opinion

Style, Function Are Key to Anal Toy Shoppers

Style, Function Are Key to Anal Toy Shoppers

These days sex toys are bringing more to the table than ever before: high-tech features, special formulations, proprietary materials, unique ingredients, and more. With so much focus on what sex toys can do, it can be easy to overlook how much pleasure products have evolved aesthetically, too. Modern consumers want toys that have it all, and functionality isn’t the only key selling point for them. They want products that provide pleasure and look good while doing it, and there’s one particular category that I believe offers some truly interesting visual appeal: butt plugs. Let’s see how these once-simple toys have advanced to become fun fashion statements and unique extensions of our personalities!

So, What are Butt Plugs?

These days there are butt plugs available that cater not only to shoppers’ stimulation needs but also their unique sense of style and personality.

When I say butt plug, I am referring to toys made specifically to be inserted into the rectum for sexual pleasure. They tend to have tapered tips for easy, comfortable insertion and must have flared bases to prevent them from becoming lost in the rectum. This flared base is where we’ve seen companies having a ton of fun with aesthetics and accessorizing. (I’ll get into that more in a moment.)

The Evolution of the Butt Plug

Butt plugs were originally sold as prescription medical devices that were meant to treat ailments like insomnia, constipation and acne. (The history of sex toys is wild!) Modern anal plugs have come a long way from their medical device roots and now make up a huge category designed with mostly pleasure in mind. Today’s butt plugs come in many shapes and sizes designed to serve a variety of needs, including expansion and anal training, prostate stimulation, dual penetration, and sensation enhancement. They are often made with high-quality, easy-to-clean, body-safe materials like stainless steel, platinum silicone, and borosilicate glass, and though the materials themselves remain relatively straightforward, it’s what companies are doing with the base — the part of the plug that’s visible while being worn — that stands out.

Plugs Go From Basic to Badass

Many people wear butt plugs as fun accessories, tools that introduce fun and whimsy into play, and there are so many different options for consumers who want to decorate their derrieres. Some brands offer traditionally shaped plugs with a variety of decorations on their exterior ends, including glittery gems, ceramic rosebuds, and even interchangeable LED lights controlled by an external remote. These super-fun plugs allow users to express their unique personalities while enjoying anal stimulation, and the whimsical designs make them welcoming to first-time users who may be intimidated by anal play.

Butt Plugs With Style and Substance

Some shoppers want to enjoy the look of a blingy plug but don’t want to skimp on the erotic sensation that heftier plugs can offer, which is why there are metal plugs featuring weighted and decorated bases. Items like the Hot Pink Gem Weighted Anal Plug combine sensation play with aesthetic décor; functionally, its nickel-free aluminum construction allows for temperature play and its base is weighted significantly to appeal to sensation enthusiasts — but set in each weighted base is a glittery pink gem. Because they come in three sizes with graduated weights, items like this cater to anal aficionados who need next-level plugs but also want to enjoy the gem trend.

Bringing Novelty Into the Butt Plug Game

Some shoppers simply want something fun — sometimes even silly — from their anal plugs in order to add levity and personalization to something that otherwise might feel too serious. That’s where anal plugs with novelty accents come in handy for retailers. Whimsical designs may incorporate symbolism in order to appeal to a different consumer, and some of these plugs even come in three-piece sets for size trainers. Some of the newest plugs on the market combine the novelty aesthetic with butt plug musts, like premium silicone and remote-control vibration, with fun, flashy accents.

Help Shoppers Discover the Plug of Their Dreams

Butt plugs are perennially popular, and most stores have multiple options on hand at any given time. But does your store also cater to shoppers who want to make butt stuff feel even more fun? Embracing these trends can expand your customer base and offer options that shoppers may never have known existed outside of a novelty shop — show them that they don’t have to skimp on quality and body-safety in order to enjoy something with some flash or pizzazz. The benefit of having blinged-out butt toys on display is they’re eye-catching, pretty to look at, and fun to test before buying. An enticing butt plug display — with samples — might be enough to make a sale without a staff member even having to say a word.

These days there are butt plugs available that cater not only to shoppers' stimulation needs but also their unique sense of style and personality. Retailers who are aware of the newest features and latest trends will be well-positioned to help every customer that comes through their door find the plug that fits them best!

Rebecca Weinberg is the president of XR Brands.

Related:  

Copyright © 2025 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

opinion

Kraig McGee Blends Family Biz Experience, Creative Background at TAF Distributing

Walk into any Adam & Eve store in the Mountain West region of the U.S. and you’ve likely stumbled into a TAF Distributing outfit. Owned by industry veteran Kraig McGee Jr. and staffed by his closest family members, McGee’s 35 TAF-operated stores span 13 states, from woodsy Idaho to scenic Utah and well beyond.

Colleen Godwin ·
opinion

How Pleasure Brands Can Ethically Market to LGBTQ+ Communities

Every June, the rainbow floodgates open. Suddenly, pleasure products are “Pride-themed,” companies change their logos and brands rush to show just how inclusive they are — at least for 30 days. But as a queer, nonbinary marketing strategist who works with adult brands year-round, I’m here to say: Rainbow dildos alone are not progress. They’re often just noise.

Hail Groo ·
opinion

A Retailer's Road Map for First-Timers' Anal August

Anal August offers a prime opportunity for brands and stores to capture new customers and drive growth in a category that’s gaining mainstream momentum. As consumer interest in anal play continues to rise, now is the time to meet first-time buyers where they are, with approachable products, trusted education and a clear path to pleasure.

Matthew Spindler ·
opinion

Optimizing Your Leadership Through Wellness Practices

For many of us, 2025 has proved intensely stressful — and we’re still only halfway through the year. In times like these, it may seem counterintuitive or even irresponsible to talk about seeking pleasure. Yet pleasure, presence, joy and connection can help you return to a mental and physical state that allows you to face and handle stressors.

Sarah Tomchesson ·
opinion

Chastity Play Is Trending: Why It Should Be in Your Marketing Strategy

From chastity fetishes to power play, erotic control — once considered an esoteric niche within the world of BDSM — is now entering the mainstream. Google searches for “chastity cages,” “chastity fetish” and “orgasm denial” have exploded over the past year, with interest especially high for beginner-friendly models.

Naima Karp ·
opinion

A Look at Adult Retail's Role in Community Care

In the adult retail industry, we focus on empowerment, exploration and connection. We connect people with products that can transform their relationships with their bodies, with their partners and with themselves.

Rin Musick ·
trends

A Deep Dive Into Key Trends Shaping Pleasure Products

In 2025, the pleasure industry is evolving in intentional ways. Rather than racing toward newness for novelty’s sake, brands are reassessing everything from shape and function to what price intended shoppers can afford.

Ariana Rodriguez ·
profile

WIA Profile: Jia Jeng

Modern branding is all about storytelling — and Jia Jeng certainly knows how to tell an authentic, perspective-shifting tale. As brand manager for ID Lubricants, Jeng applies her creative talent to shaping the long-established company’s public image in a way that aligns with her own vision for an ethical future.

Women in Adult ·
profile

Spicerack Market Offers Indie Brands a Launching Pad

Spicerack Market is an ecommerce platform with the heart of an artisan crafter and the soul of a kinkster. On the website, independent sex toy makers, lingerie seamstresses and kink gear craftspeople can set up a personalized shop to sell their handmade wares, unhindered by censorship or bans on adult products.

Colleen Godin ·
opinion

Strategies to Bring Pleasure Brands into the Spotlight

Every brand dreams about landing a feature in The New York Times or Men’s Health — and pleasure brands are no exception. After all, mainstream media coverage isn’t just a vanity milestone. It builds trust, attracts new audiences and opens doors to connecting with retailers, partnerships, and investors.

Hail Groo ·
Show More