The third weekend of September is a much-anticipated time of year for me. I request time off from work months in advance, book a hotel room, and acquire my tickets for one of the most important events in this business: Sex Expo New York.
Working in the retail side of this industry, I don’t get the chance to attend the big events like ANME or the XBIZ Retreats (among the many, many others.) For most of the year, I rely on reading our industry’s trade publications, visiting manufacturers’ websites and reading blogs by industry professionals and amateur reviewers alike. Once September arrives, so does the opportunity to connect with both industry pros and maybe more importantly — the consumers who see the Sex Expo as a chance to educate themselves.
As retailers, I think we should all be attending events that are geared towards the consumer, because we can see what our customers are interested in on a large scale.
With last year’s change of venue to the gorgeous and sleekly modern Brooklyn Expo Center, the Sex Expo saw a record number of attendees. Last year’s event was my first foray into the wider world of the business, and it was an amazing experience. I made a ton of connections and was able to put faces to those in the industry who I had previously only known as vague figures mentioned by my GM or read about in industry magazines. I saw a few familiar faces, thanks to the training sessions we had had in our stores, and it was nice to be able to talk to them on a more one-on-one basis — when they had a free moment, that is. There were thousands of consumers packed into the Expo Center last year, all there to learn more about products, attend the workshops offered by some of the leading names in the industry and of course purchase items directly from manufacturers. It was awesome, in every sense of the word, and I was hyped for this year’s event.
Last year, there had been a few snafus with our hotel (I dragged my coworker with me) and a lot of confusion with the subway. (It IS New York City after all, and subway construction was definitely an impediment to an easy, straightforward journey.) Also, despite arriving right at 11 a.m., we were snared in the line that wrapped around the entire building on a very unseasonal 90-degree day. Needless to say, we splurged on VIP tickets this year to avoid the line. It was a beautiful day, sunny and warm with just enough of a breeze that kept us mostly comfortable. While we waited in line, I chatted with fellow attendees in front and behind us, most of whom who had never attended the event before, but were excited to be there.
One of the coolest things I saw this year was the sheer variety of people in attendance. There were young couples and groups of friends who had come because it was something interesting to do on a Saturday afternoon, older ladies and gents, and I even saw a younger woman and her grandmother walking in together. There were hipsters and the well-to-do, people dressed in their goth and alt finest, and several wheelchair-bound attendees zipping around the narrow aisles between the booths. It truly was a wonderful cross-section of humanity who came out for the weekend, and despite the press of the crowd (and it was crowded, even more so than last year’s event — I asked one of the security personnel who I recognized from last year, and he confirmed that even more people showed up this year) everyone was really friendly, laughing and apologetic as we bumped into each other and struggled to eel through narrow openings to get to the next booth. The crowds surrounding b-Vibe, Bad Dragon, Motor Bunny and Sybian’s booths were especially thick, and I regret to say that I had to skip Sybian and b-Vibe this year because I couldn’t get close.
Retail businesses like Pleasure Chest and companies that throw toy parties were big this year; there were a number of smaller, boutique companies in attendance, too, as well as several sexperts and sexologists who host podcasts. The main stage had been moved to the side of the venue, and unlike last year, anyone who wanted to see and participate in the events hosted there had plenty of room to do so.
One of the most interesting things about being a retailer in attendance is how quickly you forget that you work in the industry. You’re a consumer, just like everyone else there, and though you might know a little more about some of the products on offer, there are plenty of regular people who are just as knowledgeable. The stigma attached to sex and intimacy and the human body is slowly evaporating, and events like the Sex Expo are integral to the process of educating society and stripping away outdated ideas and taboos. As retailers, I think we should all be attending events that are geared towards the consumer, because we can see what our customers are interested in on a large scale. I will unashamedly admit that I listened in on dozens of conversations going on all around me to get a sense of what attendees had an interest in, what kinds of questions they were asking, what they wanted to educate themselves about. I watched the flow of foot traffic and made mental note of what booths and vendors had a continuous stream of visitors, watched what types of products were being purchased, watched the workshop area to see which of the offerings drew the most people, and therefore offered a subject that interested attendees the most.
The entire weekend offers a retailer a lot of information to take back to our stores, and be able to better serve our customers. We are in a position where we can attend events that are geared towards consumers, and we straddle the line between customer and salesperson — which I feel is crucial to best serve our communities.
I can’t wait for next September!
Raichael McCarthy is a freelance writer and editor who spends her days in an adult retail boutique on the East Coast educating her customers in all things sex-related. She comes from a long line of educators, and considers her store to be just another type of classroom, one in which she can promote healthy attitudes towards sex and sexuality.
Holding both a B.A in English and a MFA in Fiction, McCarthy has written articles for Sexual Health magazine and Impulse Novelties’ blog.
