Ann Summers

The company was named after Annice Summers, the secretary of the founder, Michael Caborn-Waterfield. She was born Annice Goodwin in 1941, but later took her stepfather's surname. She left the company soon after it opened, following a row with Caborn-Waterfield. She moved to Umbria, Italy, where she died of cancer in October 2012.{{cite news|url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/MRS+SEX%3B+Girl+behind+Ann+Summers+legend+is+now+rich+recluse.-a064652241|title=MRS SEX; Girl behind Ann Summers legend is now rich recluse |via=The Free Library|date=3 April 2000}}

In 2000, Ann Summers acquired the underwear brand Knickerbox for an undisclosed sum. However, in 2014 they announced plans to sell the brand.{{cite news |last=Armstrong |first= Ashley |date=15 March 2014 |title=Ann Summers to sell Knickerbox |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/10700727/Ann-Summers-to-sell-Knickerbox.html |newspaper=The Telegraph|access-date=19 March 2014 }}

The first Ann Summers shop was opened in 1970 in Marble Arch, London, from which it grew to six shops.

Ann Summers was purchased in 1971 by brothers Ralph and David Gold,{{cite web|author=ZapelliA Web Solutions - www.zapellia.co.uk |url=http://www.annsummerspartyplan.co.uk/about/history.php |title=The History of Ann Summers |publisher=Ann Summers Party Plan |date=31 March 2000 |access-date=9 February 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222025532/http://www.annsummerspartyplan.co.uk/about/history.php |archive-date=22 February 2014}} who turned it from a standard sex shop into an established high street brand and lingerie boutique. In 1981, David Gold installed his daughter Jacqueline Gold (who was the Executive Chair of Ann Summers){{cite news|url=https://www.drapersonline.com/news/ann-summers-shakes-up-management-team |title=Ann Summers reshuffles top team |publisher=Drapers |date=15 February 2022 |access-date=16 March 2023}} and she introduced the Party Plan concept. The retail operations for all of Ann Summers' shops are managed from their Head Office in Whyteleafe, Surrey and, as of December 2010, Ann Summers operated 144 retail outlets across the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands and Spain.

The shops offer lingerie, underwear, cosmetics, swimwear and sex toys. The stores sell two million Rampant Rabbits, a kind of vibrator developed by Jacqueline Gold,{{cite news |last= Lavinia |first= Emily |date= 8 March 2024 |title= 10 best rabbit vibrators that will help to intensify your solo pleasure |work= The Independent |url= https://www.independent.co.uk/extras/indybest/house-garden/bedroom/best-rabbit-vibrator-b2504920.html |access-date= 11 December 2024 }} per year.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/8224107/Jacqueline-Gold-profile-of-the-chief-executive-of-Ann-Summers.html |title=Jacqueline-Gold-profile-of-the-chief-executive-of-Ann-Summers |work=The Telegraph|date=24 December 2010 |access-date=29 December 2010 |location=London| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110130041257/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/8224107/Jacqueline-Gold-profile-of-the-chief-executive-of-Ann-Summers.html| archive-date= 30 January 2011 | url-status= live}}

Jacqueline Gold initiated the Party Plan concept in 1981. The Ann Summers parties were conceived as a means of circumventing regulations restricting the display of sex toys as well as a marketing tactic. Their popularity quickly grew and Ann Summers now employs over 7,500 Party Organisers,{{cite web|url=http://www.dbconsulting.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/2011-Ann-Summers-BI.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222134728/http://www.dbconsulting.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/2011-Ann-Summers-BI.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=2014-02-22|title=DB Consulting : Ann Summers |website=Dbconsulting.co.uk |access-date=2016-01-20 }} coordinated from the Head Office in Surrey. There were around 4,000 Ann Summers parties every week in the UK in 2003.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/money/2003/feb/09/wageslaves.valentinesday2003 |title=Ann Summers Party Organisers |work=The Guardian|date=3 September 2003 |access-date=29 December 2010 |location=London |first=Barbara |last=Oaff}}

The Ann Summers parties include the presentation of sex toys and lingerie in the informal setting of someone's home, usually the home of one of the attendees. It can also involve the perusal of a catalogue, and often there are party games.{{cite web |url=http://party.annsummers.com/files/cat64a.pdf |title=Ann Summers Catalogue pdf |publisher=Ann Summers |date=24 December 2010 |access-date=29 December 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707144859/http://party.annsummers.com/files/cat64a.pdf |archive-date=7 July 2011}}

Due to the adult nature of the business, Ann Summers has frequently faced opposition, both legal and social. For example, in 2003, they won a legal battle to advertise for employees in job centres{{cite web|url=http://business.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=930&id=672582003 |title=Sex toy chain overturns job adverts ban |publisher=Business.scotsman.com |access-date=19 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071029164541/http://business.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=930&id=672582003 |archive-date=29 October 2007 }} and an Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) complaint was rejected.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/lancashire/2930525.stm |title='Hotbot' adult poster banned |publisher=BBC News |date=9 April 2003 |access-date=19 May 2010}}

They have also encountered opposition to their advertising. The company received a letter of complaint from Buckingham Palace, due to a non-endorsed advertisement featuring the Queen.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2002/jun/26/advertising.themonarchy |title=Queen is not amused by Ann Summers sex ad | Media | MediaGuardian |work=The Guardian|date=26 June 2002 |access-date=19 May 2010 | location=London | first=Claire | last=Cozens}}

In 2003, the company's payments to party organisers were discussed by a number of media sources.{{cite news|author=Barbara Oaff |url=http://money.guardian.co.uk/work/wageslaves/story/0,,892659,00.html |title=Wage slaves: Ann Summers party organisers | Money | The Guardian |newspaper=The Guardian |date=9 February 2003 |access-date=2016-01-20}}

In 2004, two complaints were upheld by the ASA.[http://www.asa.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/4DCA7C6C-61C4-4836-810D-07DFD178D6ED/0/ASA_Annual_Report_2004.pdf] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070317051307/http://www.asa.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/4DCA7C6C-61C4-4836-810D-07DFD178D6ED/0/ASA_Annual_Report_2004.pdf|date=17 March 2007}} The ASA decided that the first ad was degrading to women, offensive and unsuitable for use as a poster. In the second case the ASA ruled that the use of a reference to the nursery rhyme "Ride a Cock Horse" was likely to attract the attention of children and that the advertisement was unsuitable for the medium in which it appeared.

An Ann Summers lingerie factory in Portsmouth closed in 2005, with over 50 redundancies.{{cite web|url=http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/biz/Jobs-fear-at-saucy-lingerie.1215807.jp |title=Jobs fear at saucy lingerie plant |publisher=Portsmouth.co.uk |access-date=19 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100609120525/http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/biz/Jobs-fear-at-saucy-lingerie.1215807.jp |archive-date=9 June 2010 }}

Additionally, Ann Summers in Perth, Scotland, was forced to close after the local people complained about the store (mostly from parents embarrassed by questions raised by their children), which also led to other problems with the store.{{cite web|url=http://www.sundaymail.co.uk/news/feed/tm_method=full%26objectid=18409874%26siteid=64736-name_page.html |title=The latest news, sport, showbiz and comment from |work=the Sunday Mail|date=11 August 2009 |access-date=19 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928053616/http://www.sundaymail.co.uk/news/feed/tm_method%3Dfull%26objectid%3D18409874%26siteid%3D64736-name_page.html |archive-date=28 September 2007 }} Perth was originally the only UK town where an Ann Summers store failed to take off.{{cite web|url=http://www.sundaymail.co.uk/opinion/mailopinion/tm_method=full%26objectid=18412863%26siteid=64736-name_page.html |title=The latest news, sport, showbiz and comment from |work=the Sunday Mail|date=11 August 2009 |access-date=19 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011160309/http://www.sundaymail.co.uk/opinion/mailopinion/tm_method%3Dfull%26objectid%3D18412863%26siteid%3D64736-name_page.html |archive-date=11 October 2007 }} However, in May 2007 the Middleton Grange, Hartlepool store which opened in November 2005 was closed after less than two years of trading due to poor sales.{{cite web|last=Willis |first=Ian |url=http://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news?articleid=2877476 |title=It's the last of the Summers line |work=Hartlepool Mail|date=15 May 2007 |access-date=19 May 2010}}

In 2006, Muslim groups complained about the release of a blow-up doll named Mustafa Shag, claiming that the doll was offensive to Muslims as Mustafa was one of the names given to the Prophet Mohamed.{{cite news|url=http://news.independent.co.uk/people/pandora/article344202.ece |title=Emma, Ann and a sex doll that upsets Muslims |publisher=News.independent.co.uk |date=9 February 2006 |access-date=19 May 2010 |location=London |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081011183443/http://news.independent.co.uk/people/pandora/article344202.ece |archive-date=11 October 2008}}

In 2007, the company faced legal issues with Apple Inc due to its release of an electronic add-on to music players called the {{Proper name|iGasm}}. The company has not backed down despite cease-and-desist orders by Apple.{{cite web|url=http://www.macworld.co.uk/news/index.cfm?newsid=18110 |title=Apple v Ann Summers in iGasm spat |publisher=Macworld.co.uk |access-date=19 May 2010}} Also, a former director, who is now a Beate Uhse AG employee{{cite news|author=Michael Vaughan, Beate Uhse |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/2372027.stm |title=Sex war threat haunts UK High Streets |publisher=BBC News |date=30 October 2002 |access-date=19 May 2010}} is pursuing a libel claim against Jacqueline Gold.[http://www.pressdisplay.com/pressdisplay/viewer.aspx?issue=13002007091600000000001001&page=8&article=cc897791-4557-4506-8451-2dc4385745e6&key=Xp7m6GUcZW3qiK+3JssRFA==&feed=rss] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150623164837/http://www.pressdisplay.com/pressdisplay/viewer.aspx?issue=13002007091600000000001001&page=8&article=cc897791-4557-4506-8451-2dc4385745e6&key=Xp7m6GUcZW3qiK%203JssRFA%3D%3D&feed=rss|date=23 June 2015}} An advertisement was banned from the London Underground in the same year.{{cite web|url=http://www.brandrepublic.com/news/733405/ |title=Ann Summers Rabbit ads banned from the Tube |date=23 August 2007 |access-date=9 February 2014}}

In 2010, Ann Summers' Halloween advertisement was banned by the Radio Advertising Clearance Centre, which decided the advertisement used "fairly overt sexual references in terms of sound effects."{{cite web|url=http://www.metro.co.uk/news/844865-ann-summers-has-offensive-halloween-advert-banned |title=Ann Summers has 'offensive' Halloween advert banned | Metro News |website=Metro.co.uk |date=2010-10-22 |access-date=2016-01-20}}

In 2011 an advertising campaign which featured a pastiche of a Marks and Spencer advertisement was withdrawn after a threat of legal action by M&S.{{cite web|url=http://www.lingerieinsight.com/article-669-ann-summers-pulls-squeal-deal-after-ms-threats/ |title=Ann Summers pulls Squeal Deal after M&S threats |date=20 April 2011 |access-date=9 February 2014 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221221751/http://www.lingerieinsight.com/article-669-ann-summers-pulls-squeal-deal-after-ms-threats/ |archive-date=21 February 2014 }}

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Category:Sex shops

Category:Clothing companies established in 1970

Category:Retail companies established in 1970

Category:Companies based in Surrey

Category:Clothing retailers of England

Category:Clothing companies of England

Category:Lingerie brands

Category:English brands

Category:Clothing brands of the United Kingdom

Category:1970 establishments in England