Victoria's Secret empire

Victoria's Secret is more than bronzed goddesses, glamorous catalogues and fashion shows. Under their amazing marketing techniques to get attention from both sexes, Victoria's Secret is an outstanding brand, empire and company. They have the stock figures to prove it and growing ratings on being the most watched and sexiest show on television each year. No other brand or designer gets a time slot on national television to broadcast their products.

Victoria's Secret was first started in 1977 by Roy Raymond, whose idea sprang up when he felt awkward and embarrassed in the lingerie department, which I'm sure happens to many men. He opened the first store in California, and later followed with the catalogues. The environment was supposed to feel comfortable for men with wood paneling, knowledgeable sales staff, and just single merchandise of each bra and underwear styles to minus the overwhelming factor.

After five years, Raymond sold the company to ‘The Limited' and the brand took off from there. The company is still expanding in every way with a wide range of merchandise such as; bras, panties, sleepwear, hosiery, women's clothing, fragrances, beauty products, sportswear, shoes, and evening wear.

Skip ahead a few years to 2004 when the company launched PINK; a collection of sleepwear and loungewear geared mostly toward the high school and college students market.

Victoria's Secret started using supermodels in the early 1990's, but not until 1999 were ‘The Angels' officially debut. Victoria's Secret seems to snag the best top models around, with more than 80 per cent of them coming from European countries. Not only are these models gorgeous, they've got rock hard bodies that would take us average folks years to achieve and catch up on to them. Current models, Alessandra Ambrosio and Marissa Miller, and past favourites, Tyra Banks and Gisele Bundchen. have strutted their stuff on the jewel encrusted runways.

In November 2007 Victoria's Secret Angels became the first trademark awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The supermodels who play the supporting cast role in extravagant fashion shows are lavish is an understatement. It takes up to a full year to prepare, create and tailor each look. Swarovski Crystals play a big part in adorning each outfit and wings.

The wings are pretty much the trademark of these shows. The angel wings get more extravagant and heavier each year. The wings can weigh up to 25 pounds, being balanced on toned shoulders and four-inch heels!