• M&S Bra Fitter Alison Pearce brought a pop-up lingerie and sleepwear shop to Harleston House, a care home in Lowestoft
• She delivered personal bra fittings for residents – a much-loved service first introduced at the home last year
• M&S fits 1million customers every year as the UK’s lingerie market leader – with over half of women in the UK wearing an M&S bra
Alison Pearce, an M&S Bra Fit specialist, has gone out into the community, bringing M&S’s bra fitting service directly to elderly residents in Lowestoft. For many, mobility challenges make visiting a store impossible – so M&S is bringing the service right to their doorstep.
Alison and her colleagues, including Customer Assistant Rachel Ollett, converted a ground-floor room at care home Harleston House into a private bra fitting room and boutique to showcase a selection of lingerie and sleepwear for the men and women. There, five female residents received personalised fittings.
Each resident was carefully measured and then guided through a specially curated selection of lingerie and nightdresses designed for ultimate comfort and style - all without leaving the care home. Male residents were invited to browse a selection of stylish, comfortable sleepwear, tailored to their needs and preferences. This was Alison’s second visit to Harleston House, following a successful fitting event last year where ten female residents were measured. Among the residents supported was Alison’s own mother – making the day especially meaningful.
Despite breasts naturally changing shape and size during different life phases, research by M&S found that more than one 1 in 3 women have never been professionally measured and two fifths are unsure if, or know whether, they are wearing the right bra size. M&S is on a mission to change these statistics across the UK and is committed to supporting customers at every stage of life .
With 43 years at M&S in Norwich, including 13 years as a Bra Fit specialist, Alison’s dedication goes beyond the shop floor. She has been volunteering with Keeping Abreast since 2018 – a charity which provides support to women who are considering or undergoing breast reconstruction following a breast cancer diagnosis. What started as providing post-surgery bra advice evolved into organising in-store private fittings in the evenings in M&S Norwich, helping these women regain confidence and comfort.
Alison and her team have also helped raise over £3,000 for the charity, contributing to the purchase of a portable ultrasound machine for the Plastic Surgery Department at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital to help their breast reconstruction patients. Additionally, Alison has trained fourteen nurses at The John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford on M&S’s post-surgery bra range, empowering them to support their patients by helping them navigate the different bra options available, tailored to the specific needs of each patient at each stage of treatment and recovery.
Alison Pearce, Bra Fitter at M&S Norwich, said: “I’ve worked at M&S for more than four decades, and I know the difference a well-fitting bra or comfortable nightwear can make to a person’s wellbeing. It’s been so special to bring that experience to the residents at Harleston House for a second year running – particularly with my mum being one of them. Seeing their smiles and knowing we were able to help is incredibly rewarding.”
Gareth Harding, Activities Co-Ordinator at Harleston House Care Home, added: "Harleston House is continuously looking at ways to connect and engage with the community and highlight what great places care homes can be. We like to help individuals make wise decisions about care. Arranging this activity with Alison and M&S is a great way to demonstrate our commitment to our residents."
Jenny Bales, Mother of Alison Pearce and resident at Harleston House, said: “As someone living at Harleston House, having the chance to be properly fitted for a bra was a lovely experience. The M&S team made me feel comfortable and cared for, and it was wonderful to have that extra bit of attention.”
As the leader in the UK lingerie market, over half of women in the UK wear an M&S bra and its popular Bra Fit service fits approximately 1 million customers every year, with trained Bra Fitters available in-store to provide advice and support.
More than 200 Bra Fitters are specifically trained in post-surgery fittings, able to provide personalised advice depending on customer’s stage of treatment or recovery.
Over 20 years ago, M&S introduced its first post-surgery bra, which has since grown into a collection of 24 products, including styles with Post Surgery Pockets giving customers the choice to wear with their own prothesis or M&S’ soft breast forms.
ENDS