Roy Raymond was an American businessman best known for founding the lingerie retailer Victoria's Secret. He created the company in 1977 after feeling embarrassed purchasing lingerie for his wife in a department store environment. He envisioned a more comfortable and accessible shopping experience for men. He sold Victoria's Secret to The Limited, Inc. in 1982 for $1 million. Later business ventures were unsuccessful, and he struggled financially before his death by suicide in 1993. While his initial concept proved highly successful under new ownership, Raymond's own entrepreneurial efforts after Victoria's Secret did not achieve similar success. His life serves as a cautionary tale of the unpredictable nature of entrepreneurship and the potential for both extraordinary success and devastating setbacks.
Browse