Yandy.com
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail, Fashion |
| Founded | 2007 in Scottsdale, Arizona, United States |
| Founder | Chad Horstman, Evan Horstman |
| Headquarters | Scottsdale, Arizona , United States |
Key people | Chad Horstman (Board member), Aras Koktas (CEO) |
| Products | Women's lingerie, swimwear, Halloween costumes, apparel |
Number of employees | 80+ (2018) |
| Parent | ASP Retail Group (since 2023); previously Playboy Enterprises (2019–2023) |
Yandy.com operates as an American online retailer and fashion brand specializing in women's lingerie, swimwear, Halloween costumes, and apparel.
History
Initially operating from the co-founders' home, Yandy.com launched as an online retailer focusing on women's intimate apparel.[1] Founded in 2007 by brothers Chad Horstman and Evan Horstman,[2][3] the company was established in Scottsdale, Arizona.[4] By 2018, Yandy had grown to employ over 80 full-time staff members and operated out of a warehouse spanning approximately 30,000 square feet.[5]
Chad Horstman held the CEO position from the company's inception until 2017 and continues to serve on its board of directors.[6] In October 2017, Aras Koktas (CTO) and Jeffrey Watton (CFO) were jointly promoted to Co-Chief Executive Officers.
While initially offering only lingerie, Yandy expanded its product range to include Halloween costumes within its first year. By 2010, the company began marketing its own branded costume lines.[7] The brand now designs and retails lingerie, everyday intimate wear,[8][9] themed Halloween costumes,[10] swimwear,[11] and various types of women's clothing.[12][8] Their costume collections have featured designs inspired by political figures,[13] celebrities,[14] viral memes,[15][16] significant cultural moments,[17] and contemporary pop culture trends,[18][19] alongside traditional holiday themes.[1][20]
In December of 2019, ownership of Yandy transferred to Playboy Enterprises.[21]Template:Circular reference
In April 2023, ASP Retail Group acquired Yandy. The former CEO Aras Koktas returned to lead the company as chief executive officer after spending two years as Chief Digital Officer at DollsKill.
Fashion Shows
The company's swimwear lines have been showcased at prominent events such as New York Fashion Week, Miami Swim Week, and Scottsdale Fashion Week. Additionally, in September 2016, it organized the inaugural Halloween costume runway show during New York Fashion Week, presenting a collection of 39 unique costumes.
Collaborations
In 2017, the brand served as the official swimsuit sponsor for the Miss USA Pageant, supplying swimsuits to all contestants and subsequently offering each style for purchase on its website. These designs were created by Pilar Quintana-Williams, the firm's Director of Merchandising. That same year, the company secured licensing rights for a Baywatch-inspired swimwear collection.
Brave Red Maiden Costume
In September 2018, Yandy.com released a costume named "Brave Red Maiden," which was widely recognized as a provocative imitation of the attire featured in The Handmaid's Tale. This product sparked considerable backlash, with numerous media outlets condemning the decision to market such a costume. The negative response highlighted concerns over the appropriateness and sensitivity of creating a "sexy" version of a culturally significant and serious narrative. Following the widespread criticism, Yandy promptly removed the costume from their online store and issued a formal apology. Although Yandy has historically offered costumes inspired by Native American themes since they began their Halloween product line, these items are no longer available on their website.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "What the CEO behind those ridiculous 'sexy' Halloween costumes has to say". Independent.co.uk. 9 October 2015. Archived from the original on 2022-05-07.
- ↑ "We Talked to the CEO Behind Those Ridiculous "Sexy" Halloween Costumes". 8 October 2015.
- ↑ Stampler, Laura (31 October 2013). "Meet the People Who Design the Sexy Pizza Costume and Other Risqué Halloween Gear". Time – via newsfeed.time.com.
- ↑ Gustafson, Krystina (29 September 2015). "Meet the man behind those sexy Halloween costumes". CNBC.
- ↑ "How Yandy Made Sexy Halloween Costumes Go Viral". Cosmopolitan. 2017-10-24. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
- ↑ "Yandy.com names Thom Brodeur CEO". January 23, 2017.
- ↑ Austin, Christina. "Yandy.com owns the sexy Halloween costume business". Fortune.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 "You Can Get Disney Princess-Inspired Lingerie Sets for $24 (Yes, It's a Whole New World)". 6 April 2017.
- ↑ "Here's the ~Revealing~ Holiday Lingerie Women Are Buying Like Crazy". 15 December 2015.
- ↑ Craggs, Ryan (12 October 2016). "Inevitably, a Sexy Ken Bone Halloween Costume Already Exists".
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedCosmo - ↑ "JDA Software executive one of 3 Arizona CEO departures in January".
- ↑ "A 'Sexy' Donald Trump Costume Exists, So Maybe Skip This Halloween". 22 September 2016.
- ↑ "Sexy Deadmau5 Costume Is Everything That's Wrong With Halloween". The Huffington Post. 23 September 2014.
- ↑ O'Connor, Clare. "How Lingerie Site Yandy Will Make $15 Million This Halloween On 'Sexy' Viral Costumes And SEO". Forbes. Archived from the original on October 21, 2015.
- ↑ Wolff-Mann, Ethan. "'Sexy' Halloween Costumes of Viral Memes Will Make $15 Million This Fall". Money. Archived from the original on October 22, 2015.
- ↑ Tschorn, Adam (26 August 2015). "Why dressing like a sexy Cecil the Lion this Halloween isn't a totally bad idea" – via LA Times.
- ↑ "24 ridiculous things that shouldn't be sexy costumes".
- ↑ LEANNE ITALIE. "Is there an 'ick' factor to Trump, Clinton for Halloween?". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 2017-10-19. Retrieved 2017-06-19.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters:|1=,|2=, and|3=(help) - ↑ Metro.co.uk, Alison Lynch for (30 September 2015). "There is nothing this Halloween costume company can't make 'sexy'".
- ↑ [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Playboy_Enterprises#cite_note-MtnCrest_Inv_Pres-23 "Playboy Enterprises"].
{{cite web}}: Check|url=value (help); line feed character in|url=at position 31 (help)