American Eagle Outfitters

It was once a purveyor of outdoor gear, but American Eagle Outfitters now feathers its nest with polos and khakis. The mall-based retailer sells casual apparel and accessories (shirts, jeans, shorts, sweaters, skirts, footwear, belts, bags) aimed at men and women ages 15-25. Virtually all of the company's products bear its private-label brand names: American Eagle Outfitters and AE. It operates about 990 American Eagle stores in the US and Canada and plans to open more. Direct sales come from the company's Web site and its AE Magazine, a lifestyle magazine which doubles as a catalog. The Schottenstein family (which has interests in Value City department and furniture stores) owns 15% of American Eagle.

Victoria's Secret

Victoria's Secret is not hush-hush, but it is unmentionable(s). The largest subsidiary of Limited Brands (based on sales) is also North America's #1 specialty retailer of women's intimate apparel, operating about 1,300 mostly mall-based Victoria's Secret and La Senza lingerie stores throughout the US and Canada. Bras, panties, hosiery, swimwear, shoes, and more are sold under the Victoria's Secret brand and grouped in collections such as Body By Victoria and Very Sexy. Many Victoria's Secret lingerie stores also sell beauty products. Its sister company Victoria's Secret Direct mails more than 400 million of its sexy catalogs per year, offering intimate apparel, women's clothing, and footwear.