Big Girls Don't Cry Anymore Archives

Big girls may have one reason to cry as this Brisbane-based lingerie business with a physical shop in Virginia goes under —- right before Christmas.

Big Girls Don’t Cry Anymore, a plus-sized brand that owner Karen Mason set up in 1992, has enlisted the help of a liquidator, Jarvis Archer.

On the online website, Ms Mason informed the customers of closing down her business, which has become an iconic brand in Australia.

According to Mr Archer, Big Girls Don’t Cry Anymore has over 100,000 customers in its database and earned $6 million this year. The company was planning to release the very first lingerie business app in Australia, which includes a virtual fitting room among other sophisticated features.

The liquidator also said that despite Ms Mason’s efforts to innovate and attract new customers, the business experienced challenges in the delays of overseas supplies due to COVID-19.

In May, Ms Mason lost her husband, Keith, further impacting her ability to maintain the business’s profitability and cash flow.

Big Girls Don’t Cry Anymore has 20 full-time workers and 33 casual staff who are hoping to keep their jobs if another entrepreneur takes over.

Mr Archer said that the business would be an attractive venture for the right buyer with its loyal customers, a knowledgeable team and a strong sales growth potential.

A Virginia lingerie store has 15 new jobs and has gone weeks without any takers. Owner Karen Edbrooke said that she has been looking for unpackers, order fillers and responders to enquires but she hasn’t had any luck because the applicants say they can get more money just by not working.

Ms Edbrooke runs the lingerie and swimsuit store Big Girls Don’t Cry Anymore on Sandgate Rd. She said that they currently have loads of product shipments and deliveries on hold. In the last few weeks, the shop owner said that she could not cope with the demands because she could not get applicants to stay or keep working.

Despite advertising for the job openings more than a month ago, Ms Edbrooke said many of the applicants actually do not want a job or prefer shorter work hours. She believes that many people have been demotivated to find work because of the government’s JobSeeker and JobKeeper payments amid this coronavirus crisis.

One applicant told the shop owner, “I can just get more [money] by not working,” referring to the government’s stimulus.

Photo Credit: Big Girls Don’t Cry Anymore/Facebook

Big Girls Don’t Cry Anymore is not the only retail store struggling to find staff.

“I have a friend in the same situation, his staff won’t come back to work. It’s ridiculous,” a follower of the store said on Facebook.

According to senior industrial relations specialist, Michael O’Brien, it is the retail and service industries struggling the most during this COVID-19 crisis. He said that those with junior roles work fewer hours but may also benefit from JobSeeker or JobKeeper for their second or third jobs.

“We are offering casual positions at the retail award rate, which can be accessed online to anyone. Hours vary on what you can offer us – anything from 16 hours to 38 hours,” Ms Edbrooke said.

But Ms Edbrooke said they received an overwhelming response even from outside Brisbane hours after her story broke in the media on 2 Aug 2020.

Big Girls Don’t Cry Anymore has been in business since 1992 and caters to well-endowed women. Most of the products are imported from America and this Virginia lingerie store also sells maternity bras, posture bras and bridal wear exclusively for big girls.

They claim to have the “largest range of fuller figured bras in Australia.”

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