Have a Seat, Get Comfy

XBIZ delves deeper into the whole milieu of sofas, swings and super-electric surrogates to say — or ask, rather — exactly what ARE some of these products all about? Which ones are most popular? What folks actually buy this freaky furniture and twisted technology? And, eventually, where and how might one purchase these truly erotic pieces of fornicatingly far-out yet, nonetheless, fully functional, objet d’art?

Zeps, Swings, & Monkeys
In terms of sex furniture, the stuff basically falls into two categories: solids and inflatables. A perfect example of a solid piece of furniture is the Esse (pronounced “s”) Chaise from Liberator. The Atlanta-based company is renowned for its sex products made completely out of foam, with the Esse Chaise basically being one piece of foam cut in the form of a rather large “S” lying on its side to, in turn, resemble an all-out sofa. The long, sleek, narrow body of the Esse Chaise allows couples greater freedom of movement as they transition in and out of their favorite Kama Sutra positions. Yet the Chaise could actually be a legitimate piece of furniture in a living room or bedroom suite.

“The whole idea of our products,” says Michael Kane, chief business development officer at Liberator, “is to support you. We use high-density foam in our products, and in the case of the Esse Chaise, it’s all contoured out of a single piece. It’s light — but it’s also sturdy at the same time.”

Stockroom.com offers a wide selection of BDSM furniture, including the highly popular Pig Swing with Stirrups. The Pig Swing is basically a heavy-duty sling, hung from chains from one’s ceiling or beams, and perfect for trying out those more unique sex positions.

“Pig Swings are good because they’re totally washable and wipe-clean,” attests Ann-Marie Holman, brand manager at Stockroom.com. “They’re like a hammock. As a matter of fact, I recently feel asleep in one at a friend’s house. We also carry leather Pig Swings and a few other different styles.”

In terms of a popular inflatable piece of furniture that also incorporates a sex machine, there’s the Love Lounger from Pipedream Products.

“It’s popular due to its versatility,” says Pipedream Products’ marketing manager Kevin Johnson said. “There’s so much that comes with this particular product. There’s a cat o’ nine tails; a blindfold; a candle; batteries; three dong attachments: one is thicker, one is thinner, one is curved to hit the G-spot… As a result, you can use The Love Lounger as a bondage device, as just a pillow to arrange your partner and you in all sorts of different positions, or just as a full-on sex machine.”

And speaking of sex machines, Stockroom.com has one of the most extensive selections of electro-erotic delights found in both the retail-store and Internet markets. Some of their items even have a titillating retro look to them. For example, the Full Throttle Deluxe Fucking Machine — with its grey, rectangular body and “precision linear shaft” upon which the user may place their dildo of choice — resembling a roboticlike creation out of a ‘50s sci-fi flick.

And of all of the sex machines Stockroom.com offers, one that’s especially “entertaining,” as Holman puts it, is the Fuck Saw, which is identical to a power drill, but instead of attaching a bit to its end, the user attaches (yet again) a dildo for maximum penetration. “I think it’s fun to just brandish the Fuck Saw,” Holman admits. “The first time I tried it, the recoil almost knocked me on my ass. It’s a pretty powerful machine, which takes a steady hand.”

DISCRETION, PLEASE
Sex machines, for the most part, are highly contractible, easy to disassemble and, thus, no problem whatsoever to conceal in a closet, under a bed or — in the case of the Fuck Saw — even in a toolbox!

In fact, an item like the Full Throttle Deluxe Fucking Machine, with all of its retrolooking bulkiness, is easy to disassemble and pop into a quaint closet space.

In terms of the discrete nature of sex furniture, once again, the inflatables really speak for themselves: You just deflate, fold and conveniently stow them away.

Solids, like the Liberator Wedge/Ramp Combo is a product that can be easily fold up and slide into the deep dark recesses of a closet. And Liberator’s relatively new Flip Ramp can be folded up to look like a stylish ottoman.

“The thing is,” says Kane, “those pieces look like contemporary furniture pieces. So people can leave them out in their living rooms and nobody is going to know that it’s designed for sex.”

Of course, the already-discussed Pig Swing from Stockroom.com might initially seem a potential problem in terms of the whole discretion issue, seeing as the chains holding up this hammock-like chair are connected to rings drilled into a room’s ceiling or beams.

Not to worry, Ann-Marie Holman says.

“While you can hang the Pig Swing directly from beams in your ceiling,” she states, “you can pull the whole thing down from the chains when, say, your parents or relatives come over. And after taking the swing down, you just roll it up and hide it away. And, of course, you can also take the chains down — which only leaves the hooks in the ceiling. But even with those, you can simply hang a plant from them.”

WHO BUYS THIS STUFF?!
It’s actually somewhat of a mystery in terms of specifically pinpointing the consumer demographics of these sex machines and furniture goods. Customers, according to the manufacturers we spoke with, range in age anywhere from early 20s to late 60s.

Yet there are some slightly more distinct demographics.

Kevin Johnson of Pipedreams Products, for one, points out that the customers who, on average, purchase inflatable sex furniture products from their Fetish Fantasy series are generally new to the whole kink-sex scene and are basically getting their feet wet.

“Our Fetish Fantasy series is pretty much in every adult store,” Johnson states, “and it’s really the perfect beginner bondage line.”

Ann-Marie Holman points out a different distinction in terms of Stockroom.com’s own customer base: “They’re probably mostly men who pay for these products online. Exactly whom they’re using them on is, I’m sure, is very evenly split, too. That is, I believe it’s fairly evenly split between hetero and gay male customers buying these items.”

TO AIR IS HUMAN?
Interestingly, there exists a bit of a schism between the two schools of furniture, i.e., the solids and the inflatables.

Those outlets that produce and sell solid products, in fact, seriously question the functionality of inflatable goods.

“Our products have always been on the higher end,” Kane said. “With Liberator products, it’s all about being a love artist, about bedroom adventure gear — that’s the market that we go after. But inflatables… They pop. They’re just cheap stuff.”

Stockroom’s Ann-Marie Holman, more or less, concurs with Kane.

“One of the key things about that type of (non-inflatable) furniture we sell,” says Holman, “is that the furniture is designed to facilitate certain kinds of activities and positions, while using inflatable products is like trying to stay balanced on top of a basketball. It’s counterproductive.

“I mean, have you ever been in a swimming pool, and you’re trying to climb up on the inflatable floating lounge chair? You keep trying to climb up on it and you keep slipping off. The inflatable furniture is very similar: It doesn’t distribute weight in the same way as solid furniture so it’s incredibly awkward. It’s a different matter, however, if you’re talking about a Liberator cushion, which we actually do carry on our website.”

Kevin Johnson of Pipedream Products doesn’t even see an argument existing between the two schools of furniture.

“We’re not trying to compete with people who make solid furniture,” says Johnson. “Yes, our lines are all pretty much inflatable (with a pump being included with larger items, like The Love Lounger, for example). And obviously since our furniture products are inflatable, they hit more of a lower-end price point. Consequently, each product is more of a beginner’s item — just like most of the stuff in the Fetish Fantasy series. We’re more involved with people who say, ‘Well, I might like the bigger, more expensive furniture. But I’m going to give this inflatable one a try first.’ It’s an introductory to the whole experience.”

Related:  

Copyright © 2024 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More Articles

opinion

How History Drives Marketing Strategies Today

Thanks to the efforts of activists, sex educators and members of marginalized communities, products like sex toys, lubricants and adult films have become much less stigmatized, and much more visible and accepted in the public sphere today.

Hail Groo ·
opinion

BAFTA Nominations Highlights Importance of Gender-Neutrality

While the Brit Awards have paved the way for gender inclusivity by introducing gender-neutral award categories, it has recently been confirmed that the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) awards will not follow suit.

Scarlett Ward ·
opinion

How to Explain Wax Play to Shoppers

When it comes to candles in the bedroom, most folks think of them as a great way to create a sexy ambiance. For folks who enjoy wax play, however, candles are also a kinky way to heat things up. While it may sound daunting to the uninitiated — because, you know, fire and hot dripping wax — wax play can be a fun and accessible sensation-play option, as well as an excellent intro to BDSM.

Rebecca Weinberg ·
trends

An Inside Look at the Decision-Making Process of Expert Merchandisers

Buyers in the sexual wellness industry bear a weighty responsibility. They must strike the perfect balance between meeting customers’ demonstrated needs with tried-and-true products, and staying on top of the latest trends — and that is only scratching the surface.

profile

WIA Profile: Catherine Corsaro

As director of product training and information for JO parent company CC Wellness, Corsaro oversees all sexual health and product education from the company’s Valencia, California headquarters, including training new reps who may have never touched a bottle of lube until their first day on the job.

Women In Adult ·
profile

Novum Veteran Executive Team Leverages Expertise to Grow Brand

Novum Brands may be relatively new on the sex toy scene, but there’s nothing green about George Gatziaris and Vadim Daysudov, who together founded, own and helm the business.

Colleen Godin ·
opinion

Al and Michele Harrington Discuss Vision for Pleasure Brand Love Verb

Former NBA player Al Harrington has matched his success on the hardwood with equally impressive accomplishments in the business world, including creating cannabis company Viola. Now, Harrington and his wife, Michele, have expanded their business portfolio with Love Verb, a venture aimed at enhancing couples’ intimacy through a variety of pleasure products.

Quinton Bellamie ·
opinion

A Look at the Benefits of AI for Optimizing Retail Operations

In the ever-evolving landscape of retail tech, staying ahead of the curve is not just advantageous — it’s mandatory for survival. Currently, small-to-midsize retailers face an unprecedented opportunity to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) features to gain an advantage, enhance employee productivity and optimize operations.

Sean Quinn ·
opinion

Boosting Visibility for Female Sexual Dysfunction Products to Overcome Stigma

It is undeniable that sexual wellness has entered the mainstream, and the market is expected to expand. Many of those sales are driven by women, who have become more empowered than ever to buy sex toys and accessories — especially since the COVID-19 pandemic, when a significant consumer uptick made this shopping category more lucrative than ever.

Naima Karp ·
opinion

Tips for Making the Most of In-Store Marketing

When it comes to brick-and-mortar retail, getting shoppers in the door is only the beginning. Once they are inside, catching their eye and getting them to open their wallets is a whole other ballgame — both for retailers, who want shoppers to spend as much money as possible in their stores, and for manufacturers, who want that money spent on their products specifically.

Rebecca Weinberg ·
Show More