La Senza

La Senza Corporation is a Canadian fashion retailer based in Dorval, Quebec that sells lingerie and intimate apparel. The La Senza brand is currently owned by L Brands which operates and owns La Senza stores in Canada and uses a franchise model for the operation of stores outside Canada.

History

Since its first store opened in 1990, the company has grown to include more than 300 stores in Canada. A further 487 stores under the La Senza brand operate in 45 other countries worldwide via licensing, franchise, and cooperation agreements. In 2006 La Senza was purchased by Limited Brands of Columbus, Ohio for $628 million in cash.

La Senza's products focus on lingerie and nightwear but also include loungewear, daywear, and accessories. The concept is similar to that of Victoria's Secret, which is also owned by the Limited Brands corporation.

UK and Ireland

Businessman Theo Paphitis bought the United Kingdom and Ireland franchise, called La Senza UK, and began expanding it, eventually with sub-franchises in parts of the European Union. In July 2006 Paphitis sold the company to private equity company Lion Capital, for a reported £100m. Paphitis left the board and is no longer a shareholder, and in the Spring of 2011 set up the new lingerie firm Boux Avenue.