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Sex Ed: A Course For Retailers
To increase both sales and customer satisfaction, sex education can provide great benefits for both retailers and their clientele. At Hustler Hollywood in Hollywood, Calif., marketing manager Allison Johnston believes it’s extremely important to offer sex education to shoppers.
Sex Ed Sells: Manufacturers Educate Consumers, Retailers
For manufacturers of pleasure products, sex education is vital to business. Several companies have taken it upon themselves to guide consumers through sexual exploration by not just providing a wide range of tools but also the know-how to use them.
Understanding the Connection Between Sex and Life in a Retail Setting
Do you know what the most amazing and challenging thing about sex is? It’s the fact that everything connects to it. Anything in your life can affect your sexuality, and your sexuality can affect anything in your life.
Getting Help: When Sexuality Professionals Face Sexual Challenges
A few months ago, I wrote an article about how working in the sex retail and education worlds can affect your sex life. Now, it’s time to look the other side of the coin: how does your sex life affect your job?
Back Door Basics: Get Ready for Anal Sex Month
It’s time to start prepping for August, also known as Anal Sex Month. More people than ever before are exploring anal pleasure, which means you have an excellent opportunity to get some cross-sells and upsells. Here are some ideas to make sure you’re maximizing the impact of your efforts.
All Are Welcome: Making Retail Sex Education Gender-Inclusive
If you’ve been paying any attention to the news lately, you’ve seen the increased media coverage of transgender and gender-diverse people. While not all of the press has been positive, I’ve seen plenty that is. The more we can talk about the experiences of transgender and gender-diverse folks, the more we can help create a truly inclusive world.
Sexual Health Expo N.Y. Speaker Preview: Charlie Glickman
On the heels of a successful show in Phoenix last spring, the one-of-a-kind Sexual Health Expo (SHE) lineup of top sex educators, speakers and brand ambassadors are gearing up for what’s shaping up to be an even more comprehensive and impressive consumer event Sept. 19 and 20, this time in New York City at the Millenium Broadway Hotel in the heart of Times Square.
How Does Working in the Biz Affect Your Sex Life?
When I started off working in the sex retail world, I was excited to learn about sexuality and pleasure. I was looking forward to discovering new things about my own sexuality. Over the years, I saw a lot of my co-workers and colleagues come to some of the same realizations I did.
Sexual Products, Sexual Shame
One of the amazing things about the sex retail industry is that you’re on the front lines of dealing with sexual shame. You have allies among therapists, counselors, coaches, educators, writers and plenty of other professions. But selling pleasure products puts you in a unique position that nobody else covers.
Bad Science: When Sex Research Doesn’t Matter
A few months back, some very well publicized research came out that claimed that the G-spot doesn’t exist. It was the latest round in the seemingly never-ending debate about the existence of the G-spot that medical folks, sexologists, and other scientists have been having ever since the publication of “The G Spot and Other Recent Discoveries About Human Sexuality” in 1982.
What You Like Isn’t the Same as What’s Good When Recommending Purchases
What’s the best vibrator?” “What’s a good lubricant?” “What butt plug should I get?” If you’ve worked in a frontline sexuality retail position, you’ve probably heard one of these questions. Actually, you probably hear something like this during every shift. It can be a tricky situation, but it’s also a great opportunity for education and upsells.
New Beginnings: What Was Your New Year’s Resolution?
We’ve just started a new year, and that’s always a good time to take a moment and reflect on new beginnings. It’s also a great opportunity to help your customers learn something new about sex, pleasure and relationships. So here’s my question for you: what new thing do you want to learn about sex this year?
Changing Lanes: What Does ‘Sexual Health’ Mean, Anyway?
We’ve seen a lot of changes in the sex retail trade in the last few years. More women have become regular customers, more companies are embracing sex education as part of their branding, there’s increased awareness of the importance of quality design and materials, and there’s wider discussion of the value of sexual pleasure for older people and folks with disabilities.
Rethinking ‘Toys for Men’
Have you ever been working behind the counter at your store and had someone come to you and ask you, “Where are the toys for men?” I know I’ve fielded a lot of questions like this and I bet your staff has too. While it might seem easy enough to point that customer to the shelves of cock rings and masturbation sleeves, it’s important to take that a step further.
The Dangers of Over-Sharing on the Retail Floor
Which of these do you like?” “Have you ever tried this one?” “What’s your favorite product?” If you’ve spent any time on the sales floor, you’ve probably had a customer ask you one of these questions. And you might even have given them an answer. A lot of sales staff share personal information with customers for different reasons.
Portland's Adult Sex Ed Academy Caps Quarter With Charlie Glickman Seminar
Newly launched Portland Academy of Sex Education announced that it just completed its summer quarter by hosting a sold-out workshop with sex educator and relationship coach Charlie Glickman.
How Sexologists Can Contribute to the Sex Toy Retail Industry
One of the things I’ve noticed over the years is that there’s a disconnection between some groups of people who could be natural allies. Sexologists want to understand sex, and sex therapists and coaches are dedicated to helping people improve their sex lives.
Retail Sales: When to Call in the Pros
If you work on the front lines of the sex retail trade, you’ve had customers who came to your store and asked for a product to fix a situation that it simply can’t fix. Some couples try to spice up their sex lives with a toy or a movie, without realizing that their sexual problems are rooted in something much bigger than that.
Sex Positivity for Sex Retailers
When customers come to your store or website, it’s important that they feel welcomed. That’s standard retail doctrine, but it plays out differently when you’re selling sexual products. Your company philosophy has a big impact on how you connect with customers and close the sale.
Sex, Shame and Retail
It’s hardly news to those of us who work in the sex retail trade that a lot of folks have difficulty talking about sex. But have you thought about what that means for your customers?