The first sex toy I ever purchased was a Blue Dolphin Vibrator from Adam & Eve. I wanted something easy to use, budget-friendly, and straight to the point. Not too long after that, I picked up a rechargeable vibrator that was not only more powerful but made of silicone, and I no longer had to sacrifice my remote batteries for my orgasms. Then recently, I reviewed the Tango X from We-Vibe, giving it a side-by-side comparison to its decade-old predecessor, the Tango. After publishing the review, I thought about what led me to upgrade other things in my life like TVs and cell phones. When we make the decision to upgrade devices of any kind, most consumers consider three things: the features, the aesthetic and the cost. I wondered if sex toy manufacturers also thought like this when deciding to create new sex toys or improve already best-selling items.
When I became a sex toy reviewer and started comparing new products alongside their original versions, I found myself giving harsher evaluations to those new and improved versions of said toys as I’d like to believe that manufacturers take their old toy back to the lab along with all of the feedback from consumers to whip up a shiny new pleasure tool that is in-fact “new and improved.” However, I’ve seen many sex toy makers ditching the idea of upgrading their best-selling models and re-inventing the wheel altogether. Which begs the question: When is it time for an upgrade? What should be considered in their new products, and how can they improve already existing sex toys without redesigning them?
When we make the decision to upgrade devices of any kind, most consumers consider three things: the features, the aesthetic and the cost.
Things to Consider
We are now living in the age of the informed consumer. Now more than ever, customers are doing their due diligence, researching sex toy materials, watching and reading up on product reviews to make the best purchasing decisions they can, or to get an idea of what’s the latest and greatest in the market. We cannot deny the influence that pop culture and social media have on the market as well. While some customers are sticking to their tried-and-true pleasure tools, giving them updated products fit for the modern world can inspire new ideas on how they see pleasure. There is definitely a huge difference between how customers bought sex toys in the last two decades and how customers are purchasing sex toys now.
Battery Life
One of the biggest things I look at when reviewing vibrators is the battery life. How much playtime I get out of a device is important. I consider things like how often I have to recharge my vibrator; if I can sit it down in one place without worrying about the magnetic connection disconnecting easily; or the frequency of which I would have to replace the battery on my battery-operated devices. Larger batteries and bigger motors work well for those needing some extra power and longer battery life and have been the singular reason I have upgraded devices. I would suggest reading through product reviews or taking online polls through social media to get an idea of what consumers think about the battery life of your existing products. I’ve been seeing interest in compact toys with long battery lives and replacing battery-operated sex toys with rechargeable versions of themselves isn’t a bad idea either.
Materials
The people have spoken. They want quality sex toys that get them off and last longer. In recent years and with the exception of some products like masturbation sleeves, body-safe and non-porous sex toy materials like silicone, ABS plastic, glass, wood and metal are now industry standards. Body-safe shouldn’t just be in the name. It has to mean something — sex toys that last longer; that are easy to clean and can be safely shared between users and their partners. Creating sex toys that last isn’t just about creating sales. It creates a trusted brand out of your company, and consumers notice if they care about the people they are selling their products to.
Add-Ons
Maybe you already have a product doing well in the market — instead of completely reinventing the wheel, why not enhance it? For example, if you have a wand vibrator, creating wand attachments that can be purchased separately can complement the vibrations that the wand delivers, while re-introducing the wand back into the market. If you have a best-selling vibrator or dildo, create a line of textured sleeves for experimenting with new sensations. Consider giving your sex toy line a fresh new look with the addition of new color options like different tones of blue, yellow, green, even orange. Gone are the days of bright pinks, dark purples and even black. New color options speak to breaking with traditional aesthetics and gender norms. The market is changing and the colors of our sex toys need to as well.
Usability and Functionality
Sex toys shouldn’t just be easy to use — they should be functional. These two things aren’t synonymous or better, in accord with one another. I can’t even tell how many sex toys I have come across that have been difficult to use, or the instructions were so unclear that using it was more pain than pleasure. If a vibrator has more than two buttons, it should come with a quick-start guide detailing button functions, how to advance vibration functions, and how to turn the device on and off. This is especially important with touch-responsive devices. And while we’re on the topic, I think there should be more vibrators with travel locks in the world, as there is in fact a huge increase in consumers traveling with their sex toys.
Marketing
Sometimes you don’t necessarily need to create or upgrade a product. The re-invention can be in how it’s marketed. Whether you choose to market to younger, older demographics, talk about new ways that consumers can get the most out of your products. Consider consulting with sex toy reviewers and reading reviews to find out how consumers use your already existing products. This can boost sales as would-be customers will see how those products can be used and will be inspired to make a purchase. Creating an information hub around your products and brand creates a community for those looking to enhance their pleasure. The possibilities are endless.
Tiffy Kink is a New York-based sex blogger. Through her blog, AquaKink.com, Tiffy introduces her readers to body-safe sex toys, sex and dating advice.
