U.S. retail spending may be in a ho-hum mode, but Victoria’s Secret executives believe the holidays can be bright with sales of pajamas, impulse gifts — and a little boost from the supermodels and Spice Girls.
    
That, at least, was the message from the lingerie chain’s executives, who spoke with Reuters before Limited Brands’ recent Victoria’s Secret fashion show in Hollywood. The show, taped mid-November, will be broadcast Tuesday night on CBS.
 
“We are so very prepared for holiday. We are still optimistic,” said Sharen Turney, CEO of Victoria’s Secret, which has been hurt by low store traffic in recent months. “There’s a lot of newness that’s coming in,” Turney added.
    
Same-store sales, which measure sales at stores open at least a year, were down 6 and 7 percent in September and October, respectively, at the chain.
 
“We treat this time of year like an all-out assault, and we look at business results on a daily basis, by region, district, store,” said Ed Razek, Limited Brands’ chief marketing officer. 

Boosting publicity is the much-hyped fashion show, known for supermodels in elaborate get-ups featuring Victoria’s Secret lingerie embellished with rhinestones, feathers, beads and angels’ wings. The event costs the company $10 million but Turney said it reaps publicity “well worth over $100 million.”
 
British pop band the Spice Girls, who performed at the show, are also expected to help draw store traffic since their latest CD is presently only sold at the retailer.
    
Executives say categories of strength this year are expected to be pajamas, hoodies from the chain’s more casual Pink line, gift ideas such as panties packaged as lollipops, beauty products and Victoria’s Secret newly-launched fragrance.

But analysts foresee widespread discounting this December, as a host of competitors woo what many fear is an apathetic consumer. 
 
Razek would not share specific details, but acknowledged contingency plans for sales are “in the hopper.”
    
“Particularly this Christmas, you’ll have to offer (shoppers) value,” Razek said. “We are looking at what areas of the business we’ll need sharper price points on.”