Sara Blakely
Founder of SPANX
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. As a 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 coldcalled and landed the top retail stores across the country. After selling over 50,000 pairs in three
months from the back of her apartment, Blakely revitalized an industry in a ten-year slump with
SPANX. Her SPANX footless pantyhose even captured the attention of Oprah and landed on The
Oprah Winfrey Show’s Favorite Things list.
Concerned with creating comfortable, slimming garments that minimize figure flaws,
Blakely reinvented shapewear with innovative designs and smart features that 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, and
Slim-Cognito—all designed to be innovative, comfortable, slimming, and stylish.
Blakely appeared 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, she received a $750,000 check from Richard Branson to
pursue her dream to start a foundation to empower women, The Sara Blakely Foundation.
Remaining self-funded and profitable ever since Blakely started the company, SPANX
continues to show increasing profits, celebrating more than $100 million in retail sales in 2006.
SPANX are sold in America’s finest upscale stores and boutiques in the US, including Nordstrom,
Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale’s, and Parisian, as well as upscale boutiques
and retailers in Canada and the UK. In 2012, Forbes announced that Blakely is the youngest selfmade female billionaire.
In fun and engaging presentations, Sara Blakely recounts the birth of SPANX and
discusses such topics as women in business, entrepreneurship, and giving back to the
community. Her success story will encourage your audiences to find their inner entrepreneur and
believe in themselves.
As the leader of the shape wear revolution, Blakely wanted to find a way to share her
slimming secrets with even more women. With the launch of ASSETS by Sara Blakely, a new
313 Washington Street, Suite 225 | Newton, MA 02458 | Phone: 617.614.1600 | Fax: 617.965.6610 | apbspeakers.com
brand exclusive to Target, the shape wear revolution will reach new heights, giving better
underwear options to women everywhere—and giving back. A portion of each ASSETS purchase
will go to The Sara Blakely Foundation, dedicated to supporting and empowering women
around the world. In 2007, Blakely donated $1 million to The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy
Foundation.
Sara Blakely’s story and SPANX products have been featured on The Oprah Winfrey
Show, CNN, Forbes, E!, Glamour, Vogue, People, InStyle, The 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.
Topics:
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Entrepreneurship
The Fashion & Hosiery Industry
Women in Business
Marketing & Public Relations
Giving Back to the Community
313 Washington Street, Suite 225 | Newton, MA 02458 | Phone: 617.614.1600 | Fax: 617.965.6610 | apbspeakers.com