Ushered in by the evolving landscape of adult retail, smoking accessories are emerging as a category that is attracting a new crop of young adult males that may otherwise be too ashamed to shop at the local adult store.
Phallix Glass founder Rick Plank told XBIZ that while his company started out making everything from glass jewelry and vases, borosilicate glass art really exploded 12–13 years ago in Eugene, Ore., and it wasn’t before long that two niches were bringing in the biggest returns: adult and smoking.
While attracting new shoppers, Glowacki says there also is a significant overlap in the consumer demographic of both industries.
“The influx of pipes in adult stores is significant — especially within the past three to five years,” Plank said. “The decline of DVD sales convinced a lot of adult store owners to wisely branch out and diversify.”
After four years of receiving inquiries about smoking accessories, Charles Craton, owner of Entice Couples Boutique, Sexy Suz Adult Emporium and Sexy Suz Couples Boutique in Georgia, said he introduced a tobacco accessories department almost two years ago.
“We opened our first tobacco department at Entice in July 2010, and then followed with our second tobacco department at our Athens, Ga., store — Sexy Suz Adult Emporium — two weeks later,” Craton told XBIZ. “When we opened our third store last April, we opened a tobacco department when we opened the store. So, bottom line, it has been a tremendous success. The sales are good, steady and regular — at all three stores. I’ve got my managers working with me and we’ve found a group of about five suppliers who we procure our inventory. Finally, this last September 2011, I applied and received tobacco licenses for the store to start selling hookah tobacco. We just started selling actual tobacco to go along with the accessories last month. Also, inside our tobacco department, we sell herbal incense, and that has been an amazing success.”
Craton said that he and his wife had steered away from selling tobacco products initially because of unfamiliarity. However, the growing segment came calling.
“I went online and did research via Google, found some interesting educational sites, and also found out about a trade show in Las Vegas called The Champs Show,” he said. “We decided to attend the show. We knew a couple of vendors who crossed over into the tobacco market as well. We reached out to Rick [Plank] for advice and he helped us enormously. We were also familiar with Glow Industries because we purchased some adult products and incense from them as well. So, we had their catalog full of tobacco accessories between Rick and Glow — we had a good start.”
Trade shows like Champs and trade publications like HQ are among the current resources looking to bridge the gap between adult and smoking accessories, in addition to manufacturers such as Glow Industries, which also offers the Don Wands range of glass dildos.
Glow Industries carries more than 2,000 smoke accessories and the company’s bestsellers range from incense (brands include Vampire Blood, Wildberry, Goloka and NagChampa); protection and storage; aroma therapy (brands include Viva La Vape); lighters; ash trays; electronic cigarettes; new hookahs; a large variety of cigarette papers (brands include Randy’s); cleaning products (brands including Randy’s Green & Black label); and tobacco pipes.
Glow Industries CEO Jason Glowacki said that as a major player in the business of smoking accessories, he’s taken note of certain product lines being trendier and more popular in different parts of the U.S.
“Glow has been an industry leader for more than a decade, which allows us to use our sales history to best target each region,” he said. “This shows our customers that we strive to provide precisely what they ask for and understand what varieties of products and accessories they need to best cater to their unique shopper demographics.”
Similarly, Phallix Glass’ full range of erotic glass art, which includes wands, spinners, double dongs and anal toys is matched by an extensive catalog of bubblers, water pipes and other smoking accessories that are part of its Crush brand.
According to Plank, while smoke shops are straggling to welcome adult products into their inventory, smoking accessories fit in harmoniously in adult retail and attract the elusive young male demographic that is hesitant about purchasing sexually oriented goods.
“Young adult males may be too embarrassed to come into an adult store, but not a smoke shop,” Plank said. “If you’re incorporating both — it’s a definite home run. That will bring people in; diversity will set up a store for repeat sales.”
While attracting new shoppers, Glowacki says there also is a significant overlap in the consumer demographic of both industries.
“Tobacco and adult products are a perfect complement within the adult retail space, mostly because the customer base is already there,” Glowacki said. “A good percentage of people shopping at an adult shop are the same customers who frequent smoke shops for a variety of lifestyle products, such as incense, candles and aroma therapy. The fact that both adult and smoke shoppers must be older than 18 is an added bonus.”
Plank recommends one-hitters, hand pipes, bubblers and water pipes as the core variations for adult retailers to stock.
Adult retailers also can bank on the electronic cigarette boom with disposable versions for impulse sales. Adventure Industries recently unleashed the Kratomite E-cigarette. According to the company, each Kratomite E-Cigarette is a personal vaporizer that delivers inhaled doses of a proprietary Kratom-infused formula. The non-flammable, battery-operated Kratomite E-Cigarettes do not contain nicotine, carbon monoxide, carcinogens, tar, ash or tobacco.
“The whole experience is really calming,” explains Adventure Industries’ Jereme Cohen. “They smoke like a real cigarette, but the addition of the Kratom really allows you to relax and enjoy it all.”
Retailers who have grown accustomed to the easy, impulsebuy appeal of E-Cigarettes are sure to see success with Kratomite. “From the exciting counter display to the great price point, retailers are going to love these things,” continued Cohen. “These are a sure way to build repeat business.”
