Spanx, Re-Shaping Women's Self-Confidence, Opens Stores

Nov. 29, 2012— -- Spanx, the not-so-secret, must-have under garment for looking slim and trim, began as a simple idea to conceal pantylines and cellulite, and has since evolved into a billion-dollar multi-product shapewear empire.

From Hollywood's red carpets to local department stores, women everywhere have shared their obsession for Spanx by word-of-mouth, and it has paid off in a big way. The company is estimated to have made almost $250 million in sales last year without spending a penny on advertising, and it is now opening its first stand-alone retail stores this month to offer customers a one-stop shopping experience.

Sara Blakely, the inventor and founder of Spanx, said she sometimes still can't believe the widespread popularity.

"It's really hard to digest," she said. "I'll see these celebrities and they look gorgeous and they'll say, 'I love my Spanx' or 'it's because of my Spanx,' and it's hard for me to absorb, like, that's a product I created."

PHOTOS: Celebrities Who Swear by Spanx

Blakely created her first prototype 13 years ago after spontaneously cutting the feet out of her control-top pantyhose to achieve a smoother, shapely look. Now Spanx is to shapewear what Kleenex is to tissue -- a billion dollar household name.

"Our brand has made women feel better, more confident," Blakely said. "A lot of women call it 'Spanx strong,' like, 'when I've got my Spanx on, I sort of feel like it's my Super Woman outfit.'"

And Spanx lovers are not shy about showing Blakely their appreciation.

"I get flashed at airports. I get flashed at restaurants. I get flashed on the street, I mean, it's fantastic," she said.

In addition to shapers that compress and mold, and control-top hose and tights that smooth out silhouettes, Spanx also makes back fat eliminating, wire and clasp-free bras made out of pantyhose (called the "Bra-lellujah"), active wear like yoga pants with built-in tummy tamers, and even shaping, but fashionable swim suits. There is even a men's collection of body shaping undershirts and underwear. In all, Spanx sells over 200 products in 13 different countries.

"For so long men were making most of our fashion items and they weren't spending all day in them," she said. "The light bulb started going off: With just a little bit more love and care, I could add a lot more comfort and still give women the results."

That simple idea turned the 41-year-old entrepreneur into a Forbes magazine cover girl as the world's youngest self-made female billionaire. Her mammoth success had humble beginnings in Clearwater, Fla., where Blakely said she had a flare for business from a young age.

"I was always trying to figure out ways to make money and to do little businesses," she said. "My first memory is drawing pictures with my friend on a rainy day and selling them door-to-door."

But her life's biggest pivot point was traumatic. While on a bike ride, Blakely witnessed her best friend being hit and killed by a car. In her grief, she turned to motivational tapes.

"I memorized all 10 tapes of Wayne Dyer's 'How To Be a No-Limit Person' because at the stage in my life when Susie died, my father also left home, so my parents got separated," she said.

Blakely said the motivational tapes changed the trajectory of her life, helping her to cope with challenge and disappointment, including when she failed the LSAT entrance exam for law school.

"I'm a horrible test taker, thank God, because life had other plans for me," she said. "Spanx would not exist if I did great on the LSAT."