opinion

A Retail Guide for Boosting Sales in the Often-Overlooked Nipple Play Category

A Retail Guide for Boosting Sales in the Often-Overlooked Nipple Play Category

When it comes to sex toys, one area of the body that often gets overlooked by both consumers and salespeople is the nipples. Even though human nipples are packed with nerve endings and are sensitive and responsive across genders, they frequently get ignored as a focus for pleasure products — usually simply because nipple toys are small and come in tiny packaging.

That means sales opportunities are also being missed. Here are some tips for making sure nipple toys — and nipples — get the attention they deserve.

B2B salespeople should remind customers not to ignore the power of a “small” product, and emphasize that nipple toys are affordable.

A Variety of Options

Start off new users by recommending a product that’s easy to use and non-intimidating. Nipple suckers are a fantastic choice for introducing shoppers to this category. They offer gentle suction, which increases blood flow to the area and enhances sensitivity. Some models include vibration for added stimulation. Nipple suckers are also easy to demo in-store, on your hand or arm. A bit of water-based lubricant can be added around the base to improve suction. Encourage staff to describe the sensations — suction, vibration, heightened sensitivity — so customers understand what to expect, and to point out that vibrating nipple suckers are great for both solo play and use with a partner.

Once a customer gets more comfortable with nipple play, introduce products that offer a little more intensity, such as nipple clamps. Unlike vibrators with many settings for users to choose from, clamps offer steady, saucy pressure for those who enjoy deeper sensations. They also double as a visual accessory, which appeals to lingerie lovers and those into aesthetic play. Adjustable clamps allow users to customize the level of pressure to suit their personal sensitivity and tastes.

Repurposing and Repackaging

In addition to the items mentioned above, many toys designed for genital use can also be used for nipple stimulation. Encourage shoppers to experiment with:

  • Air pulse or suction toys: Used on the nipples, these can be amazing for heightening blood flow and sensitivity.
  • Textured vibrators or ridged bullets: These are ideal for external teasing.
  • Tingling gels, warming creams or cooling lubes: These can add to the range of sensations, especially water-based formulas designed for the nipple area.

These extras not only amplify the effects of suction or pressure, creating a fuller sensory experience, but also make for an easy add-on sale.

Speaking of which, including clamps and other nipple toys as part of a kit can help introduce shoppers to new sensations. Remind your B2B clients that customers shopping for gifts, couples’ sets or even bachelorette presents often go for fun kits that tick all the boxes. These kinds of kits let customers explore different sensations, which often leads to future purchases of more advanced versions.

If a customer is unsure what they like or is buying for someone else, recommend a starter kit that includes nipple accessories like feathered clamps for lighter, teasing play, alongside introductory BDSM items like fuzzy handcuffs and paddles, for a well-balanced mix of visual, tactile and pressure-based stimulation.

Tips for Floor and B2B Staff

Feature nipple toys in displays, keep the packaging visible and train in-store staff to recommend them and ask open-ended questions like “Have you ever tried nipple stimulation?” or “Are you looking for something to tease or to please?” They should show confidence in recommending options, and be sure to demonstrate or describe sensations — e.g., “This gives a gentle but saucy tug, like a teasing kiss.” Most importantly: Frame nipple play as a form of exploration, not just a kink.

B2B salespeople should remind customers not to ignore the power of a “small” product. Emphasize that nipple toys are affordable, effective and perfect for first-time buyers and couples looking to try something new or explore full-body pleasure, as well as customers interested in BDSM.

Nipple toys can appeal to a wide range of customers, whether they’re new to sex toys or seasoned players. From temperature play to pressure, suction, vibration or tingling sensations, the possibilities are as fun as they are profitable. As B2B salespeople and retail staff members, we have the opportunity to educate customers on nipple stimulation, help them discover overlooked opportunities for full-body pleasure — and boost our bottom line while we’re at it.

Sara Gaffoor is the Canadian sales rep for Nasstoys.

Related:  

Copyright © 2026 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

Meghan Dunkel Brings Momentum, Focus to Sales Management

As an 18-year veteran of the sex toy business, Meghan Dunkel has witnessed plenty of the industry’s ups and downs. One of her big takeaways: Only the most committed end up staying.

Women In Adult ·
profile

Viben Toys Aims to Personalize Pleasure in the Affordable Luxury Market

If your customer’s sex toy collection doesn’t include a pulsating purple unicorn or a rose equipped with a tongue, it may be time to introduce them to Viben Toys.

Colleen Godin ·
profile

Condom Sense's Adam Edwards on Driving Retail With Purpose

Still, the inclement weather can’t stop Edwards from doing something he’s done for most of his adult life: talking shop. About six and a half years ago, as soon he turned 18, he joined Condom Sense. His father, Mike Edwards, started the company in the 1990s.

Jackie Backman ·
profile

Delicto Serves Up Online Retail With a Side of Super-Charged Sex-Ed

Meet Rose MacDowell and Sarah Riccio, co-founders of the online pleasure product hot spot Delicto.com. Since 2021, these business owner besties have been slinging vibes and dildos while openly sharing their love for self-induced orgasms on social media — a strategy that has earned Delicto half a million followers on TikTok.

Colleen Godin ·
opinion

Tips for 'Soft Selling' to Today's Shoppers

"This is our bestseller.” “You should get this one instead; it’s stronger.” “This one costs more — but it’s way better!” In adult retail, sweeping statements like these can sound impersonal and make shoppers feel rushed, unseen and unsupported.

Sara Gaffoor ·
opinion

A Guide to Displaying Sex Dolls In-Store

Sex dolls are high-priced and visually striking, but often misunderstood by first-time buyers. Displayed poorly, they can seem intimidating, gimmicky or off-putting. Displayed well, they become conversation starters, high-quality premium products and confidence-boosting sales opportunities.

Jessica Sav ·
opinion

How AI Is Modernizing Retail HR

With 21 locations, I’m pretty much always hiring. Unfortunately, the employment market these days can be chaotic, as candidates send out applications across dozens of job boards with a single click. For managers like me, this results in more time spent sorting through signals and static.

Zondre Watson ·
opinion

Rethinking Influencer Marketing in Sexual Wellness

Influencer marketing has evolved over the past several years, and that ripple has extended to the sexual wellness industry. The factors driving the appeal of partnering with influencers — raising awareness and expanding reach — remain just as important as they did when such partnerships first became common.

Naima Karp ·
trends

Meet the New Class of Pleasure Purveyors Making Waves

The sexual wellness industry has always evolved in response to cultural shifts, but the current wave of up-and-coming pleasure brands signals something deeper than trend cycles or aesthetic refreshes. These founders aren’t just launching new products; they are reframing what intimacy means, who it is for and how it fits into everyday life. Across supplements, toys, aftercare and even divination decks, a new generation of brands is closing long-ignored gaps — between pleasure and wellness, fantasy and function, science and sensuality, individuality and shared experience.

Ariana Rodriguez ·
profile

Viben's Kara Liburd on Building a Fulfilling Career in the Industry

“We work in an industry where trust, follow-through and service matter just as much as product quality,” declares Viben sales exec Kara Liburd. “Retailers today want analytics, marketing assets and deeper product knowledge, and brands are stepping up to provide that support.”

Colleen Godin ·
Show More