With the season of giving fast approaching comes the hectic scramble to find the perfect holiday gift. This annual ritual often translates to endless hours of pacing the mall, aimlessly browsing online, or, worse, falling prey to last-minute gift ideas that neither show nor tell the receiver you were thinking of them.
But what if you could help consumers ditch the holiday headache by recommending the ideal gift? With a little creativity, your business can help bring more pleasure and joy this holiday season with a fun, easy and strategic approach to gift-giving.
[According to a survey] 88 percent of people said they would be open to receiving a sex toy as a gift from a romantic partner.
Here are a few ways to encourage sex toy gift-giving while boosting your holiday sales:
1. Draw shoppers in with a gift section they can’t resist! Help make gift-giving easy by featuring a holiday gift section in your store or online. Get festive with your gift section and include options that cover all levels of heat. Whether it’s someone’s first time shopping for a sex toy or they’re your regular shopper, make gifting easy with the perfect variety to get their imagination going. Take this opportunity to highlight some of your bestselling items, sex toy essentials, trending toys for 2019, or toy predictions for 2020.
2. Offer gift suggestions that are inclusive, fun and go beyond relationship status, sexual identity and sexual preference. Be sure to include ideas at different price points, from low-cost to luxury finds. Consider highlighting bundled items like toys and lube, which look good together, and subtly upsell your products. Kits are also a great gift idea because they offer more bang for your buck, and they’re a fun introduction to sex toys for those looking to experiment or explore new sensations.
3. Go the extra mile for your customers. Offer shoppers the option to have their item gift-wrapped in-store while they shop, which is a great way to help customers check off items on their holiday to-do list during the mad holiday rush. Cater to those last-minute shoppers by giving customers the gift of expedited shipping. With your help, customers can take advantage of last-minute shopping sprees online without worrying if their gifts will arrive on time. Want to get even more creative? Include a checkout option to add a special message for those looking to add a personal touch to their gift.
4. Join in the spirit of giving. Express your gratitude with customer incentives. Gift your customers a coupon for their next visit, or include a small gift with each purchase, offer customers a gift card bonus when buying a gift card, or reward repeat customers with rewards points. These simple options can help build customer loyalty while also increasing your sales. Treat your VIPs extra special by offering unique incentives for customers who’ve recently shopped at your store, or who are part of your loyalty program.
“Pleasure is something to be accepted, celebrated, and yes, even gifted...” says Susan Colvin, CalExotics’ founder and CEO.
While gifting a sex toy can be intimidating for some, the overall stigma of sex toy gift-giving has dramatically decreased over time. This decrease is thanks in part to the growing positivity toward sexual wellness and pleasure in Hollywood and mainstream media. According to a survey recently released by CalExotics, 88 percent of people said they would be open to receiving a sex toy as a gift from a romantic partner, with the vast majority saying they'd be "thrilled" or "intrigued" by it.
Sex toys can be a great way to rekindle relationships, strengthen friendships, and add some heat to the sex lives of consumers. So, this gift-giving season, we encourage you to find creative ways to showcase your product and help consumers struggling to find a meaningful gift. Remember, providing consumers with a unique and memorable shopping experience is key. If you do this right, you’ll be surprised by how many repeat customers you’ll gain.
Vanessa Boekenoogen is the marketing communication coordinator/copywriter for CalExotics.
