Online plus-size retailer has ambitious plans for brick-and-mortar

Eloquii is making the leap to physical retailing — with more than one location.



The plus-size fashion brand is set to open a store at The Fashion Centre at Pentagon City, Arlington, Va., followed by a location in downtown Chicago, and one at Easton Town Center, in Columbus, Ohio, which will open in September, reported The Columbus Dispatch.



The openings follow Eloquii's first venture into brick-and-mortar, a pop-up that it opened in March at Fashion Centre. The 2,600-sq.-ft. temporary store (photo above) features an edited assortment of apparel and accessories, including the brand's first designer collaboration and swim line. Tablets are located throughout the space, allowing customers to browse the retailer’s full collection on its website.



The pop-up has been "wildly successful, to a point where Pentagon City asked us to stay permanently,” Eloquii executive VP and COO Steve Zawada told the Dispatch. (The retailer is relocating the pop-up to a permanent space a few doors down on the same floor.)



Looking ahead, Zawada said the company expects to open upwards of 40 stores during the next three to four years.



"We think we’ll open five next year, 10 the following year and 15-plus the year after that,” he said.



Eloquii was launched in 2011 by The Limited, but was shut down a year-and-half later as part of a company restructuring. With the help of former employees and an investor, the brand relaunched as an independent, vertically integrated e-commerce business specializing in on trend fashions in sizes 14 to 28.