Feature Articles
Chastity Play Is Trending -- Here's Why It Should Be in Your Marketing Strategy
opinion
Chastity Play Is Trending -- Here's Why It Should Be in Your Marketing Strategy
From chastity fetishes to power play, erotic control — once considered an esoteric niche within the world of BDSM — is now entering the mainstream. Google searches for “chastity cages,” “chastity fetish” and “orgasm denial” have exploded over the past year, with interest especially high for beginner-friendly models.
A Look at Adult Retail's Role in Community Care
opinion
A Look at Adult Retail's Role in Community Care
In the adult retail industry, we focus on empowerment, exploration and connection. We connect people with products that can transform their relationships with their bodies, with their partners and with themselves.
Strategies to Bring Pleasure Brands into the Spotlight
opinion
Strategies to Bring Pleasure Brands into the Spotlight
Every brand dreams about landing a feature in The New York Times or Men’s Health — and pleasure brands are no exception. After all, mainstream media coverage isn’t just a vanity milestone. It builds trust, attracts new audiences and opens doors to connecting with retailers, partnerships, and investors.
Is Your Retail Business Sextech-Ready?
opinion
Is Your Retail Business Sextech-Ready?
Sextech isn’t just a niche novelty anymore; it’s the future of sexual wellness. From wearable sex toys that provide biofeedback to interactive sex toys with AI capabilities, sextech has made significant progress over the past few years.
Top Product Launch Tactics to Boost Q4 Sales
opinion
Top Product Launch Tactics to Boost Q4 Sales
According to recent industry insights, over 70% of sexual wellness brands finalize their Q4 lineups between July and early September. This is a high-stakes window for launching new products.
Scroll-Stopping Social Media Strategies to Capture Short Attention Spans
opinion
Scroll-Stopping Social Media Strategies to Capture Short Attention Spans
Attention spans are shrinking across all types of media. No matter how innovative a concept may be, if it doesn’t stop the scroll, it’s quickly forgotten. That’s why Netflix has intentionally been simplifying its content, with executives directing writers to create scripts that are less complex and nuanced, and more second-screen-friendly.
The Hidden Cost of Letting Retail Define Pleasure Brands
opinion
The Hidden Cost of Letting Retail Define Pleasure Brands
Not long ago, spotting vibrators and lubricants at a national chain like Target or CVS might have raised eyebrows. Now, it’s almost expected.
Rebranding Sexual Wellness Through a Self-Care Approach
opinion
Rebranding Sexual Wellness Through a Self-Care Approach
As most of us in the industry already know, sexual wellness remains the black sheep of self-care. Discussions about wellness glorify meditation apps, skincare routines and workout regimens — but mention masturbation or using a sex toy, and most people shy away from the topic.
Why Sex Toy Innovation Isn't What Shoppers Want Right Now
opinion
Why Sex Toy Innovation Isn't What Shoppers Want Right Now
During my first year in the industry, the luxury vibrator on shelves was LELO’s Gigi, priced at $109. It was made with high-quality silicone, boasted an ergonomic design, a travel lock and a warranty. Soon after, Je Joue released its first product, SaSi, which employed “rolling ball” movements to simulate oral sex.
How Adult Retailers Can Enhance Sales With Supplements
opinion
How Adult Retailers Can Enhance Sales With Supplements
The supplement industry is big business. In 2024, Future Market Insights estimated it to be valued at $74.3 billion, and other market research firms anticipate that number will grow to upwards of $170 billion in just 10 years.
Why It's Time the Pleasure Industry Got Serious About IPX Waterproof Ratings
opinion
Why It's Time the Pleasure Industry Got Serious About IPX Waterproof Ratings
As someone who regularly communicates with manufacturers, retailers and consumers, I’ve seen how this ambiguity can do a disservice to both the customers who use these products and the businesses that sell them.
Tips for Sexual Wellness Brands to Win Over Gen Z This Summer
opinion
Tips for Sexual Wellness Brands to Win Over Gen Z This Summer
As summer rolls around, the excitement in the air is palpable, especially for one particular demographic: Gen Z. College and university classes are over, vacations are booked and it’s time to let loose.
Celebrating the LGBTQ+ Community With Inclusive Packaging Design
opinion
Celebrating the LGBTQ+ Community With Inclusive Packaging Design
Pride Month is a time of visibility, joy and self-expression. In the pleasure industry, projecting that energy can start with something as simple as a box. Market research shows that 72% of U.S. consumers say product packaging influences their purchasing decisions.
Why It's Time for Pleasure Brands to Stop Ignoring B2C Marketing
opinion
Why It's Time for Pleasure Brands to Stop Ignoring B2C Marketing
For many B2B adult brands, marketing to consumers feels like a waste of time. I’ve heard it so many times: “We sell to retailers, not consumers. Why should we invest in B2C marketing?”
The Midlife Movement Is Exploding; Is the Pleasure Industry Ready?
opinion
The Midlife Movement Is Exploding; Is the Pleasure Industry Ready?
In marketing, there tends to be an emphasis on the younger generation — the trendsetters. The assumption is that appealing to the younger market has a halo effect on older consumers, who look to younger folks for what is on trend.
Gender Play Gets Creative With Fantasy Toys
opinion
Gender Play Gets Creative With Fantasy Toys
Sex toy manufacturers are increasingly recognizing the value of fantasy products, expanding their lines to include ever more diverse designs. What was once considered a niche market has proven to have broad appeal, demonstrating that people are eager to explore desires that extend beyond conventional human experiences.
How Sex Toy Retailers Can Better Support Marginalized Communities
opinion
How Sex Toy Retailers Can Better Support Marginalized Communities
As someone who has been in the industry since 2003, I’ve seen countless trends, products and marketing strategies come and go. Yet one thing has remained consistent: a significant gap in how sex toy retailers serve marginalized communities.
Tips for Boosting Ecommerce Success During Masturbation May
opinion
Tips for Boosting Ecommerce Success During Masturbation May
Masturbation May is not just a month for self-exploration. It’s also a prime opportunity for ecommerce brands in the adult retail space to tap into a highly engaged audience actively searching for resources and products to celebrate their sexual wellness.
Tips for Promoting Inclusivity, Accessibility in Adult Retail
opinion
Tips for Promoting Inclusivity, Accessibility in Adult Retail
Walking into an adult store or browsing a retail website should feel like an invitation — an open, shame-free space to explore pleasure and identity. But for many of us, that’s not the reality. As a queer, nonbinary and physically disabled person, I’ve spent years navigating physical and digital spaces that weren’t built with people like me in mind.
Tips for Reinvigorating Marketing Strategy by Tapping Into Online Feedback
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opinion
Tips for Reinvigorating Marketing Strategy by Tapping Into Online Feedback
For the past 50 years or so, the pleasure industry has worked tirelessly to increase public acceptance of sex toys. We’ve done an incredible job, and that progress has only accelerated since I first started out working the sales floor at Babeland nearly 20 years ago.
