Victoria's Secret is an American retailer of women's wear, lingerie and beauty products. It is the largest segment of publicly-traded Limited Brands with sales surpassing US$5 billion and an operating income of $1 billion in 2006. Victoria's Secret is known for its fashion shows and catalogues, which feature top fashion models.
Victoria's Secret was started in San Francisco, California, in 1977 by Stanford Graduate School of Business alumnus Roy Raymond, who felt embarrassed trying to purchase lingerie for his wife in a department store environment.
He opened the first store at Stanford Shopping Center, and quickly followed it with a mail-order catalog and three other stores.
The stores were meant to create a comfortable environment for men, with wood-paneled walls, Victorian details and helpful sales staff.
