Going for Gold

If you pick up Jacqueline Gold's latest autobiography, A Woman of Courage, looking for bullish tips and tricks on how to make your millions in the thrusting business world, you'll be disappointed. The CEO of Ann Summers - and the woman credited with bringing sex to the high street - reveals a highly personal story, telling for the first time of the abuse she suffered as a child, her attempts at IVF and how, despite it all, she's one of the most successful businesswomen in the country.

Jacqueline Gold, 46, is a mass of opposites and contradictions. She's softly spoken, polite and doesn't throw her (tiny) weight around.

Yet she's managed to outwit and face down masses of, mostly male, opposition to become a well recognised and highly regarded businesswoman with a burgeoning TV career - recent appearances include BBC2's The Verdict and ITV's Fortune: Million Pound Giveaway – with presenting work in the pipeline. When we speak she's in the middle of her book tour which includes not only signings but talking at two establishments that are, fittingly, poles apart : daytime TV show Loose Women and the Institute of Directors.

And, rather than chatter through the pleasantries that usually begin an interview, she goes straight for the difficult subject : her abuse at the hands of her late mother Beryl's husband John, whom she refuses to refer to as her stepfather.

"It's amazing how many people have been abused themselves," she says.

"Today there's lots of awareness and support groups, the public are more vigilant. When it happened to me people didn't talk about it and chose to believe it wasn't happening. It's interesting that people took comfort ( from my book ) and perhaps they don't feel so alone.
A woman came over and she said 'I'm buying this for my daughter, there is hope.'
She obviously found it inspirational."

There is barely a crack in her voice as she talks about something that has shaped her whole life.

Jacqueline doesn't want to be seen as a victim, and actively avoids anyone who treats her as such.

But this book has been necessary: a process of confronting the past and letting people know (most were completely in the dark about her traumatic childhood) and it's shocked many of her friends and family.

And it has unearthed the fact that her sister, Vanessa, also suffered at the hands of John.

"I didn't know about her abuse, not till writing it," says Jacqueline.

"This book is as much hers. She helped me edit and it was important to me that I had her support."

Jacqueline feels that she's now dealt with the abuse, although she never confronted her mother, who knew what was going on. "The biggest part of me is glad that I didn't, I don't know if I could've dealt with it," she explains.

"The only thing I think is I wish I knew why. She was weak and he controlled her, but she went against all maternal instincts." This is one of the hardest parts of this painful story, but as she tells it Jacqueline manages to be strong, controlled, yet still very approachable.

It's this winning combination that shines through the whole book: here is a an attractive, girly woman standing just five feet two who has managed to turn a former 'dirty mac brigade' sex shop into a multi million pound empire, overcoming her own childhood and plenty of prejudice and mysoginy along the way. "I don't know where I get my strength from," she says.

"Part of it is genetics. Maybe the abuse triggered something, but of course I don't know how I would've been without it. I was looking out for my mother so I had to be strong. It was so awful and lonely for me, I saw my escape in terms of financial independence."

But she's quick to point out that she hasn't achieved her success by being difficult or bullish and explains that shows such as BBC's The Apprentice and Dragon's Den give the wrong message about the business world.

"I'm glued to The Apprentice but it's becoming predictable and I always know who'll be sacked. And it's not how business works.

The message, also with Dragon's Den , is that you have to be aggressive to be successful, and that stifles creativity. The last thing you want to create in business is a blame culture."

Her own empire started with humble beginnings and, through belief in herself and her staff Jacquline is now a multi-millionairess.

Her father David and Uncle Ralph (who run Gold Enterprises, whose businesses now include Birmingham City Football Club) bought the Ann Summers shops and name for just £10,000. But it was Jacqueline's idea to start the 'party plan' (women selling products in their own homes) which enabled the business to take off and, crucially, replace the emphasis from men's desires with women and having fun.

There are now 141 Ann Summers shops, party plan, a fast growing website and planned expansion to Spain. Still, Jacqueline has found it hard to operate as a woman in a man's world.

"It was difficult, although, being a woman running a company for women means that I have been trusted more. The other thing is that I've been more of a target for bullying, and I was more so than I outline in the book."

But aren't things getting better for women in business? "There are more opportunites for women, but nowhere near enough. Women are hugely competent, and there are many who would do well in any boardroom but they're intimidated by the boys' club. If one sex is dominant then the minority will feel isolated."

But Jacqueline, even if she has felt alone in the past, has surrounded herself with a group of loyal girlfriends and, of course, her sister and father.

She was in a relationship with Dan for 10 years but the stress of going through IVF took its toll and she's now single.

"I would love to be in a relationship. I've got such a great life I'd love to share it with someone. But, I'd rather be on my own than going out with the wrong man," she says.

It's hard to pin down exactly, but what kind of man are you looking for?

"It's not hard. Colin Farrell or Matthew Fox," And with her determination and focus she could probably get both.