There's a good chance you've wondered about the folks behind the famous lingerie brand, Victoria's Secret. For a name that whispers of secrets, its ownership story has, in fact, seen quite a bit of public change and, well, some very big shifts over the years. It's a tale that involves a founding couple with a vision, a retail magnate who built a vast empire, and more recently, a brand finding its own way as a standalone company.
The journey of who holds the reins at Victoria's Secret really began with a husband and wife team who had a fresh idea for how women might shop for intimate apparel. They opened up their first store in a shopping center, trying to make something new happen in the world of retail. It was a simple start, but it certainly set the stage for something much bigger.
From those modest beginnings, the business grew and changed hands, going through some truly significant moments. You know, it's almost like watching a family business grow up and then eventually become part of something much, much larger, before finding its own path again. The ownership of Victoria's Secret has, in a way, mirrored the broader changes seen across the retail world.
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Table of Contents
- The Visionaries Who Started It All - Roy and Gaye Raymond
- Who Was the Original Victoria Secret Owner?
- Les Wexner - The Retail Giant Behind L Brands
- Les Wexner - Biography and Personal Details
- How Did Les Wexner Become the Victoria Secret Owner?
- Big Shifts - Victoria Secret Ownership Changes Since 2021
- What Prompted the Victoria Secret Owner to Step Down?
- What About the Controversies Involving a Victoria Secret Owner?
The Visionaries Who Started It All - Roy and Gaye Raymond
The story of Victoria's Secret, as we know it, truly began with a couple named Roy and Gaye Raymond. They had a specific idea about how to make shopping for intimate apparel a more pleasant experience for everyone involved. So, on June 12, 1977, they brought their idea to life. Their first physical store opened its doors in the Stanford Shopping Center, which is in Palo Alto, California, you know.
Roy and Gaye wanted to create a place where people felt more at ease picking out clothing for their personal moments, moving away from what was, perhaps, a slightly less inviting retail setting at the time. They were, in essence, trying to build a retail space that felt a bit more welcoming and private. This original vision, actually, laid the groundwork for a brand that would eventually become known around the world.
Who Was the Original Victoria Secret Owner?
When you look back at the very beginning, the people who first owned Victoria's Secret were indeed Roy Raymond and his wife, Gaye Raymond. They were the ones who put their energy and their hopes into this new retail idea. Their goal was to make a shopping experience that felt different, more comfortable, and less intimidating for customers looking for certain kinds of clothing.
The brand, from its earliest days, was about creating a particular feeling and atmosphere. It was, sort of, a departure from the typical department store experience. The Raymonds' initial efforts, you know, really shaped the early identity of the business, focusing on a specific kind of appeal and customer service that they believed was missing from the market at that time. They were, essentially, the first caretakers of what would become a very big name.
Les Wexner - The Retail Giant Behind L Brands
Fast forward a bit, and a very important person entered the story of Victoria's Secret: Les Wexner. He was the person who founded L Brands, a very large retail business that, for many years, included not just Victoria's Secret but also other well-known names like Bath & Body Works. He spent a really long time at the helm, serving as the chief executive for more than five decades, which is, honestly, a truly remarkable stretch of time.
Wexner's time running L Brands saw the company grow significantly, becoming a major player in the retail world. He had a reputation for building up retail holdings, and his leadership had a huge influence on the direction and expansion of Victoria's Secret during its most well-known period. It's fair to say that his influence as a Victoria Secret owner was incredibly significant for a very long time.
Les Wexner - Biography and Personal Details
Les Wexner's long career in retail is certainly a topic of interest when talking about the past ownership of Victoria's Secret. He was a central figure in the retail world for a very long time, and his decisions shaped a good portion of the industry. Here is a brief look at some of the key details about him, drawing from the information available:
Detail | Information |
---|---|
Full Name | Leslie H. Wexner |
Primary Role | Founder and former CEO of L Brands |
Key Companies | L Brands (which included Victoria's Secret and Bath & Body Works) |
Tenure as CEO of L Brands | More than 5 decades |
Public Apology | For association with Jeffrey Epstein |
Wexner's long tenure meant he was at the center of many changes in the retail scene. He was, apparently, known for his ability to grow businesses, and he certainly made a name for himself as a very important person in shopping centers across America. His influence on how Victoria's Secret operated and expanded during his time as its primary owner was, quite simply, massive.
How Did Les Wexner Become the Victoria Secret Owner?
Les Wexner's path to becoming a key Victoria Secret owner happened during the 1980s. This was a time when he was really expanding his retail businesses. He did this by buying up other companies, and he became known as a very big name in the world of retail property, especially at shopping malls throughout America. One of the more notable acquisitions he made was, in fact, the lingerie business known as Victoria's Secret.
By bringing Victoria's Secret into his growing collection of retail ventures, Wexner effectively took on the ownership of the brand. This move allowed him to integrate it into his larger L Brands structure, giving it a broader platform and resources for growth. So, in essence, he became the primary person in charge, guiding its future direction and expansion for many, many years. His purchase of the company was, you know, a very important moment in its history.
Big Shifts - Victoria Secret Ownership Changes Since 2021
Things have changed quite a bit for Victoria's Secret since 2021, marking some really important shifts in who holds the ultimate control. The brand has moved from being just one part of a larger company to becoming an independent public company. This means it now stands on its own, with its own stock and its own direct responsibilities to shareholders, which is, basically, a very different way of operating.
This change means the brand now operates under its own name, separate from its former parent company, L Brands. It's a big step for any business, going from being a part of something larger to standing completely on its own two feet. This new structure for the Victoria Secret owner means a new chapter for the company, with its own leadership team making decisions directly for the brand.
What Prompted the Victoria Secret Owner to Step Down?
After nearly six decades in his executive role at L Brands, the company announced on a Thursday that its founder and chief executive, Leslie Wexner, would be stepping down. This was a really big piece of news, considering how long he had been at the very top. It came about after some other significant reports had surfaced, hinting at major changes for the company and its future.
Just a little while before this announcement, late on a Wednesday, The New York Times had reported that the company had plans to go private. The paper also said it would soon be sold to an equity firm. Less than 12 hours after that news broke, even more major news followed, confirming Wexner's departure. This sequence of events, you know, really set the stage for a new era of ownership and direction for Victoria's Secret.
What About the Controversies Involving a Victoria Secret Owner?
It's worth noting that Les Wexner, as a significant Victoria Secret owner for many years, did publicly express regret for his association with Jeffrey Epstein. This was a matter that drew public attention and concern. The connection involved Epstein managing money for Wexner, and there were also serious allegations that Epstein had attacked a woman in a hotel room, claiming to be a talent scout for the company.
Wexner's apology was a public acknowledgment of this association. This aspect of the ownership story is, you know, a part of the brand's history that has been discussed openly. It added another layer to the public perception of the leadership during that time, and it was a very serious situation that the company had to address.
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