Analyst: Fat People Pinch Pennies

Bensalem-based clothes retailer Charming Shoppes — owner of Layne Bryant and Fashion Bug, the runner-up to Dress Barn in the Worst Clothing Store Name Compeition — has sued its “activist” shareholders.

Whatever. What caught my eye was this comment from Erin Moloney, senior vice president of Merriman, Curhan, Ford & Co. in Portland, Ore., whoever that is. Moloney told the Inquirer the plus-size clothing chain could face problems:

“It’s going to take some time for them to fix the business,” said Moloney, adding that plus-size and discount consumers typically cut back on spending early in an economic crunch.

Okay, so discount customers have less money, so they have less money to spend during a recession (or whatever term you’d like to call it). And I guess fat people are poorer than fit people, plus they’re spending all that money on diet pills.

So, uh, looks like Forman Mills is set to have a huge next couple of years, with our tightening pockets and expanding waistlines. Ditto Jo-Mar. Does that one in Kenzo still exist?

Charming Shoppes sues activist shareholders [Inquirer]