The pandemic has forever changed the way we shop, with companies and consumers alike navigating inflation, safety regulation, and changing trends. Luckily, Torrid seems to be recovering just fine — foot traffic data indicates that the store remains in high demand, as one of the few plus size brands that offers in-person shopping. According to The List's graph, Torrid saw approximately 9,000 monthly visitors on average pre-pandemic, with a spike to nearly 15,000 shoppers during the holiday season. In spring 2020, Torrid saw a drastic drop in visitors, as COVID restricted people's ability to shop. But averages quickly recovered, resuming their normal foot traffic averages in 2021.
But in recent months, Torrid has seen a slight drop in visitors, with averages falling below 6,000 in July 2022. This could be due to shoppers struggling to navigate rising inflation, but more likely it is because of the increasing backlash on social media. As the fashion industry evolves to cater for all bodies, many are asking brands to observe current trends, and extend their sizing to include plus-size individuals. Plus-size creators on TikTok have called out the brand's lack of variety of styles and lack of diversity in their models. Fatfabfeminist criticized Torrid's new Y2K inspired line that only featured models who wore the smallest size Torrid carries. Other creators like Cassandra Voelker and Zyia Marie mock Torrid's outdated styles and expensive pricing.
