Victoria's Secret

Victoria's Secret's new iteration of its iPhone application plays up a message center where the brand will continuously push out content. In-app messaging and push notifications play a significant role in how the lingerie retailer brings back repeat traffic to build sales. While these kinds of features may appear to be small changes, the overall effect has a much bigger impact on how Victoria's Secret is lining up its app to be a key part in its mobile, digital, social and in-store strategies.

Frederick's of Hollywood is going private after years of struggles. The business is now worth about $11 million — a measly amount for what was once a dominant chain, The Wall Street Journal reports. Frederick's used to be a viable competitor for lingerie mega-chain Victoria's Secret. But Victoria's Secret has dominated the marketplace, posting record sales for the past several years. Meanwhile, Frederick's has struggled for more than a decade.

Victoria's Secret's growing Pink line is aimed at a younger audience than the main Victoria's Secret brand. Over the past several years, the brand has expanded Pink a lot, so the line is now sold in dedicated Pink stores and showcased in a special segment of the annual nationally broadcast Victoria's Secret fashion show. Business Insider reported earlier this month that a Limited Brands executive confirmed the "Bright Young Things" line was for even younger girls than the main Pink line, which targets college students.

Victoria's Secret's runway show doesn't air until Dec. 4, but one image from the show won't make the final cut: Karlie Kloss draped in a feathered headdress and turquoise. The look struck a sour chord with the U.S.’ indigenous communities. That's hardly a surprise considering this kind of thing has been done before and it rarely goes well. Let's count the most recent ways: (1) Last year's Urban Outfitters Navajo Hipster panties controversy (2) Last month's Gap "Manifest Destiny" fiasco (3) Victoria's Secret's sexy little geisha kerfuffle from two months ago and (4) America's Top Model making Native American Mariah Watchman dress like Pocahontas for a photo shoot.

Limited Brands, parent company of Victoria's Secret and Bath & Body Works, will pilot cross-channel returns beginning this fall. Customers who buy an item via the retailer's online or catalog channel will receive credit and be able to complete a store transaction in September, with plans for a more complete rollout in spring 2013. "We are focused on really putting the power of our $2 billion internet and catalog business and the store together, actually taking returns in-store," said Victoria's Secret megabrand and intimate apparel CEO Sharen Turney during a recent conference call. 

To get consumers more comfortable with last-minute online gift shopping, large retailers have embraced the concept of Free Shipping Day. Now small marketplace sellers can also use FreeShippingDay.com to promote their eBay and Etsy stores.

Columbus, Ohio -- Limited Brands, parent to Victoria's Secret, Pink, Bath & Body Works, La Senza and Henri Bendel, said Thursday it will buy back up to $250 million of its shares. The new share repurchase program follows the completion of a $500 million share repurchase program. So far this year, Limited has repurchased $1.1 billion worth of its stock.

Sycamore Partners, a private equity firm based in New York, and Limited Brands announced that Sycamore has acquired a controlling 51 percent interest in Mast Global Fashions, the third-party apparel sourcing division of Limited Brands.

Victoria's Secret Direct, the internet and catalog division of Victoria's Secret, announced that Pia Ferrario will remain in her role as CEO through holiday and then transition into an advisory role with the company. Bridget Ryan-Berman, former chief executive officer of Giorgio Armani Corp., will join Victoria's Secret Direct as its chief executive officer.

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