Victoria's Secret: Will They Survive? | Retail Archaeology

In this episode of Retail Archaeology we explore an abandoned Victoria's Secret store and discuss their history and future.
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[@Mamabearof216]

I was actually the store manager of that store a few years ago. The store itself was so old and outdated but it’s so sad to see that mall go.

[@razvandobos9759]

Wow that’s awesome!

[@AK-47ISTHEWAY]

Were you allowed free lingerie?

[@HarumNasiku]

Do costumer try on those lingerie nude and put them back again later?

[@monkeywkeys3916]

Our VS didn't allow me to be in the dressing room with my GF. Awe Man.

[@matthewporter5048]

Wow cool

[@therobotdevil2284]

Victoria's secret quality is so hit or miss, I have a couple items that I bought 8+ years ago that are still in pristine condition in spite of being washed hundreds of times, yet I have items bought 2 years ago with far fewer washes on them that are pilled to hell. Needless to say, I'm looking for a new underwear company. Shit's too expensive to be shoddy quality.

[@aasim8]

KM, I agree with you completely. Their recent stuff is Not the best quality. I bought a few panties back in 2019, and they ripped. I bought in either late 2019 or 2020 which was okay fit wise but shoddy. I gave that one to Planet Aid.

[@LittleLoLo7]

I feel the same!

[@sourpuss5951]

Their bras are horrible. I had to switch to La Senza.

[@aasim8]

@@sourpuss5951 I hope your happier and comfortable with La Senza. I have considered their panties 😉.🙂

[@victoriahuck6797]

Aerie has great quality!

[@dindog22]

boy, I could really use one of those rectangle tables with all the drawers. make a great cutting table for my sewing room with tons of storage for sewing supplies

[@EmpressMermaid]

That's what I was thinking. I could really do up my craft room with those

[@VK-uh5jz]

I was thinking the same thing as you guys lol. I wanna walk in there and get all those free multi-drawer storage and redesign my craft room/ sewing room / closet / and so much more. Then I would just need a bigger place.

[@lindatisue733]

Me too, I want one.

[@CaptPicard81]

They might be willing to sell one from a shit down store

[@LaMaiStyle]

Me too! Great for my craft room

[@subzeroarctics1299]

I didn’t realize how much they look like strip clubs until seeing one empty

[@mcmrvr8584]

I was going to say the place looked like a brothel

[@matthewporter5048]

LOL so true, like a spearmint rhino

[@chelseasyrek9792]

They were probably meant to kind of look like a dressing room.

[@chaddeez8446]

That was for "after hours". They would kick all the panties and bras on the floor and have a bunch of mini stages. Probably had the poles in the stockroom.😂

[@tamielynne7374]

@@chelseasyrek9792 that's what I always thought. They're meant to look like a woman's dressing room/ walk in closet. If you've ever seen a wealthy woman's walk in closet... You'll notice how much VS looks exactly like one.

[@yahyoubetchaa]

That's sad. Like many retail store closings, I feel like it's the end of an era. I remember a decade or so ago when Victoria's Secret, their angels models, and their Pink stores were at the top of the world. I always loved their pretty clothing, their cosmetics, bath products, and perfumes. Shopping online is for this stuff not the same as being in person. How do you buy a perfume when you don't know what it smells like? And being at the Victoria's Secret store is a whole experience that online shopping will never compare to

[@likwidshoe]

For perfumes, you may have to blind buy and hope for the best. But first, see what you already like and then go to fragrantica.com and study the notes, the overall composition as all as who the perfumers are. It will give you a decent sense of snagging one you actually like.

[@tamielynne7374]

The real reason they're most likely going down hill now, is because their quality of clothing is terrible now. I have been buying their clothing and other products half of my life.. I recently just bought a shirt from their newer line.. With one wash, the shirt began getting holes that just kept getting bigger. It use to be you could have their clothing for years, before it began ripping or anything! But now its just terrible! A waste of money! I've read a bunch of articles and reviews on how bad their newer line is. It's really ashame.

[@yahyoubetchaa]

@@tamielynne7374 wow! I haven't bought clothes there since the early 2010's. Got some bras though 3 summers ago that were nice but super overpriced... the quality definitely did not justify the high markups on the items

[@bassage13]

You can easily return items online if you don't like them.

[@sourpuss5951]

@Guppy's Gaming Channel VS is definitely not a wealthy-exclusive store lol. I've seen the brokest of broke girls still walk out with their bag of panties (me included).

[@roboticwarrior3158]

FYI for those who have not worked in retail or are not familiar, "Hot Spots" refers to areas of the store with the most "shrink" or theft. It can also refer to endcaps and spots with the most exposure.

[@angelicjacobs9983]

I’ve worked in retail but but never heard that term before. The more you know...

[@xdandychiggins]

their whole aesthetic has always been such a vibe to me. are they the most ethical company? nah. but man, they knew what they were doing in terms of providing a luxe ambiance.

[@Rogue849]

I love that aesthetics

[@destree6348]

I feel special when I go there. I have my fair share of insecurities and I'm not shaped like any of those models, but I've never felt "lesser than" anytime I have gone.

[@kuna3397]

As far as ethics go, they used to used glitter in their packaging, but found out it was bad for the environment, and stopped using it

[@sourpuss5951]

@@kuna3397 Ethics tends to be more about whether the brand uses sweatshop work or not. Pretty sure VS is one of those that do...

[@clobberelladoesntreadcomme9920]

@@sourpuss5951 They alllll do

[@mckennaallen9476]

When I was in high school (2014-2018) Victoria Secret was EVERYTHING. And the quality of their clothes was worth the price. The leggings lasted for years, the sweatshirts were thick and comfortable, and the underwear were cute. Now I wouldn’t be caught dead there. Everything falls apart, the clothes are cheesy, and it’s way overpriced. So sad to see something so iconic die this way.

[@trollfunk]

‘I don’t know how they cover that selling bras and panties’ by selling $80 bras and $20 panties lol

[@sarahleon3413]

when you use prison labor you save on production costs

[@sourpuss5951]

When I saw the title I though HELL YEAH THEY WOULD. I swear in every dying mall I've been to, VS and PINK stores are always the last man standing with how much traffic they still get.

[@mind-of-neo]

@@sarahleon3413 slave labor*

[@millap779]

They have a lot of reasonably priced lingerie models and coupons. There's a $60 comfortable bra that will last you at least for a year and will look like brand new after many washes. Their panties are 5 for $30 ( or something like that) amazing quality. I'm not advertising and don't really care about them, but I hate when someone trashes someone/ something without much knowledge ( like most of the commentators)

[@KamalasNotLikeUs]

@@millap779 $60 is not reasonable for a lot of women, esp. if you consider that most US women have at least 5-7 bras. However, it isn’t bras or panties that VS sells. VS sells the illusion of sexual elitism, power, and wealth to the easily influenced middle class. To affluent women, VS is cheap and tacky.

[@kenkobra]

From my understanding the overall quality of the product has gone downhill and nowhere near the quality it was 15 years ago.

[@EdgedShadow]

We can't pull the g-strings off with our teeth anymore without damaging them? :p

[@rayned.5536]

They're super...i get the chinese made sold on Amazon vibe

[@deeprose4]

15 years ago? Try 30 years ago. Back then the bras would last forever, and their clothing in the catalog was top notch. Now it’s cheap crap, at the same price.

[@rayned.5536]

@@deeprose4 fair, but i didn't get to go there till I was 15

[@vickydeezombies]

I went to them and they didn't carry my bra size but told me I was a certain bra size so I would by them. I always had back pain and my bras felt wrong until I went to a small bra shop that carried a wide assortment of sizes and found out they just said I was their biggest size so I would buy it. I think with more information online many girls like me realize we have been wearing the wrong size so we started going to other places to get them. Also the bras that had close to my size looked so ugly. I can find more affordable and nicer bras online or at specialty bras shops.

[@rosiesmo]

VS totally failed to keep up with the times. It's like they evolved to the 90s/early 2000s and then not beyond that point. They also seemed to not know who their customer base was. I remember VS from the 80s and early 90s when they also sold a lot of clothes - some really nice things. I was sad to see them stop their clothing line.

[@DaniellaInsalaco]

Yes, I remember that! I used to love their clothing line back in the 90s!

[@dorothyc2801]

Yes me too! Their range of knit dresses were so great for summer. I’ve wondered what they did with all those clothes when they shut down the catalog.

[@chloecamp8714]

Agreed. It's so weird to me that they stopped the lotions, they were great. But I can also see how they couldn't keep up with the "clean movement"& maintain the same margins. I've noticed that there isn't much of a 'middle ground' in retail anymore. The qaulity of fabrics has gone down, as with construction. & They failed to keep up with the times for sure. They definitely are for the people striving for perfection, not the people who are accepting their body as is, & that's the movement now in the state. I think the whole "thot" thing has had a huge impact. Lots of things, really. A lot of companies make the mistake of discontinuing products & it alienates a group. I think on top of lower quality with higher prices & a more "trampy" look- it used to look way more classy; the states is in a time of being angry about beauty & sex appeal. Abercrombie had to rebrand bc of it. It's sad in a way bc it's going backwards in the sense of telling young women they should be hiding their bodies. I personally think it's a bunch of middle class, frumpy house wives who are bitter. I digress, VS just really lost what set them apart, which was quality at a fair price for what it was. Along with knowing exactly how something would fit, after changing so many cuts & fabrics. It's a normal thing for companies to do, but it was done out of greed & the whole "we can't make less money". It's the downside of a public exchange, investors get nervous so they gotta keep them hanging on as long as possible. I see the clothing market going back to boutique shopping. There's the people who invest & the people who don't. The days of middle ground are over.

[@mirandawade3362]

I am pretty sure you can still find their clothes. I used to live near a “Discount Fashion Warehouse” where you can find all of the leftovers, slightly damaged items from the Limited Brand family of stores. I have a few VS tops from there. Never knew they had clothes before that.

[@KrispyChanges]

They still have clothes I worked there until December 2020

[@Emiliapocalypse]

Also, shocked Raymond created the store to be “welcoming to men”. When I was growing up in the late 90’s/2000’s Vicky’s had a reputation as the one store that men felt uncomfortable and unwelcome in! Oops

[@BrandonClaridge]

Apparently VS was originally intended to be a place where husbands (or boyfriends) could go in and buy lingerie for their wives (or girlfriends). These days, women tend to be the ones making those kind of decisions. I'm glad most of us are over that mindset... it's not always about what the man wants, you know.

[@sarahn3394]

Hell, even I felt uncomfortable there

[@ThaatEpicKitten]

@@BrandonClaridge ...? Lingerie...? Not about what a man wants...? Also, just because a store is friendly to men doesn’t make it ‘male-centered’.

[@allseeingeye93]

@@BrandonClaridge Does your wife's boyfriend pick out her lingerie?

[@msbae]

Lemme guess, their owner Les Wexner being mixed up with a certain finance manager that did NOT kill himself is the reason why VS now has a bad rep, right? :P

[@rl8429]

I do wonder why this isn't affecting Bath and Body Works as badly.

[@ashkitt7719]

I guess that was Victoria's Secret all along.

[@francesconicoletti2547]

It’s a reason.

[@chelseasyrek9792]

It certainly doesn’t help.

[@DavidJGlad]

Too bad me adding a like ruined the "69" likes you had, but it's an awesome comment!

[@MADEbySOUL]

Savage x Fenty is having their second fashion show with so many current artists. The culture and business model for Savage is so different. Now that store needs a few flagship stores.

[@allisonwade4840]

Victoria's Secret skimped on quality, abandoned an tasteful aesthetic, and raced to the bottom to appeal to what a young, less-experienced woman's idea of elegance and quality looks like. Also, they didn't at all cater to a full-figured market, and that is leaving serious money on the table, both in terms of size and age demographic. I'm full-figured, height/weight proportionate and I've been a DDD bra since my mid-20s. Nothing in Victoria's Secret would fit me at all, so I had to investigate the brand Wacoal. That's $65 a pop to start with that went into the pockets of another retailer that isn't Victoria Secret.

[@perceivedvelocity9914]

When I was a teenager I always felt uncomfortable walking past that store.

[@nooneatall1784]

I still do and I'm 40. 😑 What a tacky place.

[@AK-47ISTHEWAY]

My ex refused to buy or wear anything I would get her from that place. A lot of it was overpriced anyway.

[@nooneatall1784]

@@AK-47ISTHEWAY Definitely overpriced, but it was sort of nice of you to shop for her...even though maybe it was for you lol.

[@nooneatall1784]

*for you to enjoy 😖lol

[@chaddeez8446]

I felt uncomfortable going in there with my GF at 18. I was touching some thongs when the saleslady approached me and asked me if I was finding everything okay.😁😂

[@Gia_Marie]

I loved VS perfumes/lotions back in the mid to late 90s. I never saw their stores as being aesthetically pleasing in the past 15 years, as they hit the mid 00's they went downhill. All their lotions and their sister company B&BW smelled alike. The clothing got cheap (stitching was horrible). I think they would do better if they closed the physical stores and do a partnership with in stores like Target or Kohl's.

[@barbarahimes1041]

Agreed. One of the original Crown perfumes was, to me, the best smelling fragrance ever. Miss it so much.😢

[@TheSameYellowToy]

I remember a few years ago going to a VS and in the PINK section, there was a rack full of full-priced $45 sweatpants with no hem at all, the fabric was just fraying raw edges. And it wasn't some intentional "distressed" look, it was just pure cheapness/laziness. I walked right out of there immediately. I couldn't believe that a store like VS would charge full price for something I have to hem myself instead of finishing it at the factory. You don't even see Walmart sweatpants without a hem!

[@angelicjacobs9983]

I completely agree w/ the partnership idea. That would be a great way to re-brand & reassess their price point.

[@123smashbox]

Rihanna's lingerie line Savage Fenty is extremely popular. Victoria’s Secret is not popular with gen z. Walking into a Victoria’s Secret feels like walking straight into the year 2007 lol

[@jtlovescodelyoko]

The "PINK" side of Victoria's Secret has been popular with Gen-Z

[@fury5500]

Aerie is also fairly popular too.

[@mcmrvr8584]

More like 2003

[@angelaburress8586]

It’s for teenagers

[@charitye710]

I worked at VS from 2012 to late 2013, it makes me sad to see it in this state. I genuinely enjoyed my job as a beauty specialist there. I don't see them going away but I do see them scaling back significantly especially closing underperforming locations. The quality isn't as high as it was 12 years ago either which as a consumer makes me rethink my purchases there. It's funny you mention the backroom size of this store. Our store was a Pink/Vs/Beauty combo so the back storage was huge. We had associates who would only work back there, they never even walked the salesfloor it was so big.

[@raikou8784]

I would never recommend Victoria’s Secret. Their bras are of poor quality, the elastic in the band stretches faster than in other brands. The size range is awful, and the fitters use outdated measuring methods to force a “sister size”. Proper bra measuring measures the band and bust, and subtracts the band from the bust to find the cup size. The +4 method adds 4 inches to the initial band measurement, then subtracts the new band from the bust for a different cup size. This results in band sizes that are too big with cup sizes that are too small, and it’s all done to sell bras from their small range of sizes.

[@PaleOpal21]

Truth. I use to work in lingerie and the don't have a clue how to properly measure.

[@nasirb3914]

They used to be good.

[@OriginalNethead]

And they didn't carry larger sizes. Telling a woman "sorry, but you can shop at [name]"... BAD idea. Really bad. It's a major insult. Even if said woman does become smaller later she won't be back. Customers pushed away tell other customers and the end result is you're closing stores.

[@Moonbeam143]

I never shopped there, but I just realized that Victoria's Secret and "Playboy" both present themselves as this sexy, but classy kind of way. "Playboy" has their Bunnies, and Victoria's Secret of course has their Angels. And both of them are pretty open about who they are. But I think Victoria's Secret was just a little more open about who they were selling to. Nobody ever went to their stores to read the articles.

[@francesconicoletti2547]

It’s a bit weird, to me anyway, walking in a mall and walking past something that feels like a playboy club. Big pictures of barely dressed hot women, dark lighting, obscured sight lines. Shouldn’t this place be in the bad side of town with the sex shops ?

[@Kittie28]

@@francesconicoletti2547 tell me you are afraid of women without telling me you are afraid of women

[@francesconicoletti2547]

@@Kittie28 the ad hominem, the argument of choice all over the internet.

[@thanakonpraepanich4284]

So what allowed Playboy to hang on while VS is on the way out?

[@Moonbeam143]

@@thanakonpraepanich4284 I think it let women feel sexy because that is who the store sold to. And looking at pictures is one thing, but to take part of the whole process of being sexy is another.

[@HolyChikin]

I used to shop at VS all the time! They cut their clothing line, their beauty, and all the things that made them great. I haven’t purchased anything from them since and I know I am not alone. A lot of women like myself have done the same thing. It is no wonder why they are failing. Yes, they were started as a lingerie store... but the evolved into so much more. People depended on them to provide quality clothing and lingerie... when that ended, so did their success.

[@Rogue849]

I actually love shopping there and I'm no supermodel looking person. Of course I don't do it that often, but it's a nice treat.

[@kaylawaters2691]

Same. One of the things I've bought a lot of from there lately is masks (believe it or not). They have the most comfortable fitting masks of any place I've bought masks.

[@CookyMonzta]

Word has it that the trend of "fast fashion" has a lot to do with the demise of stores like Victoria's Secret and the impending demise of Forever 21 and maybe H&M. Fast fashion = flimsier products, clothes that almost practically turn to dust after you wear it a few times. Did you know that the VS on the corner of 34th Street and 6th Avenue in Manhattan was once an HMV, before that store closed and moved to another location?

[@Napsteraspx]

Oh God I hope H&M doesn't go downhill, their clothes were really good quality for a while.

[@CookyMonzta]

Update: Victoria's Secret, on the corner of 34th Street and 6th Avenue, is now closed and stripped of its marqius and displays.

[@Sweettooth25]

Yea it’s all about fashion nova and other cheap online stores nowadays. The intagram look with a cheap price tag. People dont want to pay for quality anymore. And that’s sad.

[@Deadfireflys]

Fast fashion is some genius marketing of cost cutting by cheaper manufacturing

[@CookyMonzta]

@@Deadfireflys Exactly.

[@groove-heroine]

All I remember from VS was that they never carried larger sizes for the large chested ladies either in store or online.

[@rl8429]

I guess this is where Torrid and Aerie come into play.

[@jmarie1959]

Amen! The minute I walk through the door they point me to the perfume and body lotion area! :p

[@annapinkypinky2589]

Are u 42 or bigger because there bras only go up to 40

[@annapinkypinky2589]

@@jmarie1959 not me when I go there they don't point me anywhere because the store I go to they mostly know me there and they say hi and ask if I just looking around or did I come in for something special I got there credit card and I love the coupons I get for having it and I like the rewards u get to for having it

[@annapinkypinky2589]

The store I go to they have XL sizes in panties and everything

[@Metalthrashingnate]

I was SO pining for a proper RA Victoria's Secret Episode of an open store. A big burly dude with a beard filming a busy Victoria's Secret would have been a win for America. Thanks for giving us the next best thing though! 😅😅😅

[@jwrkn32]

Always felt to pricey even for women's stuff like the over priced crap

[@JosephDeLucaJDL]

Wait to you goto Fredericks of Hollywood thats expensive

[@RidingWithRuffian]

I've wanted to see a video of an older vacant VS store, thank you for the upload. Pink was my favorite clothing brand in middle school and high school, I remember wanting to be a VS Angel SO bad! I really miss the catalogs and (especially) the Victoria Secret Fashion show, their products were always so glamorous and the girls were simply gorgeous (and yes, I knew I would never actually look like them, I just admired beauty!) I definitely purchased more items from VS when these forms of propaganda existed, but I still wear items from the Pink collection today. With that said, I prefer the older styles over the newer ones.

[@spookerd]

Victoria's Secret will always hold a special place in my heart. Their catalog was always a bathroom staple, and had many great articles I enjoyed as a teen.

[@DJ_Macphisto]

Too much info, man. 🤣

[@ceabsy]

Ew🤣

[@crowmigration8245]

They had articles?!

[@brunettezprettyr4296]

Gross, no one wants to know that

[@dr.winstonsmith]

@@crowmigration8245 Therein lies the rub.

[@jhey5639]

Maybe they should dive into mens too... “Victors Secret” and then they have approx 50% more customers 😂

[@RetailArchaeology]

Yeah but "Victor's Secret" is tighty whiteys with blown out elastic.

[@dpguinee]

I think they attempted to market to men (or at least gender neutral ppl because they used a male model recently) but I dont think it panned out well because they're back to just using female models. that was Pink (the teen/exercise stuff store for VS) but still same brand

[@rwdplz1]

@@RetailArchaeology WHO TALKED?!

[@reigels]

Sounds like a good name for a gay bar.

[@moviemania1137]

Sounds most of Biden's voter's would be interested.

[@strawberrybonbonxo]

I used to love Victoria's Secret back when they had the catalogs with the full range of clothing and accessories. I don''t often seek out a $50 bra but when they had all these great clothes, I was inclined to throw in a matching bra and panty set with a new outfit. They had everything - casual, work, semiformal, plus outerwear, shoes, swim, and lingerie, plus fragrance and beauty. I haven't bought anything since they discontinued clothing.

[@Cheryl6912]

Sad about Roy Raymond, I'm gonna read up on him.

[@TonyWilliams27]

If his was alive today! Raymond would be a Forbes 500 billionaire! Old man worthy too much money for expensive lingerie!

[@jenniferbaldini3527]

Holy moly! I used to manage a Kay-Bee Toy and Hobby Shop back in the mid 80's. We had 4 aisles, 8 endcaps and a large front end and lease line, and all we had was 1 *SMALL* back room that included a small office that only one person could fit /sit in and a tiny bathroom. We had no shelves, and would stack merchandise to the ceilings at times. That was LUXURIOUS!!!!!

[@DavidLLambertmobile]

I do security 👮🏻‍♂️, I've had a few retail, mall jobs. Kate Spade, Bath & Body Works, Lane Bryant. Kate Spade, Mall of Millenia Orlando.gov had a real small storage, office area. It was not a large retail store. The cheapest item sold was $300.00; 2014 era.

[@crowmigration8245]

That's how I remember it as well. I didn't work there but was there all the time. Open front area with tables and 4 long aisles packed full of toys and games. I wish I could go back

[@jenniferbaldini3527]

@@crowmigration8245 ...red carpet in front, blue down the aisles. *SIGHS* Such simpler times. Wish I could go back to.😔

[@ImmaURq]

For a bit when I was like 18-20 and had my own job I felt like it was aspirational to shop there. Now that I can afford a bit of nice stuff for myself I feel like there’s so many better, more ethical lingerie companies to support.

[@misterhat5823]

My guess is that store doesn't cover $1M/month in sales. It's probably considered advertising for the brand and may even be written off as such.

[@JazzyBabe56]

if they do survive they're going to have to downsize their stores....thats way too much space for sagging retail nowadays and malls are dying despite their ridiculous rents...

[@rebeccasmith3837]

at one mall i know, they have a store for PINK, and a store for VS cosmetics/fragrance

[@rl8429]

They really have to close locations too close to one another and ones in declining malls too. I don't think they would have all their mall locations close simply because there still are some thriving malls, usually near major cities.

[@r_e_i_n_n_e2096]

I never shop there because its so expensive... I wish there was a lingere store that sold cute bras/underwear like Victorias Secret but at an affordable price.

[@rl8429]

Aerie could be an alternative. They're by the same people that own American Eagle.

[@PaleOpal21]

Their quality is garbage. Go to Kohl's were you find better quality and prices.

[@StarlightPrism]

I wouldn't mind the prices if the quality was good. But in the past several years the quality has been terrible.

[@zoeyelh]

my "pink" underwear already has holes in. i get better quality at a fifth of the price elsewhere.

[@dindog22]

it's called Target

[@sharksfever24]

What’s going on with Fry’s Electronics? I’m surprised they’re still open. Not that it’s a bad thing, I used to go there all the time growing up. I like how each store has their own theme

[@Edsavage404]

He made a video about it

[@rwdplz1]

Fry's is a bigger zombie chain than Kmart at this point.

[@sharksfever24]

@@rwdplz1 unfortunately you’re right

[@HappyQuailsLC]

There is definitely a market in Silicon Valley for all of that stuff they sell, if tgey would just keep it in stock and not overcharge. Definitely looks like a company now intended to operate at a loss.

[@elenabermejo1732]

This comment aged badly

[@he_lives_in_apineapple_und9743]

Malls are just outdated now. As much as I love going to malls and still will until I can't anymore, I will mourn the days of going to the malls. I cannot and will not shop for clothes online. R.I.P. Malls.

[@kaylawaters2691]

Malls are definitely outdated. I like outlets better. Outlets are probably safer and cleaner than big indoor malls, less crowds to worry about, don't have to walk a whole huge building just to find the few stores you want to shop in, etc. There is one mall with fancy, high priced stores in a town next to the one I live in but I haven't been there in probably 4-5 years. I literally have no reason to when I can either shop online, shop at Target, shop at the grocery store I work in, or Buff City Soap (that sells natural, skin nourishing, plant based soaps).

[@phedingsfield]

Personally the only reason I've ever shopped there was the lotion and body sprays

[@jtlovescodelyoko]

Same

[@KaneshaDi]

Same here!

[@ladydede88]

Same

[@Lccru]

Definitely

[@choux8372]

They used to have a cucumber melon spray that was sooooo good

[@Vic_Coco]

Victoria Secret has gone super down hill. Since I was a teen to now a young adult the undies to the leggings have gotten to be bad quality

[@Napsteraspx]

It could be a cultural thing too, that what used to be considered "kinky" is just not spicy enough these days.

[@KevinPlaysGuitar]

Do you think Lounge is making VS out of business? I heard Lounge is better and more comfortable.

[@KassidyGonzales]

they also just don’t seem to keep up with current styles and trends

[@saragranja2802]

I used to work at Victoria's secret (seasonal) in California. It was horrible. They told me that I have to follow around people who look young because those are normally the people who steal. They also never gave me breaks. And never taught me how to clock in properly.. I found out that years later they got sued for not giving out breaks or lunches....

[@PARAMORE1521]

as an ex Victoria's Secret manager, who's store also closed two years ago now I cannot believe how they left this store! We were in a dead mall too that has now been torn down, but they took every fixture, everything that was "Victoria's Secret" out for other stores or to destroy so it couldn't be taken! Even painted all of the walls white so no one could tell what it what! Amazing

[@1776marleny]

Their downfall is when Victoria’s Secret stop selling swimsuits and I stop shopping for awhile because their merchandise would fall apart especially their bras

[@annapinkypinky2589]

I never had anything fall apart on me that I bought from Victoria secret

[@annapinkypinky2589]

They still sell swimming suits here in arizona

[@alecm93110]

For a company that had stores literally *everywhere* in the USA, it really amazed me how expensive the brand is. They still have something like 800 stores domestically now, and when you consider over the last two decades many of them were remodeled and expanded to over 10,000 square feet - some are even bigger - or had separate PINK stores added, those costs added up fast. Now they're paying the price, especially with American Eagle's Aerie line eating their lunch in malls and the dozens of online startups decimating their e-commerce business. The same thing has happened to so many legacy mall retailers that were once the hottest thing - Gap, Abercrombie & Fitch, etc. Their stores and scale used to be their selling point, but became their biggest liabilities. Really, i'm amazed a similar thing hasn't happened to Bath & Body Works, but no one has found a way to really compete with them in the same way businesses now compete with Victoria's Secret.

[@hilarydaboss9606]

That mall use to be my fave mall to go school shopping at. I was sad to see it closed. It was booming at one point in time.

[@mallaholicretailadventures]

I worked for an inventory company and the backrooms were the hardest to inventory. They send a lot of unsold merchandise back instead of trying to clearance it.

[@rachels2568]

I worked at VS from 2006-2009 and we were always fairly busy. The semi annual sale was a huge event, with people waiting outside the doors before we opened. It’s crazy to see how far they’ve fallen - I attribute it to a combo of other retailers like Target and Walmart basically duping VS design for a much more affordable price and the “exclusivity” they tried to portray. Very regularly women would come in and complain about the lack of sizing options, and VS was just way too slow to become inclusive. It’s not shocking when their marketing included only runway models. A very narrow view of what is “sexy”. I think as a society we’ve come a long way since then, seeing different bodies as sexy, and VS almost refused to change with the times. It’s hard to see a path forward for them, for me.

[@slebdad]

Love the beginning with the old cocoa, “Ubu” reference.

[@stephaniestrolls]

VS didn't go downhill, we're evolving. They did have a line of lovely soaps back in the early 90s, but that's it. It's interesting they marketed VS as a place in which men could feel comfortable, I usually felt creeped out. (I love these videos!)

[@kieshajones782]

I work for Victoria secret customer care they still get plenty of online orders but I notice more stores closing and customers are preferring to shop online

[@PaleOpal21]

Horrible customer service. I went to return a robe with tags attached and had the receipt. I didn't know the security tag was still attached. The sales person told me that since the security tag was attached, it was stolen merchandise and they had to keep it. I gave them the receipt and the said it didn't matter it was stolen. How can it be stolen when I paid for it? I had to get out my phone and threaten to call the police before they would do the return.

[@planescaped]

If you didn't have a receipt I could understand them being skeptical.

[@PaleOpal21]

@@planescaped I said above that I did have a receipt.

[@msladedah2751]

Omg that backroom is huge! Ty for the history that is interesting. I don't think they're going to hold on much longer.

[@romanmanner]

From my wife: VS is simply too expensive. It's also geared toward a very specific body type with the exception of its Pink line. Overall quality has declined as well. Aerie's marketing is better, its products better priced, and its quality does not seem compromised by those cheaper prices. In short, Vicky S has some rebranding to do.

[@vicarieyesorator6669]

I think part of the reason for decline in sales is less people are willing to buy from a company who doesn't support all body types. Not to mention they are very pricey.

[@Seaglassandsage]

I think that pink collection really dragged them down, the store also seems outdated at this point.

[@mstcrow5429]

Maybe the nearly 1mil rent store in NYC isn't supposed to directly make money, but be a prestige store.

[@chrislongbeard]

Most of Manhattan was like that. After all that's going on it will turn into the next Baltimore or Detroit.

[@professionalcommenter]

Last time I personally shopped there was when I was 16/17 in 2000. Even then, I felt uncomfortable and they didn't have my cup size and then I was much thinner then now and I still couldn't wear their stuff. They always made plus sized women feel horrible about themselves.

[@jamesborlan2850]

Love the ubu productions tribute

[@CoachJohnMcGuirk1]

The future of VS may be uncertain, but the future of Retail Archeology is bright. Thank you for documenting the decline of this chapter in history, it really is important

[@mirandawade3362]

I work at a Soma just a few stores down from a VS. They are always super busy but most of our customers like to proclaim their loyalty to VS has officially ended and they are now Soma girls.

[@Kittie28]

I love VS! Our mall just opened a bigger Pink/VS connected store, expanding from a smaller location in the mall.

[@labtechsuperstar]

I was not much of a fan of Victoria's Secret. They have very limited bra sizes. They offer to 'measure' you but their tape measure will only show the sizes they have in store. It's like no, I won't be shoe horned into an ill fitting bra. Thanks.

[@mascara1777]

Agree, they charged way too much for DD bras.

[@PaleOpal21]

I'm a 36D and the girl told me she was confused about my size.

[@labtechsuperstar]

@@PaleOpal21 Not to 'brag', but I'm bigger than DD, and I need to go to specialized stores to get bras that actually fit properly. If you can, try going to one of those stores. You would be surprised what your *actual* size really is. Those stores carry a bigger range of sizes and IMO use 'honest' measuring tape. They don't need to use a 'fake' measuring tape because they usually sell say sizes A - K (or something along those lines). And when you're properly fitted, what a difference it makes!

[@EmpressMermaid]

Not going into larger sizes and not marketing to larger women may end up being their downfall.

[@suides4810]

I am a 30c but they tried me to shop for a 32b.. Nah hunny

[@desireedegenar6110]

I wish I could get my hands on some of those displays/dressers

[@happymonkeyfish]

Its gonna be sad when the Woodlands and Willowbrook malls (closest shopping malls to me, lots of memories as a kid in those) finally shut their doors

[@Nikkisweeets]

Im from Houston also. I dont think they will EVER close the woodlands mall or memorial city mall

[@jlbnerdy]

Wow, this gives me flashbacks hardcore. Spent a good 5+ years as a sales associate & yeah...not surprised at all the stores have gone downhill. Also, that backroom was twice the size of our in the smaller volume store I worked at. The decor of the store you visited looks like it hadn't been updated for quite a while, the one I was at moved from that color scheme in 2008 or before.

[@Keykatriz]

I used to work for the company that supplied the music (and video) for Victoria's Secret, among lots and lots of other huge chains. There's not that much to it but if you ever have questions, I may have some more info!

[@temporaryyname8368]

Until about 4 years ago, I had always bought bras from VS. However, the quality has dipped. The bras go bad a lot quicker and the prices were never affordable. The panties do actually last a long time even today. Savage x Fenty is basically the new and much better version of Victoria Secret. Fenty is expensive but actually worth the price. They need to work on sizing but they are at least much better in inclusivity. Other brands are doing better than Victoria Secret, so I don’t know how long they will keep it going.

[@juliachang4810]

8:45 Jesus, I wasn't expecting him to pop out that door. He scared me.

[@UndeadEggmiester]

I feel like speciality stores like this have a shorter life span compared to Jack of all trades stores.

[@monkeywkeys3916]

I think more the opposite these days.

[@interwebtubes]

Victoria’s Secret’s dichotomy is definitely an interesting place

[@saramustdie1579]

I love your channel. It's gotten me through the pandemonium, not just bc it's entertaining to watch but bc I was a kid who looooved going to the mall and grew up to become a lover of so called liminal spaces, so your content is like a paradise to me

[@RetailArchaeology]

Thank you!

[@_blacksunflowers_1384]

I worked at a VS and it makes me very happy every time I walk past it to my chiropractor to see that they sold the store 🙂

[@Locutus]

I think Victoria Secret will survive, but it has a lot of pain to go through to survive. If I were VS, I would be looking for acquisitions or an acquirer.

[@juggernautjay307]

your videos are my very favorite to watch at night, especially when im buzzed! its so fun and cool to learn about this stuff! thanks!!!:)

[@tappergal]

I always enjoyed this VS location because it never seemed as snobby as other locations. But as someone else commented, this store was super outdated. Thanks for the peek into this empty store.

[@TonyWilliams27]

Fry’s electronics is going out of business soon! 36 years of overpriced electronics and office equipment!

[@alexandermckay8594]

We've lost two similar chains in Canada. Of course, these days retail is going to be toast unless situations drastically change.

[@monkeywkeys3916]

It can if we want it to. I go out as much as possible and Stop buying anything Digitally. They are trying to Eliminate your choices. Wonder, Who does that benefit!?

[@nealwhaley63]

The mall I used to work in installed a children’s play area right in front of Victoria’s Secret. I’m sure the kids loved it!

[@lindsryan1087]

Damn. They used to be so amazing. Quality, looks, design, it was amazing.

[@courtneyh9822]

I personally, love seeing the old wallpaper. I'd love to see a store that kept its 90s decor.

[@IanZainea1990]

Victoria's Secret was/is geared toward high-fashion. Which worked during the 80s, 90s, and 00s, when spending beyond your means and looking high-faluten was desirable. Over the past decade I think that has shifted big time and it's more about practical and affordable, while hopefully having some style. They definitely hopped onto this a bit with their PINK brand, but they definitely have more work to do to be seen as the "everyone" brand. If that's what they want to do. I think that's the only way they can survive, without massive reduction in stores and becoming a specialty brand.

[@hungoverpuppy3907]

In my city Victoria Secret has an outlet store, and people around me say it's strange and unheard of for them to have an outlet store. That should let you know how things are going for them.

[@rl8429]

Are there any other outlet stores in that area? If not, then yeah that would be really weird.

[@Crackrzz]

Love the intro. Here in Canada they may still be doing OK, I'm not sure. We got "PINK" a few years ago, I think they partnered with our La Senza or something. I only ever went a couple times, when they had big sales. So one pink bra, and two bombshells (black, and purple with glittery stones) that I only *just* fit into, when I was still around 160 lb. I'm 190 lb now... but the bras are still kicking around here somewhere. Nowadays, aside from them not fitting anymore, I won't pay more than $15 for a bra. I got those for $35 each on a Boxing Day sale, I think. I feel like I may have gone into one store in Montreal, the last time we were there in December 2019. And nothing fit, so I left... WalMart it is for me. Sadly, we had a couple of women's clothing and lingerie stores that actually catered to plus size women, Pennington's and AdditionElle... they closed last year, but I got a great deal during one of their Boxing Day sales the year before I think. We also have Le Chateau... or we did... haven't been to one in a while.

[@alecm93110]

For a while L Brands - the parent company of Victoria's Secret - owned La Senza but they recently sold them as they pared down their portfolio. They opened a few here in the US but I don't think they did terribly well.

[@MissBellaMe]

I love your music selection. It really takes me back to being a kid in the 80s with Muzak playing in department stores.

[@theresahs5956]

So glad that I came across your channel! You have a new subscriber! 💛💛💛💛💛💛💛

[@ImSwisherSweeter]

They left a lot of stuff there. I went to a forever 21 that was closing in downtown Chicago and when I tell you they were selling EVERYTHING. I mean the mannequins, display tables, mirrors, chairs, everything that wasn’t literally nailed down. They got every penny outta that store

[@lizb2620]

If Victoria's secret re launches itself under a totally different brand name and image they might survive

[@nett6051]

I live in singapore and there's tons of shopping malls near our mrt stations, with tons of new shops and restaurants. It's kinda surreal seeing malls like these. We have old shopping malls too without air con.

[@princeekevinn2674]

I’m actually a current associate for VS, and helped with the shutting down of our flag ship store🤦🏼‍♀️😢 so sadly the rumors are true.... 4 floor Victoria’s Secret store gone. I love the company and hope we can get through this !

[@SheilaKaneDecoy]

“Sit Euboo, sit. Good dog.” you just brought me back 35+ years.

[@prinxe4230]

Honestly.. Victoria’s Secret is kinda surviving specifically off their PINK brand and maybe their weird perfume shit and anyone they could fool into wearing their shit thinking it’s expensive lingerie.. and nobody in store measure the customers correctly to begin with, so people often walk out of there knowing their wrong size for the rest of their life

[@annapinkypinky2589]

I have shopped at Victoria secret and it PINK store since 1998 and now 2021 I only buy stuff when on sale and I got coupons and rewards

[@DalmationProductions]

Nice Job on the video :)

[@Arielrosemusic]

I never liked VS underwear and always found it cheap compared to better brands - I did however really like their clothing line that was sold only through catalog/mail order - made by Moda International and the quality was much better than their undies. After they got rid of the catalogs and introduced their super cheap ‘Pink’ line it all started going downhill. Couple that with retail stores and malls falling apart and you have disaster- plus yes, definitely creepy owner 😬

[@lh7118]

For love and lemons by vs is pretty popular but it’s even more expensive 😭

[@lizardhats8637]

if anything i hope pink sticks around. their stuff is comfortable and their sales are good

[@AmbientWalking]

Wonderful! Always so happy to watch your videos! Thank you so much! : )

[@LuthienNightwolf]

I lived in that area between 2000-2008, sad to see the mall is officially closed. I probably went in that store but never bought anything, it was always too overpriced or they didn’t carry my size. I’d love to have one of those wall lights just as memorabilia.

[@codyprine9200]

Favorable conditions...... People stuck at home and can't go anywhere, there is only so much TV and internet watching a couple could do......