Sara Blakely
Enrepreneur, Creator of Spanx & ASSETS, American Inventor Judge
Sara Blakely is a former door to door copier and fax machine salesperson who transformed her life with a million-dollar idea. In search of the right undergarment, Sara cut the feet out of her pantyhose one night. Seven years later, this former salesgirl turned her $5,000 into more than $150 million in retail sales, 55 employees, 100 different styles of Spanx, four patents, and ASSETS, a new brand at Target. Sara now is turning her attention to giving back by helping women globally with education and entrepreneurial support. Sara is currently appearing as a judge on the hit TV series "American Inventor". Sarah has signed the Giving Pledge, committing to give half her wealth to charities that focus on empowering women. This long-term, global initiative created by Warren Buffett and Bill and Melinda Gates aims to inspire deeper engagement in philanthropy and increase charitable giving globally.
Sara Blakely wanted footless body shaping pantyhose to wear with her cream-colored pants and open-toed shoes, but she couldn't find them anywhere. Frustrated consumer turned entrepreneur, Blakely took $5,000 in savings and began her adventure in the $2 billion male-dominated hosiery industry.
Two years later, with her first pair of patented footless pantyhose in hand, Blakely cold-called and landed the top retail stores across the country. Selling over 50,000 pair in its first three months from the back of her apartment, Sara Blakely's SPANX revitalized an industry in a 10-year slump. Her SPANX footless pantyhose even captured the attention of Oprah and landed on Oprah's "Favorite Things" list.
Obsessed with creating comfortable, slimming garments that minimizes figure flaws, Blakely reinvented shapewear with innovative designs and smart features and won the hearts of fashion-loving women, from Oprah Winfrey to Gwyneth Paltrow. Spanx has developed and launched more than 60 styles - with names like Bra-llelujah, Two Timin' Tights, Power Panties, Slim-Cognito, and Topless Socks - all designed to be innovative, comfortable, slimming, and stylish.
If you haven't seen Blakely flashing her SPANX on QVC, you may have seen her jumping off of a cliff or sharing tea with Richard Branson 10,000 feet in the sky. Blakely appeared weekly on Fox, setting daring world-records, meeting Nelson Mandela, and leading successful business challenges as a cast member on “The Rebel Billionaire: Branson's Quest for the Best”. As the first runner-up on the show, Blakely received a $750,000 check from Branson to pursue her dream to start a foundation to empower women.
Remaining self-funded and profitable ever since Blakely used her own savings to start the company, Spanx continues to show increasing profits, celebrating $85 million in retail sales in 2005. Spanx are sold in America's finest upscale stores and boutiques in the U.S., including Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdales, and Parisian, as well as upscale boutiques and retailers in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K.
As the leader of the shapewear revolution, Blakely wanted to find a way to share her slimming secrets with even more women, and that's when Target came knocking. With the launch of ASSETS by Sara Blakely, a new brand exclusive to Target, the shapewear revolution will reach new heights. Blakely is thrilled to give better underwear options to women everywhere and to give back. A portion of each ASSETS purchase will go to The Sara Blakely Foundation, which is dedicated to supporting and empowering women around the world.
Blakely's story and Spanx products have been featured on everything from "The Oprah Winfrey Show", CNN, Forbes, E!, and Glamour to Vogue, People, InStyle, New York Times, Vanity Fair, WWD, and USA Today. Blakely has been named Ernst & Young's Southeast Regional Entrepreneur of the Year and Georgia's "Woman of the Year." Sara has signed the Giving Pledge, committing to give half her wealth to charities that focus on empowering women. This long-term, global initiative created by Warren Buffett and Bill and Melinda Gates aims to inspire deeper engagement in philanthropy and increase charitable giving globally.
Blakely is a native of Clearwater, Florida, and a graduate of Florida State University.
Two years later, with her first pair of patented footless pantyhose in hand, Blakely cold-called and landed the top retail stores across the country. Selling over 50,000 pair in its first three months from the back of her apartment, Sara Blakely's SPANX revitalized an industry in a 10-year slump. Her SPANX footless pantyhose even captured the attention of Oprah and landed on Oprah's "Favorite Things" list.
Obsessed with creating comfortable, slimming garments that minimizes figure flaws, Blakely reinvented shapewear with innovative designs and smart features and won the hearts of fashion-loving women, from Oprah Winfrey to Gwyneth Paltrow. Spanx has developed and launched more than 60 styles - with names like Bra-llelujah, Two Timin' Tights, Power Panties, Slim-Cognito, and Topless Socks - all designed to be innovative, comfortable, slimming, and stylish.
If you haven't seen Blakely flashing her SPANX on QVC, you may have seen her jumping off of a cliff or sharing tea with Richard Branson 10,000 feet in the sky. Blakely appeared weekly on Fox, setting daring world-records, meeting Nelson Mandela, and leading successful business challenges as a cast member on “The Rebel Billionaire: Branson's Quest for the Best”. As the first runner-up on the show, Blakely received a $750,000 check from Branson to pursue her dream to start a foundation to empower women.
Remaining self-funded and profitable ever since Blakely used her own savings to start the company, Spanx continues to show increasing profits, celebrating $85 million in retail sales in 2005. Spanx are sold in America's finest upscale stores and boutiques in the U.S., including Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdales, and Parisian, as well as upscale boutiques and retailers in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K.
As the leader of the shapewear revolution, Blakely wanted to find a way to share her slimming secrets with even more women, and that's when Target came knocking. With the launch of ASSETS by Sara Blakely, a new brand exclusive to Target, the shapewear revolution will reach new heights. Blakely is thrilled to give better underwear options to women everywhere and to give back. A portion of each ASSETS purchase will go to The Sara Blakely Foundation, which is dedicated to supporting and empowering women around the world.
Blakely's story and Spanx products have been featured on everything from "The Oprah Winfrey Show", CNN, Forbes, E!, and Glamour to Vogue, People, InStyle, New York Times, Vanity Fair, WWD, and USA Today. Blakely has been named Ernst & Young's Southeast Regional Entrepreneur of the Year and Georgia's "Woman of the Year." Sara has signed the Giving Pledge, committing to give half her wealth to charities that focus on empowering women. This long-term, global initiative created by Warren Buffett and Bill and Melinda Gates aims to inspire deeper engagement in philanthropy and increase charitable giving globally.
Blakely is a native of Clearwater, Florida, and a graduate of Florida State University.
Topics:
- Finding Your Leg Up Inventing the Career of your Dreams
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