VENUS Fashion, Inc.
FormerlyVenus Body Wear, Venus Swimwear
TypeSubsidiary
Founded1984
Headquarters11711 Marco Beach Drive
Jacksonville, Florida
United States
ProductsClothing
Swimwear
Shoes
Accessories
Number of employees
850+
ParentBon Prix
Websitewww.venus.com

Venus is an American online and catalog fashion retailer headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida.[1][2] The company sells clothing, shoes, jewelry and accessories for women.[3] Venus is known for its swimwear and lingerie.[1][4] The company is known for actively participating in charitable endeavors and community activities.[5][6]

Background

In 1982, Daryle Scott, IBM engineer and MBA student, and three other investors created a mail order apparel company that focused in competitive body suits.[7] In 1984, Scott created Venus Body Wear,[7] an American clothing and swimsuit retailer, selling ladies' leotards and exercise apparel via full-page advertisements in Cosmopolitan and other national magazines. A year later, the company expanded to include women’s swimwear and became known as Venus Swimwear.[7] In 1998, the company opened its first retail store on the first level of the shopping mall, Jacksonville Landing.[8] The store was located near The Body Shop and Foot Locker.[8] During this time the company already had a Venus Factory Outlet on Beach Boulevard in Jacksonville.[8]

In 1999, Venus acquired WinterSilks, a large importer of silk fashions. In 2000, reflecting the expanded offerings, the company name changed to Venus. In November 2006, Venus, Venus Manufacturing, and WinterSilks, were acquired 80% by Golden Gate Capital, under their Catalog Holdings Group. The three companies fell under a new, united company name, Venus Holdings, LLC. In 2007, Venus opened three new retail stores, including one at shopping mall Coconut Point in Estero.[9][10] In 2009, Venus Holdings was acquired by the German catalog company Bon Prix, a subsidiary of Otto.[2][11]

As of 2018, the company employs nearly 1,000 people, 600 of which work at the headquarters in Jacksonville, 300 people work at the distribution center and approximately 50 people work at a Venus fashion design office in Boca Raton.[12] In September 2020, Venus announced that it is permanently laying off 120 jobs at its distribution center as part of a plan to open a second distribution facility on the west coast.[13][14][15]

In the media

In February 2012, Kate Upton and Julie Henderson wore bikinis by Venus in the annual Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.[16] Venus' swimwear has also been featured in the CBS talk show The Wendy Williams Show.[16]

Venus has held an annual Venus Model Search since 1989.[17] Venus Swimwear Model Search was documented in the fifth episode of the first season of HDNet's reality series Bikini Destinations in 2003.

Collaborations

Model and actress Brooke Burke created a swimwear line with Venus

In 2002, actress and model Brooke Burke created a swimwear line called Barely Brooke with Venus. In June 2020, Venus Fashion launched a swimwear line with Sports Illustrated Swimsuit.[18][19][20] The collaboration featured nearly 40 items, including long-sleeved one-pieces, tie-dye, neon, color-block and animal print swimwear and cover-ups.[21] The pieces were priced between $85 and $140, and sold online. Select pieces from the collection were featured in the 2020 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue.[18]

Sponsorships

Venus models

Model Occupation Known for
Bree Condon[24] Fashion model and actress Appeared on the drama film Bombshell (2019)
Jessica Hart[24] Fashion model Appeared on the magazine covers for Australian Vogue, Elle and GQ
Brooke Burke Model and fitness personality Host of E!'s Wild On! and CBS's reality show, Rock Star
Joanna Krupa[24] Model and television personality Former cast member of Bravo's reality show The Real Housewives of Miami
Barbie Blank[25] Professional wrestler and model World Wrestling Entertainment professional wrestler on the ECW Brand
Karen McDougal Model and actress Playboy's Playmate of the Month for December 1997 and Playmate of the Year of 1998
Nikki Schieler Model and actress Playboy's Playmate of the Month for September 1997
Dalene Kurtis Model Playboy's Playmate of the Month for September 2001 and Playmate of the Year of 2002
Rachel Reynolds Model Currently a prize model on CBS's game show The Price Is Right

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Venus Reviews: Is Their Trendy Clothing Worth It? - ClothedUp". clothedup.com. Retrieved 2021-11-12.
  2. 1 2 Katie Deatsch (July 10, 2009). "German cataloger will keep Venus Swimwear afloat". Internet Retailer. Retrieved March 1, 2012.
  3. ↑ "Women's Fashion | Clothing, Swimwear & Lingerie Store | VENUS". www.venus.com. Retrieved 2021-11-12.
  4. ↑ "VENUS.Com Partners with Spirit of Giving to Distribute Hundreds of Boxes of New Clothing – Spirit of Giving Network". Retrieved 2021-11-12.
  5. ↑ "Venus Fashion awarded for service to the First Coast community". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2021-11-12.
  6. ↑ "Local companies join charitable effort". www.bizjournals.com. Feb 6, 2003. Retrieved 2021-11-20.
  7. 1 2 3 "Venus Swimwear in business for at least four more weeks". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2021-11-20.
  8. 1 2 3 "Venus Swimwear opens store at The Landing". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2021-11-20.
  9. ↑ "New on the scene: Venus". www.naplesnews.com. Retrieved 2022-02-28.
  10. ↑ "Venus, a Division of Catalog Holdings, Inc. Steps Up Bricks & Mortar Expansion Campaign". PRWeb. Retrieved 2022-02-28.
  11. ↑ Jim Tierney (July 13, 2009). "Bon Prix Buys Venus Swimwear". Multichannel Merchant. Retrieved March 1, 2012.
  12. ↑ "Venus Fashion Inc. renovating Jacksonville headquarters | Jax Daily Record". Jacksonville Daily Record - Jacksonville, Florida. 2018-09-21. Retrieved 2021-11-14.
  13. ↑ "Venus Fashion to lay off 120 jobs at its distribution center | Jax Daily Record". Jacksonville Daily Record - Jacksonville, Florida. 2020-09-03. Retrieved 2021-11-14.
  14. ↑ "Venus laying off workers because it plans to open West Coast distribution center | Jax Daily Record". Jacksonville Daily Record - Jacksonville, Florida. 2020-09-04. Retrieved 2021-11-14.
  15. ↑ Patterson, Steve. "Venus Fashion's layoffs in Jacksonville caused by plan for new West Coast operation". The Florida Times-Union. Retrieved 2021-11-14.
  16. 1 2 "Venus Swimwear has two suits featured in Sports Illustrated's swimsuit issue". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2021-11-18.
  17. ↑ "VENUS Model Search". www.venusmodelsearch.com. Retrieved 2021-11-20.
  18. 1 2 Puhak, Janine (2020-06-16). "Sports Illustrated Swimsuit teams with retailer to launch 'inclusive' new swimwear line". Fox News. Retrieved 2021-11-18.
  19. ↑ "ABG to Launch SI Swim Collection, Targeted to Women". news.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2021-11-18.
  20. ↑ "Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Magazine Unveils Its Own Swimwear Line – Angel City Style". Retrieved 2021-11-18.
  21. ↑ "'Sports Illustrated Swimsuit' Finally Unveils Swimwear Line". Us Weekly. 2020-06-15. Retrieved 2021-11-18.
  22. ↑ Jacksonville Jaguars Public Relations (Feb 5, 2014). "THE ROAR partners with VENUS". Jaguars.com. Archived from the original on 2014-04-18. Retrieved 2014-09-18.
  23. ↑ Ashley Gurbal Kritzer (Feb 12, 2014). "Venus Swimwear looks to make local splash with Jacksonville Jaguars Roar sponsorship". Jacksonville Business Journal.
  24. 1 2 3 "Venus Swimwear Models". FashionModelDirectory. Retrieved 2021-11-12.
  25. ↑ "8 Celebrities that Proudly Call Jacksonville, Florida Their Home". Prime Roofing Florida. Retrieved 2022-02-28.
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