Bikini Luxe was an American online retailer that specializes in fashion clothing, swimwear, and accessories for young women.[1] The company was founded in 2013 by Candice Galek [2] and is based in Miami, Florida.[3] The retailer stocks over 2,500 bikinis and one-piece swimsuits[4] along with a collection of designer clothing items and accessories, such as activewear, jewelry, and dresses.[5][6] The company made headlines in the spring of 2016 after founder and CEO, Candice Galek, posted controversial photos on her LinkedIn profile.[3][7][8][9]
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Company type | Private |
---|---|
Industry | Fashion |
Founded | 2013 |
Founder | Candice Galek (CEO) |
Headquarters | , |
Area served | Global |
Products | Swimwear |
Website | Official website |
History
editBikini Luxe was founded in 2013 by Candice Galek in her Miami Beach living room.[3][10] The website was opened to the public in June 2014.[citation needed] The company initially focused on swimwear brands in the South Florida region but soon expanded to include brands worldwide.[5][11] The company earned some early success largely due to social media and word-of-mouth marketing.[5][12] In late 2014, Bikini Luxe customers began tagging Bikini Luxe in their social media posts.[13] The company's Wanelo page had earned around 30,000 followers by May 2015.[12][14] By February 2016, the Bikini Luxe had accrued around 5 million impressions on Pinterest.[5]
In March 2016, founder and CEO, Candice Galek, posted an image of Miss Universe contender, Natalie Roser, in a bikini on the business networking service, LinkedIn.[7] The post was titled, "Is This Appropriate For LinkedIn?"[8] The image went viral soon after because of its controversial nature and garnered 50,000 views, 500 comments, and an additional 30,000 followers.[9] At that time, the company's social media following (including on sites like Facebook and Instagram) had reached around 250,000 worldwide. Bikini Luxe also employs around 40 individuals throughout the world.[3] The site was closed in spring 2020. The Brazilian Bikini Shop company made a formal offer to Candice Galek to take over the website, but there was no response.
Collections
editBikini Luxe carries around 2,500 bikinis and one-piece swimsuits[4] along with a variety of designer clothing and accessories including jewelry, dresses, activewear, and resort wear. Some brands include Agua Bendita, Montce, Peixoto, Luli Fama, Sauvage, Shahida Parides, Tai Jewelry, Michi, and others.[1][15][16] The company launched its Sauvage Resort collection in 2016[16] and launched a limited edition of Shahida Parides dresses in 2015.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c "Bikini Luxe launches exclusive, limited edition Shahida Parides collection of dresses". KATV. Archived from the original on July 18, 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
- ^ "Candice Galek Founder Bikini Luxe". forbes.com.
- ^ a b c d Conner, Cheryl (12 March 2016). "How Bikini Luxe Has Engaged (And Enraged) On LinkedIn". Forbes. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
- ^ a b "Media Alert: Bikini Luxe Unveils 2016 Spring Collection". 7th Space. 17 March 2016. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
- ^ a b c d Hawthorne, David (1 February 2016). "Bikini Luxe Showing How Main Street Can Grow With Digital". People's Pundit Daily. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
- ^ "Beach Cover Ups Collection - The latest offering from Bikini Luxe". WGCL-TV. Archived from the original on December 16, 2014. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
- ^ a b Myers, Chris (16 April 2016). "Embracing Controversy: How This Bikini Startup Went Viral On LinkedIn In All The Right Ways". Forbes. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
- ^ a b Chen, Yuyu (6 April 2016). "How one bikini startup scored a viral hit on LinkedIn". Digiday. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
- ^ a b Myers, Chris (20 April 2016). "Bikini businesswoman skillfully handles outraged LinkedIn community". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
- ^ "Miami Beach Fashion Latest Collaboration, Introducing Didikini". Travel Weekly. 28 October 2014. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
- ^ Marcon, Camille Marie (23 December 2015). "The Woman Who Transformed Her Passion into a Sultry Empire". Founder's Guide. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
- ^ a b Angulo, Natalia (4 May 2015). "What Digital Doors Can Do for Main Street". Fox Business Network. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
- ^ Wallis, Paul (19 February 2015). "Must Read: Interview With Candice Galek". Richtopia. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
- ^ "The State of Small Business: Florida". Business News Daily. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
- ^ "Bikini Luxe Announces Exclusive Agua Bendita Swimwear 2016 Cruise Collection In Stock". Marketers Media. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
- ^ a b "Online Store "Bikini Luxe" Unveils 2016 Sauvage Resort Collection". 7thspace.com. Retrieved 26 February 2016.