I love rope! Rope bondage has been described as “gateway” kink. Many love experimenting with bondage and sex without playing with pain. Sexual positions can even be more comfortable when adding rope bondage to take weight off some spots or add support to others. Rope itself can be a form of sexy accessory. Every pleasure product shop should have some rope for bondage available, and should consider rope bondage classes to bring in more customers.
The only thing better than rope for bondage is a lot of rope for bondage. First-time couples showing up for a bondage class with one small bundle of expensive jute rope can be sad. Bondage newbies are going to have better experiences and be more enthusiastic with at least three to four 30-foot-long bundles of well-priced, user-friendly rope. Working with rope is addictive, and newbs will gravitate towards more expensive rope as they experiment and accessorize.
Working with rope is addictive, and newbs will gravitate towards more expensive rope as they experiment and accessorize.
Braided cotton is the most affordable. Beginners love it because braided cotton is inexpensive, comes in pretty colors, and is easy to find on the internet. It is very forgiving and soft. Those qualities are great, but braided cotton is not safe for suspension. Once you add weight, braided cotton will stretch, cutting off circulation and causing other problems. Only use braided for floor work or where weight will not be added. Like other ropes with natural materials, cotton has a slight tooth to the material, which means knots don't have to be super tight to hold, just hitched properly. This is important to know because we've seen knots on braided cotton so tight, they had to be cut to undo the tie.
Avoid any braided rope with a solid core. We've seen braided ropes with plastic, wire, and even lead cores. That's not safe for bondage and the rope will begin to self-destruct with use.
I recommend braided multi-filament polypropylene (MFP) synthetic rope for beginners. MFP is a better value, has a great look, is easy to clean and is user-friendly. Unlike braided cotton, MFP can be used for suspension. Beginners and advanced riggers love that, unlike more expensive twisted ropes, MFP doesn't unravel. Beginners can get their rope-handling skills down with MFP, like pulling the rope through a tie instead of pushing it through. Advanced bondage enthusiasts love the colors and the low maintenance of the material. Due to the sexy, smooth surface of MFP, an extra hitch or knot may be necessary to lock down your tie, which is easy.
If there's a bratty escape artist in a couple looking to buy rope, suggest the MFP or braided cotton. The aspiring Houdini may be sexy, but they're better off picking through an MFP than a more expensive rope while trying to wiggle loose.
There is a twisted-cotton and synthetic blend I like to work with. This rope is super soft. For those who love to play in the club scene, it is available in black-light reactive colors. This gives it an awesome look in the dark! This blended rope is not advised for suspension and weight, but is still great for floor work, decorative harnesses, predicament bondage and looks badass when used for a rope corset.
Hemp rope is very popular with advanced players and there are a lot of requests for it. The material is perfect for suspension, and very durable when handled correctly.
However, natural fiber hemp can cause allergic reactions in people who have hay fever and pollen allergies. Hemp is awesome for those who can use it. If you stock it, ask those requesting it if they've played with it before and if they're allergic to pollen or get hay fever.
Twisted jute rope is often considered the gold standard in bondage. Master class bondage experts love jute, and I love it too! You'll see jute in most of the erotic bondage photography out there. The material is natural and has the traditional look for bondage. Jute is strong and is frequently used for suspension.
I love one particular colored jute that has been conditioned to be softer than usual. The maker has a conductive version for use with a violet wand. While this rope is higher in price, it is worth every penny and the bondage bunnies agree!
Source your hemp and jute carefully. Jute for bondage has to be properly washed and conditioned before it is suitable for tying a partner. Cheap jute that hasn't been conditioned may also contain pesticides because bugs love it. Some cheap jute is being marketed online as hemp. Know the differences and the sources before offering hemp and jute to customers.
Hemp and jute are not recommended for beginning players. These ropes are quality investments. Jute and hemp need tender loving care to last. Since these ropes are twisted, improper handling and cleaning can cause the ropes to unravel, and the damage can't be undone. Tossing a bag of jute rope in a washing machine will destroy it. There are some who don't wash these ropes at all, making them very personal items. Including care instructions with rope is always a smart move.
When stocking rope, don't forget the accessories! Popular accessories include anal "hooks,” and violet wand kits for conductive rope. There's also the typical upsell potential of beginners’ kink items like paddles, butt plugs and nipple clamps.
One final accessory my peers and I stock when touring events is paramedic-grade safety scissors. If something goes wrong, it's not always necessary to cut the rope, but every rope bondage lover's gear bag should have a durable pair of safety scissors that can cut through any rope.
There are potential rope bondage lovers every day; many are daunted by pricey rope, fancy techniques and complex ties. While we offer great books on bondage, one little secret is much of the bondage you'll see is actually macramé techniques. Inexpensive macramé craft books are a good start for newbies.
When selling rope for bondage, don't forget to point out that rope is a great fetish fashion accessory. While a lot of latex and fetish gear can be prohibitively expensive for curious fetishists, rope is an inexpensive alternative that turns heads. There are a number of easy-to- learn decorative rope harnesses that look great over a bodysuit.
If you're running a brick-and-mortar store and haven't tried rope bondage, we recommend learning more. It's great fun, and you get to know more about your product. Consider reaching out to a local club on Fetlife.com to see if some of their rope enthusiasts would like to offer classes or workshops at a spot in your store. This makes for a great way to sell rope and additional gear.
Rope bondage is easy to start and a lifetime of kinky fun to master. Don't miss out on this enjoyable way to grow your customer base, sell more products, and have a lot of fun.
Anne B. operates online retail shop TheDungeonStore.com.
