Feature Articles
FSC's Valentine Leads Charge for Sex Worker Rights and Financial Access
Before ever stepping into a courtroom, Valentine already understood the power of presence. After all, they’ve shimmied on stages as a burlesque performer, consulted behind the scenes for creative businesses and moved through the adult industry not just as an advocate, but as a participant.
Peppermint on Finding Beauty Beyond Breast Cancer
I never thought it would happen to me. After all, I had done all the “right things” to stay healthy, so in the summer of 2020 when I felt a lump in my left breast, I was convinced it was nothing more than a cyst. At least, that’s what I kept telling myself. Yet a quiet voice inside still whispered, “But what if…?”
What Sexual Wellness Brands Can Learn From Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift is an undeniable cultural force, but her superpower isn’t just music. From surprise album drops on podcasts to billion-dollar tours, the Swiftie empire has turned into a global movement in large part thanks to effective marketing.
Frightfully Fun Ways to Boost Spooky Season Sales and Fan Interaction
Halloween is one of those magical marketing windows where fans are already primed for fun, costumes and a little mischief. For clip creators, that means October is a golden opportunity to drive engagement and boost income with seasonal promotions.
How Humor Breaks the Ice in Adult Retail
Laughter sells. That’s especially true in our industry. Where vulnerability and curiosity walk through the door together, humor can help turn hesitation into comfort.
Eva Maxim on Serving Tricks, Treats and Trans Power
Eva Maxim is fresh off a plane, running on no sleep — and still glowing. She gushes about a costume she’s planning for an upcoming photo shoot, all gold accents and attitude. She’s been scouting a location for it.
Tips for Staying Sexually Healthy as a Livestreamer
In addition to the absolute essentials — like regular STI testing, bodily cleanliness, consent discussions and maintaining intentional boundaries — content creators who work as livestreamers must attend to a unique set of concerns.
Multipurpose Products Take Center Stage as Pleasure Brands Face Headwinds in Europe
As 2025 unfolds, the European pleasure industry finds itself balancing between resilience and recalibration. After riding high on customer demand during the pandemic, the sector is now adjusting to more cautious customer behavior, global geopolitical tensions and shifting retail strategies.
Balancing Content Creation With Real-Life Desire
Let’s be real for a moment: Nobody actually wakes up turned on, camera-ready and full of fantasy, then stays that way 24/7. For most people, that’s not a problem — but when your livelihood depends on creating clips, livestreaming or running fan pages, a mismatch between libido and schedule can feel like a personal and professional crisis.
Cami Strella on Crafting Persona, Claiming Power
With her long, silky black hair, dark eyes and warm olive skin, Cami Strella looks like she might have stepped out of an Isabele Allende novel. But while she may be in the business of fantasy — as are all adult performers and creators, to one degree or another — the thriving indie brand Strella has been building, one strategic move at a time, is very real indeed.
WIA Profile: Sara Gaffoor
Though it may seem surprising to outsiders, industry veterans are well acquainted with the self-esteem, personal growth and rewarding career achievements that can come with a job in the sex toy space.
Zhe Founder Karyn Elizabeth Creates Gender-Affirming Lingerie Fashion
For years, the mainstream lingerie market has been shaped by narrow beauty standards and cisnormativity, with little room for gender diversity. Most lingerie is designed to fit cisgender female bodies, while trans people are often forced to go DIY with uncomfortable solutions like pantyhose, duct tape and ill-fitting shapewear.
Breaking Down HB 805 and How it Affects the Adult Industry
North Carolina House Bill 805 was enacted July 29, after the state legislature overrode Governor Josh Stein’s veto. The provisions that relate to the adult industry, imposing requirements for age verification, consent and content removal, are scheduled to become effective Dec. 1. Platforms have until then to update their policies and systems to comply with the new regulations.
Staying Compliant With Payment Standards Across Europe and Australia
So, you’ve got your eye on international growth. Smart move. No matter where adult-industry merchants operate, however, one requirement remains consistent: regulatory compliance. This isn’t just a legal checkbox — it’s a critical component of keeping payments flowing and business operations intact.
Neon Coyotes Sets the Tone for Trendiness With Bespoke Leather Kink Wear
If your kink wear can’t readily make the leap from a dark BDSM dungeon to a sunny, mimosa-fueled brunch, you haven’t yet been initiated into the cult of the Neon Coyotes — fresh, leather kink wear brand transforming restraints into runway-ready art.
Why It's Time for Adult Retail to Embrace AI
In the late 1980s, I was working in the rental car business. My first company didn’t have a single computer. Everything — contracts, inventory, employee records — was done by hand. If you wanted a report, you dug through paper files and crunched numbers on a calculator. It was tedious, but it was all we knew.
How to Avoid Copyright Pitfalls When Using Music in Adult Content
When creating an adult video, bringing your vision to life often means assembling just the right ingredients — including the right music. However, adding music to adult content can raise complex legal and ethical issues.
New Visa Rules Adult Merchants Need to Know
In December 2024, I shared an update on the upcoming rollout of Visa’s Acquirer Monitoring Program, also known as VAMP. The final version went into effect in June, and enforcement will begin in October. With just a month to go, now is the time to review what’s changing and how to stay compliant.
What Retailers Gain by Partnering With Family-Run Brands
In an age increasingly dominated by corporate consolidation and faceless supply chains, choosing to work with a family-owned and operated business can offer retailers a depth of value that goes far beyond pricing and product margins.
How the 'Back Massager' Vibrator Became the World's Most Versatile Sex Toy
Wand vibrators are once again having a pop culture moment. Recently, Harry Styles expanded his lifestyle brand, Pleasing, by introducing a “Pleasing Yourself” double-sided wand vibrator developed in collaboration with sex educator Zoë Ligon.
