Spanx Firms Up Plans for Standalone Stores

Spanx founder Sara Blakely is now a household name, appearing in People magazine and on the cover of Forbes as the youngest self-made female billionaire in its history of ranking billionaires — all thanks to the stunning success of her cheeky brand of body-contouring shapewear.

Currently sold online and "within bigger department stores and boutiques" in 40 countries, the Atlanta-based Spanx brand that she founded with $5,000 of her life savings is gearing up to expand into standalone branded stores, starting with the U.S., in the fourth quarter.

Three stores are scheduled to open in October, according to WWD, located "in three prime shopping malls: Tysons Corner Center in Virginia, Garden State Plaza in New Jersey, and King of Prussia Mall in Pennsylvania." There is also a Spanx store slated for the international terminal at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson airport.

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