維密內衣公司的七大驚人之處

The 2014 Victoria’s Secret fashion show in London kicks off later today and the Angels are ready to go. The brand, known for its lingerie for women, has been a retail powerhouse for years since being founded by Roy Raymond, an American businessman, in 1977. It’s the largest retailer for lingerie in the U.S., with over 1,000 locations (as of Aug. 2, 2014). Its current CEO, meanwhile, is Sharen Jester Turney who took over in 2006.
2014年度維多利亞的祕密（Victoria’s Secret）時尚秀於週二晚上在英國倫敦揭幕，維密的天使們正躍躍欲試。該品牌由美國商人羅伊•雷蒙德於1977年創立，多年來一直保持強勁的銷售勢頭，是女士們熟知的內衣品牌。維密是全美規模最大的內衣連鎖商，店面超過1,000家（截至2014年8月2日）。公司現任首席執行官是莎倫•傑斯特•特尼，於2006年接掌公司。

But there are many surprising facets of the company that may not be so well-known as its recognizable products. Ahead of today’s event, here are seven facts about the business – both good and bad – that may come as a surprise about the retail giant.
維密的產品知名度非常高，但該公司還有許多不爲人知的趣聞。趁着這場年度大秀，本文特地從七個方面介紹一下這家零售巨頭的是是非非。

1. It's been enmeshed in ad campaign controversy.
1.維密的廣告宣傳一直飽受爭議。
At the end of October, Victoria's Secret came under fire for it "Perfect Body" campaign, which features ad copy playing on its "Body" lingerie line. The text, of course, is featured on supermodels' bodies, suggesting they're the ones with the ideal form. Customers, however, weren't amused. Over 16,000 signed a petition in the U.K. claiming the marketing ploy screamed of body-shaming.

今年10月底，維密針對旗下名爲“Body”的文胸系列進行的“完美身材”（Perfect Body）宣傳活動引發衆怒。在該公司的宣傳圖片上，“完美身材”的字樣印在超模的身體上，暗示超模們擁有最爲完美的身材。這就讓消費者們不樂意了。在英國，超過16,000人發起請願，指控這種宣傳是明目張膽地搞身體歧視。
But Victoria's Secret listened to the cries - at least partially. By the beginning of November, the lingerie company changed its wording online. Retail stories, however, still feature the "Perfect Body" text to the dismay of some customers.

維密對這些訴求作出了迴應——至少是在一定程度上。在今年11月初，這家女性內衣品牌更改了網絡宣傳的措辭。但是，零售店面的“完美身材”宣傳仍然大張旗鼓，讓不少消費者鬱悶不已。
2. The company's at the forefront of digital bra tech.
2.維密率先引入數字文胸技術。
That's right. Even Victoria's Secret has entered into the wearable technology business. For just over $70, customers can purchase "Incredible by Victoria's Secret," a heart-rate monitor compatible sports bra, according to its website. The high-tech undergarment comps in either "Hello Lovely" pink or "Black Marl," a grey and black toned version. "Perfect for running, boxing and high-impact workouts, our truly Incredible maximum support sport bra is on the front lines of fitness with sensors that attach to most heart-rate monitors," according to the product description. Interestingly, however, it comes with heart rate sensors, but no monitor. "Use with most clip-on heart rate monitors by leading brands," the description continues.

你沒看錯。維密甚至還涉足到可穿戴設備領域。據維密官方網站透露，消費者只用花70多美元，就可以購買一款名爲“Incredible by Victoria's Secret”、可與心率監控器兼容的運動文胸。這款高科技內衣有兩種色系可選，分別爲粉色的“Hello Lovely”和灰黑色調的“Black Marl”。網站對該款產品的介紹是：“本款運動文胸爲您提供不可思議的最大支持度，尤其適合跑步、拳擊和高強度的健身運動，並且可與大多數心率監控器兼容，是健身領域的前衛產品。”但有趣的是，該產品配有心率感應器，卻沒有監控器。產品介紹也說了：“可與各大品牌的卡夾式心率監控器配合使用。”
3. It's growing financially.
3.財務狀況持續向好。
In terms of sales per square foot, Victoria's Secret has been steadily rising over the last three years, according to its most recent annual report. For example, in 2011, sales per average selling square foot came in at $754. In 2012, that number rose to $817 and then up a little to $824 in 2013. Additionally, taking a look at the sales average per store shows the same slight increases year-to-year. For instance, the numbers (in thousands) were $4,453 for 2011, $4,892 for 2012 and $4,969 for 2013.

根據最新的年度報告，維密每平方英尺的銷售量在最近三年內持續增長。例如，2011年，每平方英尺店面銷售額爲754美元。2012年，該數據升至817美元，並在2013年小幅升至824美元。而且，單店銷售額也同樣保持逐年增長勢頭。例如，2011年，該數據爲445.3萬美元，2012年和2013年分別爲489.2萬美元和496.9萬美元。
4. The company's opening up stores both in the U.S. and around the world.
4.公司店面遍及美國和全球。
In its annual report from 2014, Victoria's Secret said it's opening up more stores in the U.S. from 1,019 to 1,060, according to its latest annual report. In other parts of the world, it also saw stores grow, including going from 26 to 34 in Canada and from just two to five in the U.K.

根據2014年發佈的最新年報，維密聲稱：位於美國的店面將從1,019間增至1,060間。維密在全球其他國家的店面也將增加，其中：加拿大的店面將從26間增至34間，英國將從2間增至5間。
5. The company's models wear bras worth millions.
5.維密超模的文胸價值高達數百萬美元。
Ever since model Claudia Schiffer wore a $1 million bra in 1996, the values of the bejeweled articles of clothing have skyrocketed with each year, according to an E! Online report. Known as the Victoria's Secret Fantasy Bra model, there will be two at this year's fashion show: Alessandra Ambrosio and Adriana Lima. But their pieces will be worth double, complete with diamonds, rubies and sapphires.

據好萊塢娛樂網站E! Online爆料，自從克勞迪婭•希弗在1996年佩戴了一款價值百萬美元的文胸以來，這種綴滿寶石的服飾價值一路上漲。今年的維密時尚秀將有兩位“維密夢幻文胸（Fantasy Bra）”超模登場——亞歷桑德拉•安布羅休和阿德瑞娜•利馬。她們佩戴的文胸將綴滿鑽石、紅寶石和藍寶石，價值也翻了一番。
Two million dollars isn't even the most costly bra worn by a model in a show. In fact, E! Online reported that models Heidi Klum and Gisele Bündchen wore $12.5 million designs in 2001 and 2005, respectively.

但是，對於時裝展示會上模特穿戴的文胸而言，200萬美元談不上最貴。據E! Online透露，海蒂•克拉姆和吉賽爾•邦臣分別在2001年和2005年佩戴的文胸價值高達1,250萬美元！
6. The company is owned by L Brands.
6. 公司由L Brands持有。
Victoria's Secret falls under the umbrella of L Brands ( LB 0.30% ) , a company founded and still headed by Leslie Wexner. Along with Victoria's Secret, the company owns other retail stores Bath and Body Works, Pink, La Senza and Henri Bendel. "In 1963, Les founded L Brands with one store in the Kingsdale Shopping Center in Columbus, Ohio - The Limited - with sales of $160,000 the first year," the company's website boasts. "Under Les' leadership, L Brands has evolved from an apparel based specialty retailer to an approximately $10 billion segment leader with more than 90,000 associates focused on lingerie, beauty and personal care product categories that make customers feel sexy, sophisticated and forever young."

維密隸屬於L Brands公司旗下，該公司的創始人是萊斯利•衛克斯奈，目前依然執掌大權。隨着維密的發展，該公司逐漸擁有了Bath and Body Works、Pink、娜聖莎（La Senza）和Henri Bendel等零售店鋪。“1963年，萊斯在俄亥俄州的哥倫布創建L Brands，當時這家有限責任公司在Kingsdale 購物中心（Kingsdale Shopping Center）只有一間店鋪，第一年的銷量是16萬美元”，該公司的網站上如是介紹，“在萊斯的領導下，L Brands迅速從一家服飾專業零售商演變成爲市值約100億美元的專業市場領軍者，旗下擁有超過9萬間聯屬公司，各自專注於內衣、美容和個人護理產品類別，爲顧客帶來性感、精緻和青春永駐的美好感受。”
7. Taylor Swift: Victoria's Secret brand ambassador and buddy?
7. 泰勒•斯威夫特：維密品牌大使和好夥伴？

In many ways, the last couple months have been all about Taylor Swift. She was on the cover of Time, she released her latest album, 1989, she's been a New York City ambassador, had a public feud with Spotify and, now, will be performing at the Victoria's Secret show - for the second consecutive year. She's also apparently chummy with a number of the Angels, according to InStyle. For instance, the site reported that she hung out with Karlie Kloss, Lily Aldridge, Candice Swanepoel and Behati Prinsloo in London ahead of the show.

從很多方面來說，過去幾個月泰勒•斯威夫特都是媒體的寵兒。她上了《時代》（Time）雜誌的封面，推出了最新專輯《1989》，她還是紐約市的大使，曾經和Spotify發生過公開衝突，現在，她出現在維密的秀場上——連續第二年爲維密走秀。根據時尚網站 InStyle的說法，她顯然和很多“天使”（維密時尚秀中的世界頂級模特的代稱——譯註）都合得來。比如該網站報道，在演出之前，她曾和卡莉•克勞斯、莉莉•奧爾德里奇、坎蒂絲•斯瓦內普爾和貝哈蒂•普林斯露等一衆姐妹一起在倫敦逛街。