All Ann Summers articles
British multinational retailer Ann Summers specialises in lingerie and sex toys, famed for revolutionising sex in UK retail and paving the way for other sex toy retailers such as Lovehoney and Harmony. The first Ann Summers shop opened in 1970 under Michael Caborn-Waterfield, named after his secretary. The business was purchased by in 1971 by brothers David and Ralph Gold. In 1981, David installed his daughter, Jacqueline, who created the party plan concept. The retailer operates 140 stores across the UK, Spain and Ireland, with an annual turnover of over £100m.
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NewsAnn Summers posts rise in sales in ‘year of two halves’
Ann Summers has posted a rise in sales during a financial year “of two halves” and confirmed plans to add new stores to its UK portfolio by the end of next year.
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NewsExclusive: New roles for Gold and Hollins in Ann Summers restructure
Ann Summers has shuffled its top team as part of a restructuring of the business, with Vanessa Gold taking up the role of company chair and Maria Hollins being promoted to chief executive, Retail Week can reveal.
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AnalysisRetail Week Award for Lifetime Achievement: Jacqueline Gold
This year we have made a very special, one-off award to commemorate and celebrate the life of Jacqueline Gold.
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AnalysisJacqueline Gold: The retail mould-breaker who changed the high street
Jacqueline Gold, who made Ann Summers one of the best-known brands in retail, died last week. Here we pay tribute to her legacy.
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NewsRetail pays tribute to Ann Summers pioneer Jacqueline Gold
The retail industry has paid tribute to Jacqueline Gold, who made Ann Summers a fixture on the high street and has died aged 62.
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DataData: The 15 most improved retailers for gender pay equality 2022
Retail Week ranks the top-performing and most improved retailers for gender pay equality this year.
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Deep diveDeep dive: Room for one more – are co-CEOs the future of retail leadership?
When it comes to leadership, are two heads really better than one? Marks & Spencer seems to think so. Retail Week explores the trend for co-chief executives in retail.
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VideoRetail Question Time: Mike Coupe and Maria Hollins on navigating unprecedented times
The cost-of-living crunch, spiralling business costs and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have created uncertainty and a scale of challenge never experienced by retailers in living memory.
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NewsAnn Summers exits CVA as it swings back into black
Ann Summers has returned to profit as a result of its turnaround strategy, driven by strong online performance during the pandemic.
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Prospect AnalysisAnn Summers (SWOT)
Ann Summers’ recent weak financial performance contrasts sharply with online rival Lovehoney, which has stepped up its marketing efforts to aggressively target Ann Summers’ core customer base.
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Prospect AnalysisAnn Summers (People)
In July 2023, it was announced that Vanessa Gold would take up the role of company chair, with Maria Hollins being promoted to chief executive.
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Prospect AnalysisCustomer and marketing at Ann Summers
While the typical Ann Summers customer is a female aged between 18 and 35, over recent years the retailer has decided to home in on its core customer: the 25-year-old. Ann Summers comments that 25-year-olds want value for money. This has led the retailer to adapt its approach, including its pricing strategy, marketing communications and supply chain.
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Prospect AnalysisAnn Summers (Overview)
Ann Summers is a sex toy and lingerie retailer which sells online and through around 100 stores in the UK and Ireland. It also operates a Party Plan business, where products are sold in customers’ homes, while a wholesale division has become increasingly important of late.
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Prospect AnalysisAnn Summers (Financials)
Ann Summers saw its sales rise 7.3% to £100.1m for the 52 weeks to June 25 2022 (FY2021). Describing the latest financial year “as a year of two halves”, the retailer said a return of footfall was impacted by the rise in Omicron cases, which affected its key Christmas trading period.
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Prospect AnalysisStores at Ann Summers
In December 2020 Ann Summers launched a CVA for 25 of its stores in an effort to secure turnover-based leases. The stores affected were those where the retailer had not been able to agree on revised rental terms with landlords.
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Prospect AnalysisSupply chain at Ann Summers
Ann Summers relies on a number of third parties in its supply chain. It operates a distribution facility in Whyteleafe, Surrey, which also houses its head office.
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Prospect AnalysisAnn Summers (Strategy)
Ann Summers has accelerated its turnaround programme from 2018 following “the most challenging year ever experienced”.
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Prospect AnalysisEcommerce at Ann Summers
The Ann Summers website has been replatformed recently as part of the accelerated turnaround programme following the exceptionally challenging 2018 financial year (to end June 2019).
