Feature Articles
How to Keep Meta From Derailing Your Social Media Campaign
The heavy hand of Meta can be both unforgiving and unpredictable. Profiles that Meta decides have violated its platforms’ terms may find themselves on the receiving end of punishments — including the dreaded “shadow ban,” which can be damaging for a brand’s social media campaign and strategy.
Pleasure Biz Mainstays Reflect on Decades-Long Careers, Share Advice for Up-and-Comers
“If you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life.” That saying definitely holds true in the pleasure industry, where many executives build careers that exceed a quarter century.
WIA Profile: Melissa Fite
Though she works behind the scenes, Melissa Fite has a bird’s-eye view of the pleasure products industry. As the marketing coordinator and junior graphic designer at XR Brands, Fite gets an intriguing overview of the latest consumer trends, plus an exciting sneak peek at XR’s newest sex toys before they hit the shelves.
Distribuciones-BES Spreads Pleasure Brands' Reach Across Mexico
It’s time to brush up on your Spanish, sex toy manufacturers. The Mexican market is thriving, and the country’s distribution and retail businesses are eager to forge new connections with brands from around the world.
YCosmetics Founder Tess Finkle Talks Messaging Behind 'If I Say Yes' Brand
Over the past few years, sexual wellness brands have gained much prominence in the digital space. YCosmetics, which released its flagship If I Say Yes collection earlier this year, is vying to become the next intimacy and skin care brand to gain a dedicated online following.
Promoting the Link Between Men's Mental Health, Sexual Wellness for Movember
As Movember rolls around each year, men across the globe grow mustaches to raise awareness of men’s health issues and help men take control of their mental and sexual health.
Smart Commerce: How AI can Take Retail Operations to the Next Level
In my last article, I discussed how AI is not just “on the horizon” for small-to-midsize retailers — it’s barreling toward us in a big way. I stressed the critical need for data integration as the foundation for AI to truly optimize retail operations.
Tips for Selling E-Stim Toys to First-Timers
Once the sole domain of the BDSM and kink community, electrostimulation has seen an increase in mainstream popularity in recent years. However, e-stim is still a lesser-known type of play with which many novice shoppers are unfamiliar.
How Sextech Is Helping Pioneer a New Approach to E.D.
Erectile dysfunction is no longer just an issue affecting older men — there has been a significant increase in younger people seeking help for ED, with numbers climbing globally.
How to Advise Beginners on Shopping 'Animal Play' Toys
One important aspect of sex that often goes overlooked is exercising our imaginations. Letting our minds run wild gives us the chance to try new positions, play with new parts of the body, add toys and accessories, or even create a completely made-up fantasy world where we can pretend to be an entirely different species.
Strategies for Navigating Content Restrictions on Social Media
Welcome to the “seggsual” wellness industry, also known as the “s//xual wellness industry” or “s-eggs-ual” wellness industry. Why so many aliases? Because mentioning what we actually do can torpedo our marketing efforts on social media platforms.
A Look at the Global Trends Shaping the Pleasure Products Industry
Multiple factors are shaping the pleasure landscape, including technological advancements, innovations in product design and sustainability, the impact of digital marketing and ecommerce, and the varying degrees of openness toward sexual wellness the industry encounters across different territories.
WIA Profile: Kate McGregor
Ask Kate McGregor’s colleagues and co-workers, and they will likely tell you that she was always destined to do great things, wherever she landed — but that they are glad McGregor’s path led her to the colorful world of vibrators and butt plugs.
Electric Novelties Execs Reflect on Company Origins, Mission
When Zach Goode first crossed paths with Electric Novelties over 20 years ago, both he and the company were deeply entrenched in the apparel world. Goode was handling sales for a friend’s novelty T-shirt company, Sik World, while Electric specialized in sexy lingerie and clubwear.
Sensual Distributors Ltd. Blends Real-Life Love Story, Passion for Pleasure Biz
This local brick-and-mortar is a “mom and mom” operation led by co-owners Alana Thompson and Angini Singh, a lesbian couple who overcame their country’s strict, religious culture to create a sexual wellness boutique that serves their unique community.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.