Jacqueline Gold: The Woman Who Revolutionized Sex Retail.

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Jacqueline Gold, the founder of the renowned British high street store Ann Summers, has passed away after battling breast cancer for seven years.

According to a statement issued by her family, the woman who ran a business died on the evening of the 16th of March at 62 years of age, and was in the company of her spouse, Dan Cunningham, her daughter, Scarlett, her sister, Vanessa, and her brother-in-law, Nick.

The announcement declared the passing of Gold with an indescribable sense of sorrow. Vanessa also shared that her sister had bravely fought stage four breast cancer for seven years and demonstrated unwavering strength through her cancer ordeal. She spoke of her elder sibling as a pioneer, a forward-thinking individual, and an extraordinary woman in every aspect of life.

On the 16th of July in the year 1960, Gold made her entrance into the world as the daughter of famous entrepreneur David Gold and Beryl Hunt. As noted by the BBC, her father shed tears upon her arrival since he had hoped for a male heir. But despite this, Gold managed to revamp the Ann Summers company and turn it into a popular name on the British and global shopping scene.

David was the proprietor of Gold Group International (GGI), which oversaw Ann Summers and Knickerbox, lingerie chains. Gold Star Publication (GSP), an adult magazine firm that produced magazines like Rustler and Raider, was also co-owned by him and his brother, Ralph Gold.

Even though he was worth £500 million and had control over a huge business empire, his daughters weren't given an easy ride. In 1979, when Gold was 19 years old, he let her work at an Ann Summers store for the summer, paying her just £45 per week – which was even less than what the tea lady earned. Sadly, he passed away in January of this year.

Ann Summers had only four stores back then. Gold believed that the stores had a sleazy, disreputable appearance and mostly accommodated male customers with an unpleasant atmosphere to work in. The company was perceived as a part of the sex industry, as described by Gold during her interview with BBC in 2006.

Gold was motivated after visiting a fashion gathering resembling Tupperware parties in east London in 1981. Tupperware parties started in the 1950s as a method of bringing women together to test goods in a social atmosphere. However, Gold pondered on the idea of swapping Tupperwares with alluring lingerie and the latest sex toys, providing women with the opportunity to try on the clothing and observe vibrators closely.

David Gold and his two daughters, Jacqueline (on the right) and Vanessa, were seen entering the National Reality TV Awards held at Porchester Hall, located in West London, during the month of August in the year 2012.

After launching the famous Ann Summers parties, she achieved great success. However, despite the massive popularity of the parties, the all-male board of Ann Summers were doubtful of the concept when she first presented it to them.

During an interview with The Independent back in 2007, Gold recollected a situation where a board member expressed the opinion that women had no interest in sex, despite her disagreement. She persevered and successfully convinced the board to approve a loan of £150,000. In a span of one year, she managed to generate an income of £83,000. By 1993, David entrusted her with the responsibility of overseeing all the stores.

The use of gold is largely attributed to the popularity of vibrators in modern society. The well-known Rampant Rabbit vibrator brand made its debut in 1991 and has only grown in popularity since then. The vibrator gained notoriety after appearing on an episode of Sex and The City in 1998, where Kristin Davis' character Charlotte becomes consumed with the device and begins canceling social engagements to use it.

It has been reported that Ann Summers, a store that specializes in selling sex toys, lingerie, swimwear, and other accessories, sells approximately two million Rampant Rabbit vibrators annually. The store chain, which was managed by Jacqueline Gold, has grown significantly over the years. From just four stores, the business has expanded and currently has over 140 branches in the United Kingdom, Spain, and Ireland. Also, the store employs more than 10,000 staff and records approximately £100 million in annual turnover.

In 2001, the Ann Summers store in Manchester's Trafford Centre had its opening with Jacqueline Gold in the center as well as models Jo Hicks and Holly McGuire on the left.

During her time in charge, Ann Summers gained a reputation as a highly inclusive shop. They offered sizes up to 24 well before other companies started doing so due to the increased awareness and acceptance of different body types. In an interview with The Independent, the CEO expressed her dislike of the size zero trend stating, "I absolutely detest the whole 'size zero' concept. It's appalling."

Gold recognized that her father's status within the company influenced how others perceived her career. Despite this, she asserted that David's dual role as both her father and boss presented additional challenges for her. Gold expressed to the BBC that her father's expectations were high, and he did not want to compromise his values, making it harder for her to succeed. Additionally, Gold noted that society tends to applaud sons who follow in their fathers' professional footsteps, whereas daughters may face negative attitudes and accusations of privilege.

Gold was a passionate advocate for women in the business world and established the movement #WOW Championing Working Women to promote the interests of employed women across the UK. Through this platform, she hailed women's accomplishments and established a large network that aims to "create change in the workplace." Her efforts were recognized in 2016 when she was granted a CBE for her dedication to entrepreneurship, women in business, and social enterprise. In a 2019 interview with Retail Week, she exclaimed, "Over the past 10 to 15 years, we have made major strides in empowering women in the boardroom, business, and the workplace. However, the work is far from over... Women must have the freedom to pursue their aspirations while also possessing the faith to achieve them."

In 2016, Gold was diagnosed with breast cancer, but she didn't share her illness publicly until December 2017 on ITV's Lorraine. Her oncologist informed her that only one percent of patients with her type of tumor have it completely disappear. This made Gold consider what she could do to help other women in the same situation. While she was sick, she luckily had a response to treatment, but unfortunately, the cancer returned in 2019, and she had a mastectomy. During another appearance on Lorraine, she disclosed that it was a terrible year for her.

Gold's spouse and 13-year-old child are left after her passing. She had two children in 2009, but Alfie, Scarlett's twin brother, had a severe brain ailment and passed away when he was only eight months old. During an interview on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs in 2019, Gold expressed her desire for her daughter to have the belief that she can pursue and achieve anything she aspires for.