"DO YOU HAVE A PLUS-SIZE SHOP WHERE I CAN VISIT AND TRY THINGS ON?"
YES!
We’re so proud we now have a safe and inclusive space in Melbourne!
Browse our entire plus-size clothing range in Camberwell.
We operate on an appointment only basis. So book online in advance or call us to arrange a time for a drop-in.
WHY OUR ONLINE EXPERIENCE IS BETTER THAN PLUS-SIZE SHOPPING IN YOUR LOCAL SKI OR OUTDOOR SHOP
We’ve thought this through, we’ve been around the block, er mountain, for a few years, so hear us out. Our online shopping experience will leave you feeling excited about your upcoming snow or outdoor adventure.
Let’s start with the obvious one, a question of trust.
1. It’s pretty normal to want the security and trust of a physical ski store to purchase from
Many of our customers have confided that our online store has been the first time they have bought or shopped online ever (those from an older demographic of course) and we get it! Trust is a major issue when dealing with anyone online, and understandably so.
Read the full detailed responses at the bottom of this page
- Is this business reputable? Are they even a real company? Yes and yes!
- Do they provide high-quality outdoor clothing? Yes!
- Will they have something that fits me? Definitely!
- Are they experienced? and Do they know what they’re talking about? Absolutely!
- Will they respond to my emails or phone call? Same or next business day
- How long will it take for me to get my snow gear? Depends on Aus Post shipping times
- Will they accept my return back if it doesn’t fit or I don’t like it? Of course!
- ... the list goes on and on (but if you just want a quick answer to these questions above, click to the end of this article)
We have heard all of your understandable concerns and we feel confident that we have considered them in a way to make your experiences with us not only successful but enjoyable. We’re often called such lovely names as efficient and delightful!
Building Trust - Published articles and podcasts detailing our Plus-Size journey
We pride ourselves in our numerous glowing product reviews and business testimonials across the web, including on Google and our website, Facebook pages, product pages and even some articles which have been written about us.
Blushing with pride, I think we are nailing it!
Articles written about us over the years include:
- May 2016 - Miss Snow it All - Plus Size Skiers no longer left out in the cold
- April 2017 - Snowsbest - When it’s the skier, not the skis that are fat
- March 2018 - Outside Magazine - Hey Outdoor industry we need plus size ski gear
- August 2020 - Snowsbest - Aussie Entrepreneur launches outdoor plus size clothing
- October 2020 - Plus Size Travel Too blog - Interview: Plus Size Ski Wear And Snow Clothing With Monica Balon Of Plus Snow
- November 2020 - Revelstoke Review & Trail Times - Online Entrepreneur launches plus size snow gear store in North America
- November 2020 - Fit is Feminist Issue blog - Winter Fun is for Every Body
- November 2020 - She Explores Podcast - OnShe-Explores.com Site, Apple Podcast & Spotify Podcast
- December 2020 - Explore Magazine - Finally, Plus Size Ski and Snowboard Gear is Available Across Canada
- February 2021 - Shapely Events - Why Isn’t My Outerwear Flattering?
- February 2022 - Ski Moms Fun Podcast - Mon Balon, Making Skiing and Riding Accessible to Women of All Sizes
- May 2022 - Loving the Snowlife - Mon Balon, the passion & persistence behind Plus Snow
- June 2022 - SnowsBest - When ski pants truly change a woman’s world (and body image)
- June 2022 - Shopify - Inclusion in Retail: How to Craft an Inclusive Shopping Experience
2. GOOD OLD FASHIONED CUSTOMER SERVICE
Customer service is incredibly important to us.
You may have had bad experiences shopping in other stores or online as a plus size consumer, so maybe you’re not used to customer service like we offer. We can quickly soothe your concerns and help you with exactly what you need.
We don’t send you emails with one-word answers like so many other online (less caring) stores, and we have a dedicated customer service representative to help you in a full-service way. You can contact us with a phone call or text or email, (or all 3!), and we’ll get back to you within 0-1 business days!
Our specialist plus-size customer service representatives can give you a personalised shopping experience that is private, relaxed and knowledgeable. As we are plus size snow and outdoor clothing specialists and also specialists of our snow gear range, we know our customers are looking for particular shapes and fits without any judgement on your ability to hike, climb, ride, walk shred or enjoy the slopes and beautiful snow peaked mountains.
Part of this personal customer service experience is our sizing support page which includes our Shop Your Shape and Check Please services.
3. A PERSONALISED SHOPPING EXPERIENCE - SHOP YOUR SHAPE
We have a fabulous online personal fitting service tailored especially for our customers that we’ve called Shop Your Shape, accessible via our sizing support page
It’s not a bot. It us!
"This is our way of offering you a personalised fitting experience with our Sizing Specialists so that your needs are met successfully. With some important details, we will be able to present to you some of the best options for your upcoming adventure!"
Shop Your Shape means you're more likely to buy the correct size and style the first time, cutting down on returns cost and time.
Shop Your Shape starts with you filling out a simple form where you enter your body measurements (we can help with that too) and what products you’re interested in, and our customer service rep will fully detail and recommend which styles and sizes will fit you best. It’s time consuming on our end, but so worth it on yours.
It’s important to note that each product on our website has its own unique size chart (which we have personally measured in each size and style (and created the charts ourselves). Sizes can vary widely even from the same brand.
4. WE’RE NOT ICK SALESPEOPLE
We’re not pushy salespeople, because we don’t need to be, and you might get that ‘honest’ feeling from reading some of our product descriptions. Each one is tailored to each product (not copied and pasted from some product catalogue or someone else’s website) and updated as more customer information about a product’s shape or fit comes back to us.
We want you to be excited about your purchase, we want you to rave about us, we want you to be super pumped about your upcoming outdoors adventure as much as we are when we hear about all the exciting places you’re going to. Thanks to you all, Our bucket list keeps getting longer every year!
5. YOU’RE NOT A SIZE OR A NUMBER BUT WE DO NEED YOUR MEASUREMENTS
Shopping on our website means you will have to measure yourself. Sorry, not sorry!
We know this can be challenging and confronting.
Not measuring will most likely mean more cost, time and frustration.
It’s inevitable, as we said above, that every product’s size is different and there is no standard plus-size grid in the outdoor industry.
Plus size clothing measuring support - we’re here for it
To measure accurately for purchasing snow and outdoor gear in a plus-size body, we have created a measuring an instructional video, a quick guide, and a detailed instructions (to cover all types of learning types ;)) just for you, so you can confidently do this knowing you have got your most accurate measurements so you can buy the best-shaped snow pants, ski jackets, outdoor winter coats and puffers and warm thermal layers cut and shaped to fit you.
6. WE HAVE THE BEST PLUS SIZE OUTDOOR CLOTHING AND SNOW GEAR RANGE THAN ANY SKI OR OUTDOOR STORE EVER COULD
Why do you think that ski and outdoor shops don’t stock the sizes you need?
It’s because they don’t sell enough plus and extended sizes in each style, size and colour to have the stock turnover as quickly as they need it to. Their stock needs to clear by the end of the season so they can get something fresh and new the following season and their holding costs are limited from season to season.
It’s nothing against you or your size, it’s just they consider plus sizes to be a tricky niche which doesn’t afford the luxury of store ‘real estate’ by giving them the ROI they need in comparison to some other products they stock.
Even if ski or outdoor shops do stock the sizes you need, their range is limited and their attention is divided from other products, styles and cuts they also stock in their store.
So by having a specialist outdoor and snow retailer like us online, we can get change happening! We can show brands and manufacturers that there is collectively a demand. Just not in one specific location and at any specific shop but everywhere. So we’re able to pool the demand of our plus-size technical clothing specifically catering to plus-size bodies only, we have a voice which will hopefully reflect across the future size ranges offered and stocked in store.
We’re really quite proud of ourselves with how many outdoor adventurers we’ve helped find their best fitting technical outer wear.
7. WE KNOW PLUS-SIZE SHAPES IN OUTDOOR and SNOW JACKETS, PANTS, LAYERS AND THERMAL CLOTHING BETTER THAN ANYONE
We are plus size outdoor clothing specialists.
We really do care about helping you find the shape best suited to your body. It’s not just about finding the size which will fit (we have plenty of curvy clothing, it’s all we do!), it’s about finding the shape and style which will fit you most comfortably for skiing and snowboarding and within your price and style range.
We’re not perfect but we’re striving for it. Every season we add more choice to our range, which is so exciting, onwards and upwards we go!
We have experience owning a retail store and selling snow gear for over 28 years and after getting out of the bricks and mortar scene to try something new, we’ve been developing our snow and outdoor clothing range with our stalwart snow gear suppliers for 7 years and now with some bigger and international brands, and we’re confident we can find something you’ll love and fit you for your outdoor adventure!
It can be daunting when you don’t know which items will suit your body shape, or which size you will be in each style, or even where to start! So we have started creating helpful guides like this one which will help with those FAQs (yes! You’re not alone!).
If you have a specific question you’d like answered, why don’t you send it our way?
HOW TO SHOP FOR PLUS SIZE SNOW GEAR WITHOUT A SHOP OR FITTING ROOM WHERE I CAN TRY ON PLUS SIZE SKI and OUTDOOR CLOTHING PANTS AND JACKETS?
- Measure yourself accurately and write them down.
- Browse our store and ask for help if you need it or are unsure about anything. A question now could save shipping time and postage costs.
- Read the customer’s reviews for the product you’re interested in.
- Use the size measurements charts on each item’s page. These charts show the size of the garment, not the body that may fit it, so you will want to make sure you have a few centimetres space between your body and the size you choose. This will allow for the garment’s insulation, plus your own thermal layers as well as comfortable movement for skiing, snowboarding, bending, falling and getting back up again! It’s all a part of your upcoming snow adventure.
- Shop Your Shape or Use the Check Please services from our Sizing Support Page .
- Purchase whatever you like, even if it’s more than you need - different sizes, colours, shapes and styles. Then return the items you don’t like as much and keep the ones you like. Shipping for your first order is often free so all you have to do is to pay for the return shipping. Kind of like using your home as a personal fitting room.
ONLINE BUSINESS POLICIES WHICH WILL HELP EASE YOUR MIND WHEN SHOPPING WITH US
FLEXIBLE & FRIENDLY RETURNS POLICY
You're more than welcome to order a couple of pairs of pants or jackets, for example, and return the ones you don't like. We have a wonderfully flexible Returns Policy which refunds for anything you've purchased (pending approval/not including shipping costs or clearance items), so you may like to use this option, where the privacy of your own home becomes your fitting room :) We have the option of a 'Speedy' or 'Traditional' exchange to meet your particular preference.
SHIPPING EVERY DAY
Our little team ship orders every business day too, so you don’t have to wait too long to check out your new gear. We ship all international orders DHL express post worldwide.
DON'T JUST LISTEN TO US!
FIND OUT ABOUT WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS ARE SAYING ABOUT OUR RANGE AND THEIR EXPERIENCE WITH US!
We make an effort to encourage and collect and share customer reviews of our products to give future buyers the best idea of what to expect. We believe that asking our customers to review the products is such a big help to others when making their own buying decisions. We hope you will too.
Feedback from Plus Size Outdoorsy Influencer friends
We also chat with influencer friends who are willing to give candid and honest feedback on some items which they have tried on. These are always open-ended and honest, because really, we can’t afford and we don’t agree with paying people to ‘say’ they love our gear, we just know that they will find some things they love and other things, not as much. That’s all good with us!
PLEASE GET IN TOUCH, WE ARE HERE TO HELP
Furthermore, we encourage you to Contact Us with calls, texts and emails about specific requirements and shapes with your measurements in hand so you can chat directly to one of our customer service team members.
You can get social with us too!
Get inspired by our Instagram and Facebook profiles.
DO WE SOUND LIKE AN ONLINE OR IN STORE SKI OUTDOOR STORE YOU’D LIKE TO SHOP?
So to answer your question, we only have a Melbourne shop and outside of Victoria we don't have a shopfront or an outdoor shop you can visit.
However we believe our online store gives an exceptional online and customer service experience which provides you with the best solution to find the plus size ski, snow and outdoor clothing you will ever find without even having to leave the comfort of your own home.
In many ways, we are so much better than your local Sydney, Brisbane or New Zealand ski or outdoor shop anyway.
And you get us, your adventure cheerleaders supporting you every step of the way.
Here’s some more detail to the questions we posed above:
QUICK ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS ABOVE ABOUT TRUSTING OUR BUSINESS
- Is this business reputable? Are they even a real company? Yes, absolutely. We’ve been in the snow retail industry for over 30 years, and Plus Snow started in 2015, operating in Melbourne, Australia.
- Do they provide high-quality outdoor clothing? Sure do! We’re confident in the quality and durability of our products. The alpine outdoor and snow conditions in Australia are wet, cold and windy, making it the perfect testing grounds for snow gear.
- Are they experienced? Do they know what they’re talking about? Mon Balon started off working in her mum’s ski shop at 14 years of age and started buying at 17. She has developed long-standing relationships with Australian clothing brands and importers who have helped her develop her plus size snow range over the last 5 years. Plus Outdoor was launched July 2020 in response to the increasing demand for more outdoor plus size products outside of skiers and snowboarders visiting the mountains.
- Will they respond to my emails or phone call? Yes, we will reply during weekdays (we don’t work on weekends or Melbourne’s public holidays) 9.30am to 3pm and often longer where possible. As a small business, we don’t have the resources to work around the clock although don’t be surprised if you get a reply from someone who is working late.
- How long will it take for me to get my snow gear? Well, that depends on where you live, but we will pack and ship your order within 0-2 business days of your order being placed, and the shipping time from Melbourne using Australia Post.
- Will they accept my return back if it doesn’t fit or I don’t like it? Absolutely, with all the normal terms and conditions which apply, its within the terms, time frame, and unworn with all the tags still on.
