Tall Size: Revolutionizing the Shopping Experience for Tall Women

Customer Introduction

Tall Size isn’t just a marketplace; it’s a lifeline for tall women who have long felt invisible in the fashion world. Their platform has become the ultimate destination for tall women to buy, sell, and discover clothing and shoes that actually fit. Beyond being a marketplace, it’s a community that celebrates tall women, offering them a space where they are truly seen, understood, and empowered.

Nicole Murphy | Co-Founder & CEO

Kayla Alexander | Co-Founder

Can you explain how the idea for Tall Size was born and what the concept behind the brand is?

NM: "Tall Size was born out of years of frustration and a desire to solve a deeply personal problem. Standing at 6'0" (183 cm), I’ve struggled my entire life to find clothing that doesn’t just fit but also makes me feel confident.

My co-founder, Kayla, who’s 6’4” (195 cm), faced even greater challenges. One day, in a moment of exasperation, I called her and asked, ‘Where do you shop? Surely you face this struggle too.”

KA: "That conversation was a catalyst for us. I told Nicole that I had been relying on Long Tall Sally since I was 13, as it was one of the few brands that catered to tall women. But even that wasn’t enough. We were both disheartened by how the fashion industry seemed to cater to every other niche while tall women were left with few options.

Despite our busy careers—me as a professional basketball player and Nicole in marketing—we couldn’t ignore the need we saw in the market. We knew there were other tall women like us, and small boutique brands out there, struggling in silence.

That’s when we decided to create Tall Size, a marketplace where tall women could easily find all the brands that understand their needs in one place, and where small brands could reach the customers who needed them most.”

What were the main challenges you faced when you started to build Tall Size?

NM: “Launching Tall Size wasn’t just about creating a business—it was about addressing a pain point that we knew all too well. With my background in marketing and technology, I saw an opportunity to bring together these niche brands, many of which were struggling to survive.

These brands had incredible products but lacked the resources and visibility to reach their audience. The challenge for us was learning the complexities of building a marketplace that could serve both the customers who were desperate for better options and the small businesses that needed a platform to thrive.

We started small, launching on Shopify, but quickly realized that we needed to learn and grow fast to meet the needs of our community.”

Which were the main drivers for your success in the early days?

NM: “Our success has been driven by the deep connection we’ve fostered with our community. Tall women have felt overlooked and underserved by the fashion industry for so long. When they found Tall Size, they finally felt seen and understood. The response was overwhelming.

We were self-funded, so we relied heavily on word-of-mouth and organic growth. But that grassroots approach resonated deeply with our customers, who were eager to share their discovery with others. This emotional connection not only led to media attention but also to a growing, loyal customer base that has fueled our continued growth.”

Which requirements did you have when you first started talking to Onport?

NM: “In the early days, we didn’t fully grasp how much we would need from our marketplace software. Our initial requirements were basic, but as we grew, we encountered new challenges that required more sophisticated solutions.

Many of the brands we work with are small, often run by one or two people, and they struggle with everything from marketing to inventory management to logistics. Onport became an essential partner as we scaled, providing the tools we needed to support these small businesses and help them grow.

Onport’s flexibility allowed us to adapt the platform to meet our evolving needs, from managing supplier information to handling complex shipping logistics.”

Which aspect of working with Onport brings the most value to your business?

NM: “Onport has been a critical part of our ability to grow and support our community. As we started working with larger suppliers and integrating different platforms, Onport’s ability to seamlessly bring everything together was invaluable.

Our tech stack is composable, which means we can add or change tools as needed without disrupting our operations. This has been especially important for our small brands, many of whom operate on a tight budget and need a platform that doesn’t overwhelm them.

Onport’s support for advanced inventory management, multi-currency orders, and flexible shipping rates has allowed us to offer a top-tier experience to our customers while ensuring our sellers can operate smoothly.”

Could you operate without a solution like Onport today?

NM: “We couldn’t have built Tall Size to what it is today without Onport. The platform itself is incredibly robust, but it’s the support we’ve received that has truly made the difference.

For a non-technical founder like me, navigating the complexities of running a multi-vendor marketplace could have been overwhelming, but Onport’s team has been there every step of the way. They’ve helped us overcome challenges, implement new features, and scale effectively.

Their expertise has been invaluable, making it possible for us to grow confidently and continue serving our community.”

How does Onport help you onboard more Vendors efficiently?

NM: “One of our top priorities was making it as easy as possible for our sellers to join Tall Size. Many of these brands are small, independent businesses that don’t have the resources to deal with complicated processes.

With Onport, onboarding takes less than 15 minutes, and the platform handles everything from product integration to payouts seamlessly.

As we grow, we’re working on making the process even more self-serve, but the fact that we can offer this level of support from day one has been crucial in helping our sellers succeed and feel supported.”

If any of our readers wanted to open a marketplace, what would be your advice?

NM: “The first step is always validation—ensure there’s a real need for the marketplace you’re planning to build. We started with a simple no-code tool to test our concept and gather feedback, and we were meticulous in getting validation before diving in.

Don’t invest time and money into something unless you’re confident it will resonate. Start a niche to gain traction, and then expand as needed. Surround yourself with other marketplace founders—this journey is unique, and the support and insights from those who have been through it are invaluable.

For us, building Tall Size was about solving a problem that was deeply personal, and that passion is what drives us forward every day.”