You’ve probably seen their ads, recorded the fashion show held every year (but to see Taylor! ), And, whether, for yourself or someone else, you’ve probably bought some neon pants there. But how much do you know about the giant of lingerie?
Here are some amazing Facts About Victoria’s Secret for you to get to know the brand better!
Facts About Victoria’s Secret
1. ITS FOUNDER WANTED TO MAKE THE LINGERIE-BUYING EXPERIENCE LESS … CREEPY.
The company’s founder Roy Raymond was inspired to create his store following an unpleasant retail experience. “When I tried to buy lingerie for my wife, I was faced with racks of terry-cloth robes and ugly floral-print nylon nightgowns,” Raymond said. “I always had the feeling the department store saleswomen thought I was an unwelcome intruder.” The original Victoria’s Secret, devoted solely to selling lingerie in a more sophisticated (and male-friendly) environment, first began operations at Palo Alto in 1977.
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2. THERE WAS NO “VICTORIA.”
Raymond chose the name because Raymond believed it would complement the chic, English-style interior “replete with dark wood, oriental rugs, and silk drapery,” Slate’s Naomi Barr writes. “Outwardly refined, Victoria’s ‘secrets’ were hidden beneath.” Raymond and his wife, Gaye, would go through opening five more stores and then launch a popular mail-order catalog.
3. IT HAD A FAKE HEADQUARTERS.
To reflect its high-end British image, The company was known as its address on catalogs with the address “no. 10. Margaret Street, London”–even though the actual headquarters of the company was at Columbus, Ohio.
4. ITS CURRENT OWNER IS A BUSINESS LEGEND.
The company was bought the company for $1.5 million in 1982 by Leslie “Les” Wexner. Wexner, a self-made mid-westerner who was media-savvy, revolutionized the retail business when he established The Limited on the premise that stores built around two items of modest value–in this instance, basic shirts and pants — could earn money. Wexner has closed The Limited (and its little sister, Express), but his L Brands, the parent company for Victoria’s Secret and Bath & Body Works, and others, raked around $11.45 billion in the last fiscal year. Wexner owns more than $7 billion, which makes them the highest-paid individual in Ohio. (Sorry, LeBron.)
5. L BRANDS MAY HAVE INFLUENCED APPLE.
One of his admirers is Steve Jobs, who ( according to Wexner in any case) has credited the Ohio native for the idea of specialty retail.
6. IT DOMINATES THE MARKET
The only other brand of lingerie is close to the success of Victoria’s Secret: Victoria’s Secret is responsible for 40 % of all intimate apparel sales by Business Insider and has 1060 stores operating in the U.S. alone.
7. AND MAKES WAVES OVERSEAS.
The brand’s recent expansion into the Middle East (via franchisees) isn’t without controversy. In the spring of this calendar year, Qatari authorities prohibited its “Strawberries and Champagne” fragrance from a VS in Qatar, believing that champagne violated what they call the “customs, traditions, and religious values” of Qatar.
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8. SHOPLIFTERS LOVE IT.
VS stores are often the target of small-scale shoplifting rings and large-scale petty theft rings. Between 2007 and 2014, shoplifters took more than $20k worth of goods from the store in Fairfield, Conn store. In the fall of last year, a store in Florida, “entrepreneur” made $53,000 by selling counterfeit Victoria’s Secret underwear. (In an article published in 2007 in The New York Times, Captain Christine Petersen of the Jersey City PD stated that she wasn’t shocked that people could get such a large amount of product: “Have you looked at Victoria’s Secret panties? There’s nothing there.”)
9. ITS FANS CAN BECOME A LITTLE TOO INVESTED.
The company was recently forced to ” divorce” one fanatic. Wisconsin resident Amy Thompson was served legal papers that prohibited the purchase of any Victoria’s Secret store after she was alleged to have returned more than $7000 as well as tried to use fake coupons, resold more than $200,000 worth of merchandise, and even threatened with “batter” a store clerk. (Thompson herself, on her own, is in denial of the accusations and has complained to the consumer protection department of her state.)
10. IT CHARGES MORE FOR BIGGER SIZES.
The most recent scandal is not related to tone-deaf ads or photos that have been retouched. The company was criticized because a fashion journalist observed that women who have larger sizes could pay as much as $4 more on their bras than women fitting to sizes A-D.
11. IT’S A CAREER-MAKER.
This brand has assisted a variety of models who are just starting to get to new heights (so to say). The year 2014 saw the majority if not all of the catwalk models included on Forbes’ list of the most successful models have taken part in VS advertisements or appeared at Fashion Week.
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Fun Facts About Victoria’s Secret
1. In 1998, someone decided to take “Angels” literally. After three years, the initial Victoria’s Secret Runway show started the show. Someone took”Angels” literally “Angel” moniker literally and put the big feathered wings over the model Karen Mulder. This was the moment when everything began to turn awry.
2. During training for shows and shoots, Models work out effectively for a few hours each day. Working out is a major aspect of their job. They’re required to stay tiny and tone every inch of their bodies, which impacts their bodies and leads to an obsession with their bodies.
3. There was no “Victoria.” Raymond selected the name as Raymond felt it was appropriate to the chic English-style interior “replete with dark wood, oriental rugs, and silk drapery,” Slate’s Naomi Barr writes. “Outwardly refined, Victoria’s ‘secrets’ were hidden beneath.” Raymond and his wife, Gaye, would go further to open five additional stores and then launch an online catalog that was a huge success.
4. The models of the company wear bras that are worth millions. Since the model, Claudia Schiffer wore a $1 million bra in 1996, the value of jewelry-adorned pieces of clothing has soared every year, as per an E! Online report. The Victoria’s Secret Fantasy Bra model and there will be two models in the fashion show this year, Alessandra Ambrosio and Adriana Lima. However, their pieces will be worth more than double and will be adorned with rubies, diamonds, and sapphires.
5. One of the aspects you should know regarding Victoria’s Secret supermodels is the hair you believe is beautiful and flawlessly set isn’t their real hair. Models wear extensions regularly, which Bisutti said took several hours to apply. The hair of models is usually colored to make it look attractive also.
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6. The founder, Roy Raymond, was inspired to start his store following a traumatic retail experience. “When I tried to buy lingerie for my wife, I was faced with racks of terry-cloth robes and ugly floral-print nylon nightgowns,” he said. “I always had the feeling the department store saleswomen thought I was an unwelcome intruder.” The first Victoria’s Secret, devoted solely to selling lingerie in a more sophisticated (and male-friendly) environment, began operations at Palo Alto in 1977.
7. The companies at the top of the line in digital bra technology. Victoria’s Secret has entered into the business of wearable technology. For around $70, customers can buy “Incredible by Victoria’s Secret,” a heart rate monitor-compatible sports bra, as per the website. The ultra-modern undergarment comes with either “Hello Lovely” pink or “Black Marl,” a gray and black-toned version. “Perfect for running, boxing, and high-impact workouts, our truly Incredible maximum support sports bra is on the front lines of fitness with sensors that attach to most heart-rate monitors,” according to the product’s description. It is interesting to note that it has heart rate sensors but not monitors. “Use with most clip-on heart rate monitors by leading brands,” the product description continues.
8. Most models are airbrushed before appearing on stage, taking off the appearance of discoloration, cellulite, or any imperfections. The models are sprayed from head to foot with a tanner. It may take up to a few hours to apply.
9. Almost all Victoria’s Secret models also wear fake eyelashes. Bisutti admits that she thought she was required to wear them constantly since if she didn’t, she didn’t look anything like her real self and without the fake eyelashes with extensions and airbrushed skin.
10. It had a fake headquarters. In keeping with its high-end British image, the company advertised its address on catalogs as “no. 10, Margaret Street, London”–even though it was located in Columbus, Ohio.
