Who founded Victoria’s Secret in 1977 with his wife, Gaye Raymond?

Roy Raymond founded Victoria’s Secret in 1977 with his wife, Gaye Raymond.

Raymond reportedly created the company after feeling uncomfortable shopping for lingerie for his wife in conventional department stores. The first Victoria’s Secret store opened at Stanford Shopping Center in Palo Alto, California, offering a more private, boutique-style shopping experience.

The business initially operated as a small retail chain and catalog company. Raymond sold Victoria’s Secret to Leslie Wexner’s The Limited in 1982. Wexner’s ownership transformed the brand into a major lingerie and beauty retailer.

A common mix-up is identifying Wexner as the founder. He became the company’s key owner and long-term architect, but Raymond established Victoria’s Secret five years earlier.