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Dreamlove Distribution Aims to Keep European Retailers On-Trend

From new annual trade shows in Barcelona and Malaga to the expanding international reach of Spanish sex toy brands, distributors and retailers, Spain continues to establish itself as the up-and-coming European hotspot for the pleasure industry to conduct business.

Colleen Godin ·
profile

WIA Profile: Paulita Pappel

Raised in Spain, surrounded by a predominantly Catholic community, Paulita Pappel grew up being told porn was bad. When she became a feminist, she was told her fascination with porn was not in line with her desire to empower women. This inner conflict made her feel like there was something wrong with her.

Women In Adult ·
opinion

Complying With New Age Assurance and Content Moderation Standards

For adult companies operating in today’s increasingly regulated digital landscape, maintaining compliance with card brand requirements is essential — not only to safeguard your operations but also to ensure a safe and transparent environment for users.

Gavin Worrall ·
profile

Allure Lingerie Owner George Makar Offers a Glimpse Behind the Brand

For over 30 years, Canadian lingerie brand Allure has been doing things differently. It’s a defining characteristic of the company, one that dates back to its roots as an adult retailer and underlies its current reputation as a design house — and owner-designer George Makar's rep for originality.

Colleen Godin ·
opinion

How to Build Retail Customer Loyalty Through Connection

The most valuable part of any business is the customer, so it’s no wonder that Get to Know Your Customers Day is celebrated not just annually, but quarterly.

Ian Kulp ·
opinion

Tips for Fostering Productive Conversations in Adult Retail Settings

In an ideal world, every workplace interaction would run smoothly. Employees would communicate clearly and directly, customers would always be satisfied and challenges would resolve themselves.

Tori Titus-McCrobie ·
opinion

Understanding the FTC's New 'Click to Cancel' Rule

The Federal Trade Commission’s new “Click to Cancel” rule has been a hot topic in consumer protection and business regulation. Part of a broader effort to streamline cancellation processes for subscription services, the rule has sparked significant debate and legal challenges.

Corey D. Silverstein ·
opinion

Key Factors for Choosing a Merchant Services Partner

Running a successful adult business requires more than just delivering alluring and cutting-edge products and services. Securing the right payment processing partner is essential to maintaining a steady revenue stream.

Jonathan Corona ·
opinion

A Look at the Fortune 500 Tech Available for Adult Stores

It used to be that if you wanted cutting-edge tech to power your adult store operation, you needed a Fortune 500 budget. Small and midsize stores had to settle for basic systems and manual processes, and hope that hustle, grit and good intentions could compensate for the tech gap.

Sean Quinn ·
opinion

A Manufacturer's Guide to Adult Retail Trade Show Success

Pleasure industry trade shows offer a vital platform for showcasing the latest toys and other intimacy products, building connections with potential buyers and generating industry buzz. However, simply attending isn’t enough — you need a strategic plan to stand out from the crowd.

Vincent Renou ·
opinion

Identifying and Preventing Transaction Laundering

Recently, a few merchants approached me after receiving compliance notifications from their acquirer about transaction laundering. They were unsure what it meant, and unsure how to identify and fix the problem.

Cathy Beardsley ·
opinion

Extreme Pleasure Gets a Sequel in 'Fist First: Second Helping'

When you think of gay porn, your mind may not immediately jump to “first timers.” If so, co-directors Ben Rush and Alter Sin are here to change all that.

Ness Miller ·
opinion

Pleasure Brand Marketing and PR Trends to Watch in 2025

From the lockdown boom to the economic pressures of a post-pandemic world, we have seen shifting technologies, evolving consumer expectations and a hunger for authenticity shape pleasure product marketing and public relations.

Scarlett Ward ·
profile

WIA: Jennifer Jolicoeur Reflects on Passionate Home Party Journey

Nearly 30 years ago, Jennifer Jolicoeur became Rhode Island’s first adult toy party planner. After gaining experience with another company, she launched Athena’s Home Novelties from her apartment in 1998, guided by the mantra “Educate. Empower. Entertain.”

Women In Adult ·
profile

Sepanta Arya Shares Insights on Building an Indie Enterprise

Sepanta Arya is a family guy who feels grateful to have grown up in a warm and supportive environment with strong values. With a close-knit family that never judged him, he says, he has enjoyed the luxury of always being honest about what he does professionally and personally, and about his choices in life.

Alejandro Freixes ·
opinion

5 Things to Look for When Vetting Industry Fundraisers

As adult content creators, we are passionate about supporting fundraisers that align with our values and make a tangible impact on our community — but not all fundraisers or organizations are created equal.

Miss Mei ·
opinion

Tips for Embracing Diversity Through Language

We are all used to slang terms shifting from generation to generation, as words or phrases get co-opted and acquire new meanings. It is a much rarer occurrence when some of the most fundamental words in our language undergo a major transition in a short space of time, but that is exactly what is happening right now with pronouns.

Claire Sass ·
opinion

Navigating Copyright, Fair Use in Digital Content Creation

As a content creator, you strive first and foremost to produce captivating and original work that will resonate with your audience. Sometimes, however, you must also navigate daunting technical and legal challenges. One such challenge involves copyright and fair use.

Megan Stokes ·
profile

Johnny Bravo Reflects on Stardom and What Drives Him

For as long as he can remember, Johnny Bravo says, he was always obsessed with sex. Though he never dreamt of becoming a porn star, he knew that he wanted a highly sexual life, and his determination to figure out how to please a woman made him well-regarded by his sexual partners.

Alejandro Freixes ·
opinion

A Look at the Ethics, Risks of AI-Generated Sexual Wellness Content

Few technological advancements have inspired the level of controversy that has been generated by the advent of artificial intelligence, which is now powering or being incorporated into digital tools we use every day.

Anne Hodder-Shipp ·
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