Sex Sells According To Ann Summers

Sex sells. At least according to successful lingerie retailer Ann Summers, who is due to open its second Irish store in Cork early next month. Headed by Jacqueline Gold, the first store, which opened in Dublin in 1999, prompted a wave of controversy. With a 112 stores nationwide, Gold recently told the Sunday Independent that the Dublin store continually performed in the top five, it's success paving the way for further expansion in other cities in Ireland and Limerick.

The Sunday Independent has learnt that the Ann Summers Dublin shop had a turnover of EUR1.95m in 2003, well up from previously reported figures of EUR1.5m in 2002. The company further generates large income from a very successful party business in Ireland. With well over 1,000 Ann Summers parties being held in Ireland each month, the sales average almost close EUR300 per event. The "Rampant Rabbit" sex toy, made famous by TV show Sex and the City, is the top-selling product on the Irish market.