branch out to swimwear. Our business was inspired by my personal bra shopping experiences and how much I struggled with selection, sizing, and fit, and the swim expansion is no different. Before opening the store, my swimsuit shopping escapades ended in tears more than success because nothing ever fit! I vividly remember spending an entire day driving all over the state trying to find something—no, anything—which didn't make me feel horrible about myself. Color, style, and print became irrelevant, and my confidence suffered. In the picture below, I am chilling at the lake in literally the best fitting top I could find. No support, no shape, and the halter straps pulled uncomfortably into my neck. But hey, I didn't fall out, so that's something, right? 

After we opened, I discovered many of the same manufacturers who created our awesome bras also had swimsuits in actual bra sizes. And no, these aren't generic "Fits to a D cup" type tops. These are suits in sizes like 30D, 34H, 40E, 44J, and so on. They lift! They shape! And they are freakin' cute! A year after we opened, I bought this little gem from Panache in my bra size, and I couldn't get over the difference. I had been buying the wrong swimsuits my whole life.

As soon as our customers heard about the glorious world of bra sized swim, the requests came pouring in for us to include them. After all, NC is a beautiful state with lots of lakes, beaches, and rivers, to say nothing of private pools, and it's easier to enjoy warm weather if you aren't adjusting your boobs every few minutes. However, swim is super expensive, especially for a smaller shop like ours, so then I had this whole crowdsource idea. 

Why crowdsourcing?

To truly do swimwear justice in the shop, we need the help of our customers. My open cash flow allows me to carry a few styles in select sizes, but if people contribute to the campaign, essentially prepaying for their new swimsuits plus gaining extra perks, we can do so much more for our customers. There are a wealth of styles, colors, sizes, and brands available, and I don't want to simply dip my toe in the water. I want to dive in head first and explore. I want people to have the option of trying on multiple suits in different fits and sizes—to find that perfect confidence boosting piece that makes you feel beautiful and sexy and courageous. Without this campaign, we'll rely primarily on special orders, meaning most will not be able to leave the shop with a swimsuit on the day they visit. Crowdsourcing allows us to pull resources together to improve the shop for everyone.

How much do you need?

Because we only sell high quality products, the wholesale cost on swimwear is comparable to the cost of our bras, and with over 100 different sizes to represent, the investment total adds up quickly. The shop has allocated around $3,000 of our spring buying budget to supplement the fundraising results, but we are aiming for an additional $10,000 with the campaign. Aside from factoring in wholesale costs, we also have the following expenses:

  • $200-300 in estimated shipping costs from manufacturers
  • $350 in estimated storage and fixtures to accommodate the extra inventory
  • General cost of the perks, including the added store credit and the profit lost through discount coupons for larger contributions
  • Indiegogo fees totaling 8% of funds raised plus 30 cents per contribution (includes platform and credit card fees)

While $10,000 is our ultimate goal, I have tiered plans depending on how much we ultimately raise, each revolving around unique swimwear color groups from our brands. Coordinating collections usually consist of two to three top styles plus a few matching bottom options, and we will balance variety both in terms of shape and size but also in color and print.

  • $2,500: At least five collections
  • $5,000: At least seven collections
  • $7,500: At least nine collections
  • $10,000: At least twelve collections

You'll notice I use "at least" in my campaign promises. No, I'm not going all politician on you. Like any retail business, sales fuel growth, and it is my intention for the campaign to essentially jump start our swim expansion. As we continue to sell items in-store, we can funnel the profits into more styles than originally planned, particularly because certain prints and colors do not release until well after the campaign ends. 

How much are swimsuits and what styles are available?

As with bras and lingerie, swim prices vary depending on size, style, and manufacturer. Generally, the more bells and whistles to the design, the higher the retail price. Our store price range will be as follows:

  • Bikini Tops: $59 to $79
  • Tankini Tops: $69 to $99
  • One-Piece Suits: $79 to $139
  • Matching Bottoms: $29 to $59

We'll focus primarily on bikini and tankini pieces and a few accompanying bottoms with one-pieces filtering in as we test fit. Sizes range from 28 to 44 bands with cups from B to UK J/US M. Check out a few of the many styles we're considering below:

Why should I donate?

We realize this an atypical request of a retail store. Usually, expansion is an internal decision by the business owner, and thus far, we have followed the standard formula. I personally wavered on the decision for months about whether we could swing swimwear this season, and I ultimately knew using only the store's reserves would yield a smaller size representation in core colors only until we could build profits from sales and special orders. A small selection disappoints people, and the ones who wait last minute (you know who you are) may be forced to settle on something not quite right for the sake of time. If we took a risk and used credit to expand beyond what cash flow allowed, then we could end up unable to pay vendors or place new orders until sales picked up enough to pay back the investment. I value my vendors and prefer to play it safe rather than mess up relationships I have spent over five years cultivating. As a result, I thought all of us could work together to make this year a dynamic, exciting year for the Piedmont Triad region by bringing in a big selection of swim that everyone can enjoy! 

I also want to stress that contributing to our campaign is risk-free. We have been in business for over five years and have no plans of closing. What you donate will be made available to you via a downloadable gift certificate good toward any purchase in the store. That's right. You don't even have to spend your donation on swimwear. By paying it forward early, you afford us the opportunity to expand quickly and keep fresh inventory cycling into the shop as the season progresses. Not to mention, we're offering some sweet perks as a way of thanking you for supporting the store:

  • $25 Contribution: $30 in Store Credit
  • $50 Contribution: $55 in Store Credit plus 5% off an entire purchase coupon. 
  • $75 Contribution: $80 in Store Credit plus 5% off an entire purchase coupon.
  • $100 Contribution: $105 in Store Credit plus 10% off an entire purchase coupon.
  • $125 Contribution: $130 in Store Credit plus 10% off an entire purchase coupon.
  • $150 Contribution: $155 in Store Credit plus 10% off an entire purchase coupon.
  • $175 Contribution: $180 in Store Credit plus 15% off an entire purchase coupon.
  • $200 Contribution: $205 in store Credit plus 15% off an entire purchase coupon.

Every contribution nets you $5 in bonus store credit, and higher donation amounts gain added discounts on entire purchases, including items other than swim! Furthermore, the donations work in conjunction with our existing customer loyalty program, making the savings greater for early contributions.

When will the swimwear be available in the store?

We will receive our first shipment by April 15th with additional shipments filtering in through the mid-June. For example, this super cute style from Freya is not ready to ship until April 25th:

If I contribute, does that guarantee my size and the suit of my choice will be in stock?

Our initial sizing assortment will be based primarily on our best-selling bra sizes; however, contributors can guarantee their size in a style of their choosing by contacting me directly or leaving a note with their donation. I will personally include these in our opening orders, but keep in mind some swim pieces have release dates later in the season which may require a waiting. If you have any questions about release dates, please email or call the store.

What if I like your store but am not interested in swimwear?

You can still donate to the swimwear fund because all donations are transferable to store credit. The flip side of the store's contribution to swimwear is that we are essentially funneling all of our intimate apparel expansion money for spring into swim. Consequently, we won't have any left over for adding new bras, shapewear, lingerie, or other intimate apparel until after swim season is over. I planned a few small additions to keep the inventory fresh, but without a strong campaign, the shop will not experience the surge of new colors, prints, and styles as in past years. Swim is our expansion, but if we can offset the cost of adding swim to the shop, then our intimate apparel budget will rebound quickly and lead to faster expansion in other avenues. Profit directly supports growth and allows us to become stronger as a business by addressing consumer demands and filling gaps in the marketplace. 

What if you raise more than $10,000?

I'm not one to count chicks before they hatch or whatever your colloquialism-of-choice is for being overly and possibly naively optimistic about . . . well . . . anything. I was pretty sure the store wasn't going to make it a year, so taking my firmly realistic outlook aside, I do believe the campaign could exceed my high expectations. If we raise more than $10,000, I will poll our contributors about whether they prefer the extra amount be available for swim or for bumping up our late-Summer/early-Fall intimate apparel additions by a few months. 

I can't contribute now, but I want to help. What can I do?

As a small business owner who operates on a shoestring budget and has had one financial hit after another this year starting with a burned out motor in my dryer and culminating in vet bills for my cat, I totally get you may not be able to contribute within the window of our campaign. You know your budget, and as always, this is a judgment free space. That said, if you want to help, do so by encouraging others to contribute:

  • Share the campaign on social media as often as you can. Our shop has accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and Youtube, and we will be posting updates often to encourage contributions.
  • Send the campaign to friends and family who could benefit from our goals. Or, let's get real for a sec, send it to the ones who complain every summer when it's time to shop. They will thank you.
  • Don't forget Indiegogo has easy share tools too, allowing you to email or post directly about the campaign.  

Not to be contrite, but every little bit truly helps and that applies as much to publicity as it does to monetary contributions. The more people aware of what we are trying to accomplish and can help us reach our goals, the better the results for everyone. I've been in this business over five years now, and no one complains about having too much selection!

A Word of Gratitude

Finally, before we even get into the thick of promoting the campaign, I want to thank everyone who has taken the time to give your feedback to us regarding swim, who has been patient with us as we kept pushing back our expansion plans from year to year, who has referred the shop to friends and family (sometime forcefully dragging them in to be fitted!), and who supported us when we were just a small, barely stocked store running on the power of dreams. You have built us into the store we are today. and in so doing, you have given me a special gift for which I am eternally thankful. 

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Choose your Perk

$30 Store Credit

$25 USD
Contribute $25 and receive $30 in store credit! Store credit can be used on any in-stock inventory as well as special orders.
Included Items
  • $30 Store Credit
Estimated Shipping
March 2017
6 claimed

$55 Store Credit & 5% Coupon

$50 USD
Contribute $50 and receive $55 in store credit plus a coupon for 5% off your total purchase! Store credit can be used on any in-stock inventory as well as special orders.
Included Items
  • 5% Off Total Purchase Coupon
  • $55 Store Credit
Estimated Shipping
March 2017
8 claimed

$80 Store Credit & 5% Coupon

$75 USD
Contribute $75 and receive $80 in store credit plus a coupon for 5% off your total purchase! Store credit can be used on any in-stock inventory as well as special orders.
Included Items
  • 5% Off Total Purchase Coupon
  • $80 Store Credit
Estimated Shipping
March 2017
0 claimed

$105 Store Credit & 10% Coupon

$100 USD
Contribute $100 and receive $105 in store credit plus a coupon for 10% off your total purchase! Store credit can be used on any in-stock inventory as well as special orders.
Included Items
  • 10% Off Total Purchase Coupon
  • $105 Store Credit
Estimated Shipping
March 2017
11 claimed

$130 Store Credit & 10% Coupon

$125 USD
Contribute $125 and receive $130 in store credit plus a coupon for 10% off your total purchase! Store credit can be used on any in-stock inventory as well as special orders.
Included Items
  • 10% Off Total Purchase Coupon
  • $130 Store Credit
Estimated Shipping
March 2017
0 claimed

$155 Store Credit & 10% Coupon

$150 USD
Contribute $150 and receive $155 in store credit plus a coupon for 10% off your total purchase! Store credit can be used on any in-stock inventory as well as special orders.
Included Items
  • 10% Off Total Purchase Coupon
  • $155 Store Credit
Estimated Shipping
March 2017
1 claimed

$180 Store Credit & 15% Coupon

$175 USD
Contribute $175 and receive $180 in store credit plus a coupon for 15% off your total purchase! Store credit can be used on any in-stock inventory as well as special orders.
Included Items
  • 15% Off Total Purchase Coupon
  • $180 Store Credit
Estimated Shipping
March 2017
0 claimed

$205 Store Credit & 15% Coupon

$200 USD
Contribute $200 and receive $205 in store credit plus a coupon for 15% off your total purchase! Store credit can be used on any in-stock inventory as well as special orders.
Included Items
  • 15% Off Total Purchase Coupon
  • $205 Store Credit
Estimated Shipping
March 2017
6 claimed

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