retail profiles // classy // south bay boobology

Square footage: 825
Location: Torrance, CA
Year Opened: 2013


Q&A with Terri and Josephine Frazier, owners


Ted Vayos, BODY: Describe your store.

Terri & Josephone Frazier: We are a small, mother-and-daughter owned lingerie boutique specializing in bras for full-busted and full-figured women located in a quaint shopping center in Torrance, California. Torrance is located in the south west section of Los Angeles County. . The name South Bay Boobology comes from the location and what we do. South Bay refers to Torrance and the surrounding cities. We are in the business of studying boobs and determining the best bra to put them in. Boobology to us is teaching women all there is to know about bras, putting them in the most flattering and best fitting bras, and boosting their confidence as a result. Our theme is “girly scientific.” Our staff is comprised of knowledgeable Boobologists in pink lab coats, who fit and work with the customers to find what they are looking for.

Customers enter the boutique through the back door from the parking lot and are first greeted upon walking in.
Outside the entrance to the dressing rooms is a cozy seating area set aside for our clients- a leather couch and chairs surrounding a coffee table holding the latest fashion magazines along with a few magazines for men. The entrance to the dressing rooms is separated from the rest of the store by a tri-fold partition to allow for privacy. We have three 5’X5’ dressing rooms that are comprised of one inch galvanized pipes and fittings painted pink and surrounded by pink curtains. Each charming dressing room is decorated with a tilting mirror, wooden coat rack, pink wastebasket, pillow-covered wood and leather bench and 2 different sized robes. Along the wall in front of the dressing rooms we have a children’s area to keep the children entertained while their mothers shop. The children’s area consists of games, toys, tables with chairs on which to play, and an entertainment area where the children can watch movies. Within the boutique there are four areas the clients can peruse for merchandise. A three-basket stand holds our bra accessories, and we have a round stand for our shapewear, loungewear, slips and sleepwear. We have a lingerie stand that holds panties from a variety of companies and lastly we have three cabinet units that hold a variety of shapewear and slips. All bras are kept in the back so the focus is on fit instead of look.

Ted: What makes your store special?

Terri & Josephone: Our store is special because we offer bra sizes that are not typically carried in nearby stores and boutiques. There is no other lingerie store in the area that offers both a personalized fitting process and large cup sizes. We take our time with each customer and do not rush through fittings. Our aim is to get to know customers and build friendships so that we can better help women find the best bras.

Ted: What do you look for in a brand?

Terri & Josephone: We look for brands that carry large cup sizes and cute designs in a wide array of styles. We like vendors that show us great customer service and reasonable delivery time. Currently, we carry: Goddess, Freya, Elomi, Fantasie, Elila, Knock Out!, Anita, Yummie Tummie and a few more.

Ted: What are the latest trends?

Terri & Josephone: In our store the molded cup plunge bra in nude is our biggest seller. Our younger clients tend to gravitate towards our patterned bras.

Ted: Describe your price points and size ranges.

Terri & Josephone: Our bras range in price from $45-$80. We carry bras with band sizes of 28-52 and cup sizes D-N. Our shapewear, sleepwear and slips range in price from $35-$100 and our panties range in price from $16-$30.

We’re still a new store, but we have a lot of clients who wear band sizes 28-32 and cup sizes D-G.

Ted: What does the average customer spend per visit to your store?

Terri & Josephone: On average, our customers spend about $80 per visit.

Ted: Describe your customer.

Terri & Josephone: Our customers are females age 13 and up. They are students, stay-at-home moms, working professionals and retirees.

Ted: What else can you tell us about your business?

Terri & Josephone: South Bay Boobology was created to fulfill a multitude of needs: to provide products that are hard to obtain in the area, to educate women on the correct way to wear a bra and build their confidence, and a desire to establish a sense of community. Our customers are encouraged to feel comfortable and proud about their bra sizes and not ashamed. We want women to have a positive experience while shopping to fill their cups. We pride ourselves on providing the best customer service and clients return again and again because of it.