Ten years ago, anal play was seen as a niche within the pleasure industry, often hidden away or regarded as a novelty rather than a recognized part of sexual wellness. While many people were interested in exploring it, stigma, misinformation, and a lack of innovation kept it in the shadows. Now, that gap is starting to close. Research shows that anal intercourse is more common than before, with one U.S. study indicating that 36% of women and 44% of men aged 25 to 44 have tried heterosexual anal sex at some point.
\n \n \nAfter 15 years in the pleasure industry, Staci Cruse has become skilled at distinguishing brands that merely talk about partnership from those that truly embed it into their operations.
\n \n \nEvery day, store owners, managers and sales associates help customers navigate products, answer questions, solve problems and find solutions that support intimacy, pleasure, confidence and overall sexual wellness.
\n \n \nFor years, fetish and BDSM products have occupied a complicated space in adult retail. They are often highly recognizable, visually compelling and culturally fascinating, yet easy for retailers and brands to underestimate.
\n \n \nLong before joining the Jerkmate team as a marketing strategist, Lili L. was the kind of person who always felt like she needed a new challenge.
\n \n \nWalk into almost any adult store today, and you can feel the industry in the middle of an upgrade. On one side, you still see the familiar wall of vibrators, strokers, bondage gear and lingerie. On the other, quietly expanding, is a growing sexual wellness category.
\n \n \nFor business owners in the adult and specialty spaces, the rules have always been written in someone else’s office. The latest Mastercard changes are no exception, though there are practical ways merchants can begin preparing now.
\n \n \nWe manage payroll across more than a dozen entities that operate on different schedules. Every pay period, someone had to log in to one portal, download reports, rename files, upload them to another system, and make sure everything matched correctly in QuickBooks.
\n \n \nThroughout 2025, age verification remained a major focus as merchants worked to meet the requirements of 26 U.S. states, country-specific regulations in France, the UK, and Italy, and evolving guidance from the European Commission.
\n \n \nI enjoy witnessing the confidence of someone leaving a fitting room, standing a bit taller. Their shoulders are squared, a spark shines in their eyes, and they view themselves in a new light. That moment presents one of the simplest sales opportunities on the sales floor.
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