profile

Super-Sized Love: Love Shack Rises From Humble Beginnings

In 2002, Love Shack of Lake Charles in Louisiana opened as a 1,800-square foot store located in a strip mall. Today, the family owned and operated adult retailer sits on 7,000 square feet along the I-10, one of the most traveled interstates in the country.

“It all started with a hope and a dream,” Love Shack owner Rhonda LeFevre said. “We had $3,000 in savings; we took it and invested it.”

When you create the right atmosphere, women feel more welcome, women don’t want to walk in a classic “adult bookstore,” they want class and comfort.

Rhonda and Frank LeFevre are a husband-and-wife team that worked at a local casino prior to entering the adult retail business. Rhonda was the one that initialized the couples’ transition.

“I attended a home party with friends, and I thought ‘I could do this,’” she told XBIZ. “I knew I could present toys in a classier, more appealing way so I started my own thing. I bought a bunch of products directly from manufacturers and began hosting my own parties.”

According to LeFevre, her very first home party reaped $800 in profit, and she continued at it despite the risqué nature of hosting parties in what could be considered rough neighborhoods.

As word about home parties began getting around, LeFevre says laws prohibiting them were enacted, and that made her uneasy.

“I realized that I could open up a store,” LeFevre said. Before long, her and her husband left their positions at the casino to focus of Love Shack of Lake Charles.

Set in a strip mall shopping center, the original Love Shack of Lake Charles sported blacked out windows and attracted shy customers that blended in as patrons of the neighboring family-friendly stores. Three years ago, LeFevre’s ambition inspired her expand.

“I figured my kids are now grown, I cannot be 60 years old in this blacked out little store — I want more,” LeFevre said. “I had been eyeing this location for a long time, but it takes a lot of money and dedication. Fortunately, the bank supported us 100 percent.”

Love Shack of Lake Charles opened its larger location approximately six or seven miles from the original shop.

“We kept the first store open but it then it started dying down because this one was much bigger,” she said. “We put our heart and soul into this!”

Since opening up its original location, Love Shack of Lake Charles has seen its inventory evolve.

“In the smaller store, DVDs were our No. 1 seller so it overruled the store,” LeFevre said. “Since being in this new location, our toy sales have grown dramatically over DVDs compared to before. DVDs still sell, but toys are where it’s at.”

“Things that didn’t sell at the little store get higher traffic here — there’s more demand for higher quality, more diverse inventory,” she said.

Love Shack of Lake Charles’ shopper diverse demographic is primarily made up of tourists.

“We meet people from all over that are traveling,” LeFevre said. “I almost never see the same face in here.”

LeFevre credits its new location for offering shoppers a more discrete, women-friendly environment. Love Shack of Lake Charles also attracts visitors through billboard signage along the highway.

“When you create the right atmosphere, women feel more welcome,” she said. “Women don’t want to walk in a classic “adult bookstore,” they want class and comfort. We believe in bringing in people who were once scared of this industry and showing them the benefits and enjoyment it brings. We are always gaining new customers whether it is locals or tourists.”

Love Shack of Lake Charles also brings in female shoppers with in-store events. LeFevre says she’d like to expand on the concept in the future by hosting educational events.

“I’d like to have seminars in the back — parties are great and everything but I think it’s important to teach women about the toys — about their safety and increase their acceptability.”

According to LeFevre, her aspirations also include further expansion — though not by adding more locations.

“I just want to get bigger, not with multiple locations because I’m afraid that it makes you lose sight,” LeFevre said. “Nobody loves your business like you do. I can’t be at two locations at the same time and a lot of people come to our stores specifically for us.

“I just want this location to be bigger and better. I want every customer that walks in the door to leave happy and satisfied with what they came in for. With new products coming out weekly I want to continue to grow with the industry. I want it all!”

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

Why BDSM Furniture and Sex Machines Make an Ideal Match

For BDSM enthusiasts and curious newbies alike, a big part of the fun is discovering and exploring exciting new sensations and scenarios. One way to level up is by combining or layering pleasures you already enjoy, and one surefire way to do that is with BDSM furniture.

Rebecca Weinberg ·
opinion

Tips for Boosting Ecommerce Revenue With Behavioral Insights

At our marketing agency, we focus on using real data to make better decisions for our clients. We believe every action a visitor takes on a website can tell us something important. This helps us shape our strategies and assist our clients in turning casual website visitors into loyal customers.

Lauren Bailey ·
opinion

A Look at the Do's and Don'ts of Gift-With-Purchase Promos

Imagine you’re at a store, deciding between two products with similar packaging, features and pricing. You’re not predisposed toward either brand and you haven’t seen any reviews — but one of them offers, “Free gift with purchase!” Does that win you over?

Vanessa Rose ·
opinion

Tips for Navigating a Completely Remote Job in Sexual Wellness

Anyone working in the sexual wellness and pleasure sector has at some point had to deal with issues like bias against the industry, as well as limited marketing and advertising options.

Bryony Lees ·
trends

Meet the 2024 Class of Up-and-Coming Pleasure Brands to Watch

With each new year that rolls in, new pleasure brands emerge, and 2024 is no exception. Already this year, a slew of new entrants are rapidly gaining traction and recognition via social media, among retailers and distributors — and most importantly, end consumers.

profile

WIA Profile: Sarah Franson

When you do what you love, they say, you’ll never work a day in your life — and when your job involves educating the masses about sex toys, it’s hard not to love what you do.

Women In Adult ·
profile

Popsi Lingerie CEO Sam Golshan Discusses Brand's Growth, Mission

Lingerie: a sexy French word for an alluring little something to spark things up in the bedroom, teasingly wear out to clubs, dress up in to celebrate a special occasion or just wear under everyday clothes to feel excited and desirable.

Kim Airs ·
profile

Honey Play Box's Joreail Armstrong Reflects on Company's Growth

Today, Armstrong serves as business development manager for boutique sex toy brand Honey Play Box, but he began his role there as a one-man marketing department, assisting CEO Shirley Wang with nearly every aspect of launching the brand.

Sofia Barrett-Ibarria ·
opinion

How Awareness Revolutionized Materials Used in Pleasure Products

Today’s manufacturers and consumers are material-savvy, giving rise to pleasure products that are safe to use, beautiful to look at, high-quality and even environmentally responsible.

Eric Lee ·
opinion

How Sex-Ed Lays the Groundwork for Well-Informed Shopping

We often do some research before making purchases, whether by delving into a company’s background, exploring specific products or simply making sure we understand how to use something before we buy it.

Nathan Hammerle ·
Show More