Creator of Spanx
Sara Blakely: Biography at a Glance
- Sara Blakely is the creator Spanx, the company known for its patented footless body shaping pantyhose.
- She invested $5000 to begin her venture in the $2 billion male-dominated hosiery industry.
- Sara sold over 50,000 pairs in the first 3 months of production and landed a spot on Oprah’s “Favorite Things” list.
- As the leader of the shapewear revolution, Blakely later launched a brand extension called ASSETS to reach even more women.
- Sara started The Sara Blakely Foundation, which is dedicated to supporting and empowering women around the world. A portion of every ASSETS sale goes to the foundation.
Biography
Sara Blakely wanted footless bodyshaping pantyhose to wear with her cream-colored pants and open-toed shoes, but she couldn’t find them anywhere. Frustrated consumer turned entrepreneur, Blakely took $5,000 in savings and began her adventure in the $2 billion male-dominated hosiery industry.
Two years later, with her first pair of patented footless pantyhose in hand, Blakely cold-called and landed the top retail stores across the country. Selling over 50,000 pair in its first three months from the back of her apartment, Sara Blakely’s SPANX revitalized an industry in a 10-year slump. Her SPANX footless pantyhose even captured the attention of Oprah and landed on Oprah’s “Favorite Things” list.
Obsessed with creating comfortable, slimming garments that minimizes figure flaws, Blakely reinvented shapewear with innovative designs and smart features and won the hearts of fashion-loving women, from Oprah Winfrey to Gwyneth Paltrow. Spanx has developed and launched more than 60 styles – with names like Bra-llelujah, Two Timin’ Tights, Power Panties, Slim-Cognito, and Topless Socks – all designed to be innovative, comfortable, slimming, and stylish.
If you haven’t seen Blakely flashing her SPANX on QVC, you may have seen her jumping off of a cliff or sharing tea with Richard Branson 10,000 feet in the sky. Blakely appeared weekly on Fox, setting daring world-records, meeting Nelson Mandela, and leading successful business challenges as a cast member on The Rebel Billionaire: Branson’s Quest for the Best. As the first runner-up on the show, Blakely received a $750,000 check from Branson to pursue her dream to start a foundation to empower women.
Remaining self-funded and profitable ever since Blakely used her own savings to start the company, Spanx continues to show increasing profits, celebrating $85 million in retail sales in 2005. Spanx are sold in America’s finest upscale stores and boutiques in the U.S., including Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdales, and Parisian, as well as upscale boutiques and retailers in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K.
As the leader of the shapewear revolution, Blakely wanted to find a way to share her slimming secrets with even more women, and that’s when Target came knocking. With the launch of ASSETS by Sara Blakely, a new brand exclusive to Target, the shapewear revolution will reach new heights. Blakely is thrilled to give better underwear options to women everywhere and to give back. A portion of each ASSETS purchase will go to The Sara Blakely Foundation, which is dedicated to supporting and empowering women around the world.
Blakely’s story and Spanx products have been featured on everything from The Oprah Winfrey Show, CNN, Forbes, E!, and Glamour to Vogue, People, InStyle, New York Times, Vanity Fair, WWD, and USA Today. Blakely has been named Ernst & Young’s Southeast Regional Entrepreneur of the Year and Georgia’s “Woman of the Year.” Blakely is a native of Clearwater, Florida, and a graduate of Florida State University.
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FAQs
How do I book Sara Blakely for my event?
Contact CAA Speakers at (424) 288-2898 or speakers@caa.com to book Sara Blakely to speak at corporate or private events, keynote speeches, speaking engagements, workshops, fireside chats, motivational speaking, or virtual appearances.
Quick booking process- Email CAA Speakers with event details
- Get availability confirmation within 24 hours
- Review speaking fee and contract terms
- Sign agreement and finalize logistics
As one of the most influential talent agencies in the world, CAA handles all speaking engagements from contract to event day coordination.
Who is Sara Blakely's booking agent?
CAA Speakers is the preferred booking agency to contact for Sara Blakely’s speaking engagements. Contact speakers@caa.com for all Sara Blakely in-person appearances and keynote speaking requests.
Contact Sara Blakely's agent- Email: speakers@caa.com
- Website: caa.com/caaspeakers
- Response: Within 24 hours
CAA Speakers can check Sara Blakely's speaking calendar with direct access to availability and official pricing. While many websites may list Sara Blakely, CAA Speakers is the direct source for authentic information about availability and pricing.
What is Sara Blakely's speaking fee?
Sara Blakely's speaking fee varies by event type, location, and requirements. As a top keynote speaker, Sara Blakely's fee reflects their expertise and market demand.
Speaking fee factors:- Event type and audience size
- Travel distance and logistics
- Presentation length and customization
- Virtual vs. in-person delivery
Additional costs: Travel, accommodation, A/V requirements, and optional meet-and-greets.
Contact CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com for Sara Blakely's current speaking fee and detailed cost breakdown.
How much does it cost to book Sara Blakely as a keynote speaker?
The cost to book Sara Blakely as keynote speaker includes their speaking fee plus travel and logistics expenses.
Total booking cost includes:- Sara Blakely's keynote speaking fee
- Travel and accommodation
- Technical requirements and A/V setup
- Optional add-ons like book signing and meet & greets
- Virtual presentations
- Local/regional events
- Off-peak booking periods
- Flexible event dates
Email speakers@caa.com for Sara Blakely's exact booking cost and customized pricing proposal.
How to contact Sara Blakely for speaking engagements?
Contact CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com for all Sara Blakely speaking engagements.
Official contact for Sara Blakely bookings:- Email: speakers@caa.com
- Website: https://www.caa.com/caaspeakers/sara-blakely
- Response time: 24 hours
Include your event date, location, audience size, and budget when contacting CAA about booking Sara Blakely.
Is Sara Blakely available for virtual speaking events?
Yes, Sara Blakely speaks at virtual events with professional-grade equipment and interactive presentation style.
Sara Blakely's virtual event options:- Live virtual keynotes with Q&A
- Interactive workshops and breakouts
- Hybrid events (in-person + virtual)
- Pre-recorded presentations
Virtual events offer global reach, flexible scheduling, and reduced travel costs while maintaining Sara Blakely's engaging presentation quality.
Contact CAA Speakers for Sara Blakely's virtual event availability and technical specifications.
What events can I book Sara Blakely for?
Book Sara Blakely for corporate conferences, industry events, private functions, and virtual presentations. Sara Blakely customizes content for any audience size or event type.
Event types:- Corporate meetings and conferences
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Sara Blakely engages audiences from private executive meetings to large conferences with thousands of attendees.
Contact CAA Speakers to discuss how Sara Blakely can customize their presentation for your specific event.
Sara Blakely booking information and availability
Check Sara Blakely's speaking availability through CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com. Book 3-6 months in advance for best date selection during peak seasons (September-November, March-May).
Availability factors:- Event date and location
- Speaking fee and budget
- Lead time for booking
- Peak conference seasons
- 3-6 months: Best availability
- 3-6 months: Best availability
- 2-3 months: Good availability
- 1-2 months: Select availability
- Under 30 days: Limited availability
Contact CAA early in your planning process to secure Sara Blakely for your preferred event date.
Book Sara Blakely keynote speaker through CAA
Book Sara Blakely through CAA Speakers for guaranteed authentic representation and professional event coordination. CAA is the preferred booking agent for Sara Blakely, with direct access to their speaking availability and decades of experience representing the world’s top keynote speakers.
CAA booking advantages:- Direct access to Sara Blakely's calendar
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Trusted by Fortune 500 companies for their most important speaking engagements. Contact speakers@caa.com to book Sara Blakely for your next event.
Will Sara Blakely speak at private events?
Yes, Sara Blakely speaks at private corporate events, executive retreats, board meetings, and exclusive functions.
Private event types:- Executive retreats and board presentations
- Client entertainment and VIP gatherings
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- Private dinners and exclusive functions
Private event benefits: Customized content, enhanced interaction, complete confidentiality, and flexible scheduling.
Contact CAA Speakers for Sara Blakely's private event availability and confidential pricing proposals.
How quickly will I get a response about booking Sara Blakely?
CAA Speakers responds to Sara Blakely booking inquiries within 24 hours during business days. Complex requests or international events may take up to 48 hours for detailed proposals.
Response timeline:- Initial acknowledgment: Within 24 hours
- Availability confirmation: 24-48 hours
- Detailed pricing proposal: 48-72 hours
- Urgent requests: Same-day priority response
Include complete event details (date, location, audience size, budget) for fastest response times.
How far in advance should I book Sara Blakely?
Book Sara Blakely 3-6 months in advance for best availability, especially during peak speaking seasons. Early booking ensures better date selection and rate negotiations.
Recommended booking timeline:- 3-6 months: Optimal availability and pricing
- 2-3 months: Good availability
- 1-2 months: Select availability
- Under 30 days: Limited availability
Peak seasons: September-November and March-May book fastest. Contact CAA Speakers early for priority consideration.
How do I get Sara Blakely pricing information?
Get Sara Blakely pricing information by contacting CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com with your event details. Receive detailed cost breakdown within 24-48 hours with no obligation to book.
For accurate pricing, include:- Event date and location
- Audience size and type
- Event format and duration
- Budget parameters
CAA provides transparent pricing with all costs included - speaking fee, travel, accommodation, and technical requirements.