opinion

How Thinking Inclusively Can Lead to Big Retail Sales

How Thinking Inclusively Can Lead to Big Retail Sales

We spent the month of June criss-crossing the country to attend Pride events in many different cities, and the energy was incredible! The LGBTQ community made this straight woman feel so welcome and at home in every way that I was proud to be an ally, and happy to give out thousands of free samples! I guess it’s not surprising that inclusivity is at the top of my mind for this sex toy issue. I think it’s about time that sexual wellness products reflect the beautiful diversity of our culture.

We have a long way to go, and I personally think that the answer to the question, “How do you become more inclusive as a company?” is to actually become inclusive. We also need to keep this in mind in our day-to-day business when working with consumers. I know it sounds cliché, but do not judge a book by its cover. One day when I was doing commission sales, a gentleman walked into the store who looked homeless. He asked about products, so I took him to our most expensive items, and he walked out spending more than $2,000. It turned out he had just traveled across the country to move and hadn’t had time to stop by his new place to shower and clean up. Making assumptions would have lost a big sale.

I think it’s about time that sexual wellness products reflect the beautiful diversity of our culture.

Listen carefully when people tell you what they like, what they don’t like, what they wish for, and how they like to play. At one Pride event in Denver, I spoke to a lesbian couple that were intrigued by our “cum play” product because they enjoyed using ejaculating toys together. I never would have thought this could be a “crossover” product, but then again, I never asked. When you’re working at a booth giving out product, you get to hear about people’s real-life experiences and find out how they’d like to be marketed to, and that’s so important when you’re trying to expand your offerings to reach niche markets.

Part of a thorough development process is planning for a product to undergo the testing required to gain FDA approval as a Class II medical device. I am here to tell customers that our bodacious cum play lube has been heavily tested for intimate safety. This means that the product is demonstrated as safe to insert within the cavity, the preservative is functioning properly, updates to safe ingredients are ongoing, the packaging is suitable, and overall the product is shown to be as safe as other products that are well established. We work tirelessly to maintain a complete product licensing strategy — but even more than this, we work to earn and maintain consumer trust that what we put out to market is awesome.

Without our consumers’ trust, we wouldn’t be able to develop new performance lines in any category. Sometimes companies will jump on something because it’s trendy and they think they can make a quick profit, but this business model doesn’t usually create a long-lasting high-quality product. It’s better to take your time, do the scientific research, do the market research, test and test again, and only put out the product when you know you’ve got a winner.

Before I go, a word of encouragement to everyone out there, regardless of your gender, orientation, age, or other traits. Sex is a positive thing and it should always be fun. It can also be uniquely expressive. Love yourself, love your partner — just spread the love! We offer something for everyone, from sensitives to specific lifestyles, whether you buy in bulk or on a budget. For travelers, or users looking to sample, we offer a wide variety that they may not have tried before. To quote a song that often comes to mind: “It’s the time of the season for loving.”

Victoria Titus-McCrobie leads U.S. account development at United Consortium, where she manages the flow of communication between departments to give clients the best possible experience. With a background in management and business development in beauty and retail, she has embraced the pleasure products industry with a personal passion that reflects her commitment to sensual health and wellness.

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

profile

YCosmetics Founder Tess Finkle Talks Messaging Behind 'If I Say Yes' Brand

Over the past few years, sexual wellness brands have taken over the digital space. YCosmetics, which released its flagship If I Say Yes collection earlier this year, is vying to become the next intimacy and skin care brand to gain a dedicated online following.

Nishka Dhawan ·
opinion

Promoting the Link Between Men's Mental Health, Sexual Wellness for Movember

As Movember rolls around each year, men across the globe grow mustaches to raise awareness of men’s health issues and help men take control of their mental and sexual health.

Ian Kulp ·
opinion

Smart Commerce: How AI can Take Retail Operations to the Next Level

In my last article, I discussed how AI is not just “on the horizon” for small-to-midsize retailers — it’s barreling toward us in a big way. I stressed the critical need for data integration as the foundation for AI to truly optimize retail operations.

Sean Quinn ·
opinion

Tips for Selling E-Stim Toys to First-Timers

Once the sole domain of the BDSM and kink community, electrostimulation has seen an increase in mainstream popularity in recent years. However, e-stim is still a lesser-known type of play with which many novice shoppers are unfamiliar.

Claire Blakeborough ·
opinion

How Sextech Is Helping Pioneer a New Approach to E.D.

Erectile dysfunction is no longer just an issue affecting older men — there has been a significant increase in younger people seeking help for ED, with numbers climbing globally.

Julia Margo ·
opinion

How to Advise Beginners on Shopping 'Animal Play' Toys

One important aspect of sex that often goes overlooked is exercising our imaginations. Letting our minds run wild gives us the chance to try new positions, play with new parts of the body, add toys and accessories, or even create a completely made-up fantasy world where we can pretend to be an entirely different species.

Rebecca Weinberg ·
opinion

Strategies for Navigating Content Restrictions on Social Media

Welcome to the “seggsual” wellness industry, also known as the “s//xual wellness industry” or “s-eggs-ual” wellness industry. Why so many aliases? Because mentioning what we actually do can torpedo our marketing efforts on social media platforms.

Scarlett Ward ·
trends

A Look at the Global Trends Shaping the Pleasure Products Industry

Multiple factors are shaping the pleasure landscape, including technological advancements, innovations in product design and sustainability, the impact of digital marketing and ecommerce, and the varying degrees of openness toward sexual wellness the industry encounters across different territories.

profile

WIA Profile: Kate McGregor

Ask Kate McGregor’s colleagues and co-workers, and they will likely tell you that she was always destined to do great things, wherever she landed — but that they are glad McGregor’s path led her to the colorful world of vibrators and butt plugs.

Women In Adult ·
profile

Electric Novelties Execs Reflect on Company Origins, Mission

When Zach Goode first crossed paths with Electric Novelties over 20 years ago, both he and the company were deeply entrenched in the apparel world. Goode was handling sales for a friend’s novelty T-shirt company, Sik World, while Electric specialized in sexy lingerie and clubwear.

Ariana Rodriguez ·
Show More