Written by: Chloe Redmond, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Are you tired of feeling the biting cold seep through your attire during winter walks? What if it’s not because you didn't dress appropriately, but rather because your coat sleeves and jeans simply aren't long enough for your 6'0 frame? You're not alone in this struggle.
Tall Size Co-founder Nicole Murphy, also standing tall at 6'0, experienced the same frustration and decided to share her woes with her lifelong friend and co-founder, Kayla Alexander, who towers at 6'4. Little did they know, this vent session would give birth to something extraordinary.
Together, Nicole and Kayla embarked on a mission to revolutionize the shopping experience for tall women. They envisioned Tall Size, an online shopping platform exclusively designed for women like you. No longer would you have to spend hours searching the web, desperately trying to find a single item in your size. Tall Size would be your go-to destination, offering an endless selection of tall-friendly clothing and shoes from various brands, all conveniently accessible in one place with a single shopping cart. The joy of shopping would be restored.
Currently, the Tall Size vision goes beyond mere convenience. They strive to be the ultimate wardrobe solution for the tall community, catering to their shopper's every need. Whether you're looking for basics, keeping up with the latest trends, or seeking help in defining your style, Tall Size has got you covered. The team at Tall Size wants you to feel confident and love the skin you're in. They believe in uplifting one another and celebrating the unique beauty of tall women. Beyond the clothes stands a community that empowers and connects tall women worldwide.
Tall Size is not just an online platform; it's a movement. It's a testament to the power of community and the impact of addressing a long-standing problem. The founders are fueled by their passion and the satisfaction of making a difference in the lives of tall women everywhere. They continue to evolve and grow, driven by their love for their mission and their unwavering commitment to providing a shopping experience that celebrates your unique stature.
After two successful pop-up shops in 2023, the company is now taking the Tall Size Pop-Up Shops on tour in 2024, visiting eight different cities across the U.S. and Canada.
Chloe Redmond, Founder of Vino Vaquera Consulting, sat down with Nicole and Kayla to discuss the exciting year ahead.
Hello Ladies! Thank you so much for your time today, the tall energy is alive and present! Let's jump right into the Tall Size 2024 Tour. Walk us through the inspiration behind taking your online services and creating IRL experiences this year.
Thanks so much for taking the time to chat with us today, Chloe! As you know, Nicole and I started Tall Size because we are our customer base. We were two tall women who were fed up with the lack of accessibility, discoverability, and selection of clothing and shoes readily available to tall women like ourselves. So, we created Tall Size to solve a problem. After launching Tall Size and listening to our amazing community, we realized that our marketplace was a great first step, but something was still missing. Our customers still didn't have access to a normal shopping experience of being able to walk into a store, touch, feel, and try clothes on before they bought. This is how we came up with the pop-up shop idea! We tested it out twice last year in LA and Chicago, and it was a huge success. Our customers have been begging us to bring our Tall Size pop-ups to more locations, hence our Tall Size 8-city pop-up tour this year.
Incredible, thank you for sharing! Can we dive into the brands that will be joining you on tour?
Yes! We have over 12 different brands and counting that will be participating in our pop-up shops. Some of the brands include: KORAI, At Last Denim, Etta Grove, Alloy Apparel, Prissy Duck, Elevated Closet, TJL Collection, and more! We have a variety of brands participating, from clothing to shoes to swimwear! What we love about our approach at Tall Size is that, because we are a marketplace, we partner with so many different brands that we have something for everyone. Whether you want a certain price point, casual wear, something more dressy, athleisure, or trendy, we have it all.
What would you say the key takeaways would be for someone attending one of your pop-up shopping experiences?
Oh wow, there are a few key takeaways we would like to share with the tall ladies coming out to our pop-ups. First, I would say, be prepared to be spoiled. Yes, spoiled. We create an experience because we know how frustrating and disappointing the shopping experience can be. When you walk through our doors, you will be greeted, offered a sparkling drink or light refreshments, and then presented with an endless selection of items to choose from. I can't tell you the number of times our customers' jaws dropped as soon as they stepped through our doors. For most tall women, this is the first time they are physically walking into a store where they realize that all the clothes are designed to fit them. I remember one customer walking out of the changeroom in shock that her pants were actually hitting the floor; they were so long. You are literally going to feel like a little kid in a candy store.
I would also add that you should come ready to feel like you found your community. I will never forget the atmosphere during our Chicago VIP night; it was warm and full of empowerment. You're surrounded by all these incredible tall women who have the same shared life experiences as you. You feel seen, heard, and understood for the first time. The ladies were helping each other take their measurements during the workshop with the stylist; the room was full of compliments and encouragement as women stepped out of the changeroom in their soon-to-be new outfits. The energy that night was incredible. Everyone was mingling, sipping on champagne, eating light refreshments, taking photos, shopping until they dropped, and having the time of their lives.
Lastly, I would add that we take an innovative approach to the shopping experience. Our pop-ups are showroom style, meaning we have a sample of all the items in different sizes, cuts, washes/colors/patterns for you to see and try on in-store. Once you're done shopping and are ready to check out, there is a checkout lounge area – usually couches or a seating area. Using your phone, you scan the QR code of each item that you want, and it will open up your cart on our marketplace. When all your items are in your cart, you pay and check out online. During the pop-up, all in-store shoppers get a coupon code that will allow all your items to be shipped to your home for free! Then in a few days, all your items are delivered to you! We took this approach because it was more cost-effective, allows us to partner and have more brands in-store, and our customers know that every item they purchase is guaranteed to fit!
We can't wait to see you on the road ladies!
Speaking of distance, we understand that Nicole is based in Canada while Kayla is currently playing basketball overseas! Can you talk to us about this current place in your entrepreneurial journey?
We like to joke that we have a long-distance relationship, both as friends and as business partners, but we make it work! Since my primary job is as a professional basketball player, I spend 7 or 8 months out of the year overseas – currently in France – while Nicole is back home in Canada. This has been our setup since the beginning of Tall Size, but we have found a way to make it work for us. It involves a lot of Zoom call meetings, WhatsApp chats, Slacks, email threads, and so on, but I honestly couldn't imagine building Tall Size with anyone else. I know as a basketball player, I can't play forever, so I am making the most of it while I can. I also realize that it's because of basketball that we were able to get a lot of great opportunities for Tall Size so early on.
Kayla, with the 2024 Olympics on the horizon, what does balance look like between basketball and Tall Size?
For me, I would say not a whole lot is going to change from a balance perspective. I have my designated practice, lifting, games, and training times, and then typically my evenings, off days, and off mornings are designated Tall Size times. As a young student-athlete in high school and especially at the university level, you are forced to learn pretty early on how to best manage your time. And as an athlete, you learn how to adapt or pivot in different situations; those skills have become extremely helpful now that I am both a professional basketball player and an entrepreneur. If anything, when I return to Canada this summer for training – hopefully, it will be in preparation for the 2024 Paris Olympic games – I am looking forward to being back in the same time zone as Nicole and having some in-real-life working sessions together!
Nicole, what would you say has been the most pivotal moment on your entrepreneurial journey thus far?
One moment that particularly stands out for me is hosting our very first in person pop-up shop in Los Angeles. Being from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, it was a massive undertaking to run an event like that so far away from home. I even made my parents come with us to help and to be my support network in case no one showed up (LOL!). Luckily, we had over 100 tall women visit our pop-up shop throughout the course of the weekend and it was an incredible success. This was the first time that I was able to meet our customers in person. To be able to see the impact our brand has on these women in person was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. The smiles, the tears and the hugs… all just because we helped them find clothes that fit them, was something that I will never forget.
What would say has been the greatest achievement Tall Size has experienced to date?
Wow, we have been on this journey for a little over two years now, but there have been so many great achievements already! I think we can both agree that it's always amazing anytime we get media coverage that allows us to grow and spread the word about Tall Size, so thank you so much for doing this interview with us, Chloe. However, I don't think anything will ever compare to the very real impact we are having on the lives of fellow tall women. When we see a comment on our socials talking about how thankful a customer was to discover our brand, or when we get an email where a customer is thankful for our incredible customer service, or when we get to meet our customers in person at our pop-ups and their faces light up when they walk out of the changeroom, that newfound confidence across their face, those are the moments that we hold close to our hearts. Those are the constant reminders for why we do what we do, and those are the moments that keep us going during tough times.
This has been so enjoyable! Let us close by informing the audience of what else they can expect from Tall Size in 2024 and beyond.
A: We can’t stress enough how thankful we are to you Chloe for taking the time to chat with us today! As a reminder, Tall Size is going on a 8 city pop-up tour across the USA and Canada. For more information on our pop-ups, Tall Size or to shop with us online you can visit here.
Tall Size Pop Up 2024 Dates & Locations: Austin, TX (Mar. 22-23) — RSVP, Phoenix, AZ (Apr. 5-6) — RSVP, Los Angeles, CA (Apr. 19-20) — RSVP, Chicago, IL (May 3-4) — RSVP, Toronto, ON (Sept. 13-14) — RSVP, New York, NY (Oct. 4-5) — RSVP, Atlanta, GA (Oct. 25-26) — RSVP, Orlando, FL (Nov. 8-9) — RSVP
For press inquiries, please contact Kayla Alexander directly via email.
Press: Kayla@tallsize.com
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Chloe Redmond, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Chloe Redmond is a leader in digital marketing, influencer partnerships, and social media management. A chance opportunity to work with Chopra Global (Deepak Chopra’s legacy company) in 2020 that left her with the understanding of how mindfulness and marketing can co-exist. She is dedicated in helping entrepreneurs reach their pure potentiality through intentional and intuitive marketing practices. Her mission: to teach others how to put their authentic self into play what targeting their niche and discovering creative partnerships.
