Feature Articles
How Humor Breaks the Ice in Adult Retail
opinion
How Humor Breaks the Ice in Adult Retail
Laughter sells. That’s especially true in our industry. Where vulnerability and curiosity walk through the door together, humor can help turn hesitation into comfort.
Tips for Staying Sexually Healthy as a Livestreamer
opinion
Tips for Staying Sexually Healthy as a Livestreamer
In addition to the absolute essentials — like regular STI testing, bodily cleanliness, consent discussions and maintaining intentional boundaries — content creators who work as livestreamers must attend to a unique set of concerns.
Balancing Content Creation With Real-Life Desire
opinion
Balancing Content Creation With Real-Life Desire
Let’s be real for a moment: Nobody actually wakes up turned on, camera-ready and full of fantasy, then stays that way 24/7. For most people, that’s not a problem — but when your livelihood depends on creating clips, livestreaming or running fan pages, a mismatch between libido and schedule can feel like a personal and professional crisis.
Breaking Down HB 805 and How it Affects the Adult Industry
opinion
Breaking Down HB 805 and How it Affects the Adult Industry
North Carolina House Bill 805 was enacted July 29, after the state legislature overrode Governor Josh Stein’s veto. The provisions that relate to the adult industry, imposing requirements for age verification, consent and content removal, are scheduled to become effective Dec. 1. Platforms have until then to update their policies and systems to comply with the new regulations.
Staying Compliant With Payment Standards Across Europe and Australia
opinion
Staying Compliant With Payment Standards Across Europe and Australia
So, you’ve got your eye on international growth. Smart move. No matter where adult-industry merchants operate, however, one requirement remains consistent: regulatory compliance. This isn’t just a legal checkbox — it’s a critical component of keeping payments flowing and business operations intact.
Why It's Time for Adult Retail to Embrace AI
opinion
Why It's Time for Adult Retail to Embrace AI
In the late 1980s, I was working in the rental car business. My first company didn’t have a single computer. Everything — contracts, inventory, employee records — was done by hand. If you wanted a report, you dug through paper files and crunched numbers on a calculator. It was tedious, but it was all we knew.
How to Avoid Copyright Pitfalls When Using Music in Adult Content
opinion
How to Avoid Copyright Pitfalls When Using Music in Adult Content
When creating an adult video, bringing your vision to life often means assembling just the right ingredients — including the right music. However, adding music to adult content can raise complex legal and ethical issues.
New Visa Rules Adult Merchants Need to Know
opinion
New Visa Rules Adult Merchants Need to Know
In December 2024, I shared an update on the upcoming rollout of Visa’s Acquirer Monitoring Program, also known as VAMP. The final version went into effect in June, and enforcement will begin in October. With just a month to go, now is the time to review what’s changing and how to stay compliant.
What Retailers Gain by Partnering With Family-Run Brands
opinion
What Retailers Gain by Partnering With Family-Run Brands
In an age increasingly dominated by corporate consolidation and faceless supply chains, choosing to work with a family-owned and operated business can offer retailers a depth of value that goes far beyond pricing and product margins.
How the 'Back Massager' Vibrator Became the World's Most Versatile Sex Toy
opinion
How the 'Back Massager' Vibrator Became the World's Most Versatile Sex Toy
Wand vibrators are once again having a pop culture moment. Recently, Harry Styles expanded his lifestyle brand, Pleasing, by introducing a “Pleasing Yourself” double-sided wand vibrator developed in collaboration with sex educator Zoë Ligon.
NakedSword, Disruptive Hunt Lust and Power in 'Wild Game'
opinion
NakedSword, Disruptive Hunt Lust and Power in 'Wild Game'
In a saturated market, NakedSword has achieved stability by keeping its content consistently fresh — and through strategic collaborations. Its latest release, “Wild Game,” finds the studio partnering with Disruptive Films to deliver a psychological thriller packed with over-the-top sex scenes and intense physicality.
Strategic Retail Buying in a Shifting Pleasure Economy
opinion
Strategic Retail Buying in a Shifting Pleasure Economy
Retail buying has never been a static job, but recent volatility in pricing, caused by shifting tariffs, global import costs and freight variations, has demanded a new level of agility for adult industry buyers and managers. As business expenses rise, so does the pressure to optimize the return on every product.
How to Use Adult-Friendly Link Tools to Boost Fan Conversions
opinion
How to Use Adult-Friendly Link Tools to Boost Fan Conversions
In the world of adult content, where platforms play favorites and policy changes happen overnight, “link in bio” isn’t just a digital afterthought — it’s a frontline tool. A well-crafted link hub can turn a casual viewer into a paying customer. Yet far too many creators treat their link page like a neglected parking lot: messy and littered with broken promises.
How to Protect Your Likeness in the Age of AI Content
opinion
How to Protect Your Likeness in the Age of AI Content
Imagine your AI twin shooting content, flirting with fans and collaborating with world-class talent. No glam team, no reshoots, no bad angles. Meanwhile, you’re offline, on vacation, maybe horizontal in a robe at the Four Seasons.
Michigan's Intimate Ideas Offers Playful Retail Setting for Wide Range of Shoppers
opinion
Michigan's Intimate Ideas Offers Playful Retail Setting for Wide Range of Shoppers
Jerry Manis, the regional manager of Intimate Ideas’ Michigan stores, never planned on working in adult retail — but he says it’s turned out to be a surprisingly rewarding gig.
WIA Profile: Lainie Speiser
opinion
WIA Profile: Lainie Speiser
With her fiery red hair and a laugh that practically hugs you, Lainie Speiser is impossible to miss. Having repped some of adult’s biggest stars during her 30-plus years in the business, the veteran publicist is also a treasure trove of tales dating back to the days when print was king and social media not even a glimmer in the industry’s eye.
Kraig McGee Blends Family Values, Creative Background at TAF Distributing
opinion
Kraig McGee Blends Family Values, Creative Background at TAF Distributing
Walk into any Adam & Eve store in the Mountain West region of the U.S. and you’ve likely stumbled into a TAF Distributing outfit. Owned by industry veteran Kraig McGee Jr. and staffed by his closest family members, McGee’s 35 TAF-operated stores span 13 states, from woodsy Idaho to scenic Utah and well beyond.
Fighting Back Against AI-Fueled Fake Takedown Notices
opinion
Fighting Back Against AI-Fueled Fake Takedown Notices
The digital landscape is increasingly being shaped by artificial intelligence, and while AI offers immense potential, it’s also being weaponized. One disturbing trend that directly impacts adult businesses is AI-powered “DMCA takedown services” generating a flood of fraudulent Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) notices.
How Pleasure Brands Can Ethically Market to LGBTQ+ Communities
opinion
How Pleasure Brands Can Ethically Market to LGBTQ+ Communities
Every June, the rainbow floodgates open. Suddenly, pleasure products are “Pride-themed,” companies change their logos and brands rush to show just how inclusive they are — at least for 30 days. But as a queer, nonbinary marketing strategist who works with adult brands year-round, I’m here to say: Rainbow dildos alone are not progress. They’re often just noise.
Building Seamless Checkout Flows for High-Risk Merchants
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opinion
Building Seamless Checkout Flows for High-Risk Merchants
For high-risk merchants such as adult businesses, crypto payments are no longer just a backup plan — they’re fast becoming a first choice. More and more businesses are embracing Bitcoin and other digital currencies for consumer transactions.
