Victoria_s Secret event from Cannes will launch new European Web-sales effort.

he Victoria_s Secret supermodels are the objects of fantasy for millions. In May, for the lingerie company's next blowout fashion show and live Webcast, the scantily clad models will be strutting the runway in the midst of the ultimate fantasyland of glitz, the Cannes Film Festival. More importantly, the Cannes Webcast will mark the kickoff of the world-famous lingerie line_s use of the Internet to move into the global marketplace. After the may 18 Webcast, Victoria_s Secret will launch a major marketing campaign to promote its first concerted effort to sell its lacy bras and silky underthings to European consumers. Details are still being worked out, but the company expects to use Web sales to help determine where and how Victoria_s Secret should roll out physical stores in European markets, says a company executive. Currently there are 850 Victoria_s Secret lingerie and beauty stores in the U.S. More than 24 million people are online in Europe, with the Internet audience expected to reach over 53 million in 2001, according to Forrester Research. According to the company_s earnings report in September, total sales for the Victoria_s Secret and Bath and Body Works brands for the 35 weeks ended Oct. 2 rose 15 percent to $2.46 billion, from $2.14 billion in the same period a year ago.