Ann Summers

Britain's Most Famous Lingerie Party

Ann Summers is more than a lingerie brand — it's a British cultural institution. Since 1970, the company has been selling lingerie, adult accessories, and a healthy dose of British humor through a combination of high street stores and the legendary "Ann Summers Party" — a direct sales model that brought lingerie shopping into living rooms across the UK.

The Gold Brothers

Ann Summers was founded in 1970 as a small shop in London. The brand truly took off when David and Ralph Gold acquired it in 1972 and transformed it into a retail phenomenon. Their daughter, Jacqueline Gold, became CEO in 1993 and turned the party plan model into a multi-million pound business.

The Party Plan Revolution

The concept was brilliantly simple: a trained "party organizer" would host an event in someone's home, demonstrating lingerie and adult products to a group of friends in a relaxed, fun atmosphere. At its peak, Ann Summers had over 7,500 party organizers across the UK, hosting thousands of parties every week.

High Street Presence

Beyond parties, Ann Summers operates over 100 retail stores across the UK and Ireland. The brand has always walked a careful line between mainstream accessibility and provocative branding — making lingerie shopping approachable for everyday women while maintaining a playfully sexy edge.

Jacqueline Gold's Legacy

Jacqueline Gold, who passed away in 2023, was one of the most prominent women in British business. She was instrumental in normalizing the conversation around women's sexual pleasure and empowerment through lingerie. Under her leadership, Ann Summers became one of the UK's most recognized brands.

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The brand that proved lingerie shopping should be fun — and brought the party to your living room.