SAN FRANCISCO — Good Vibrations has won a Best of 2019 Shopping & Services Award from SF Weekly’s annual Readers’ Poll.
Since Good Vibrations' founding in 1977, having trained and knowledgeable Sex Educator Sales Associates (SESAs) has been one of the retailer’s core principles.
According to SF Weekly, “It’s possible that no retail experience carries more implicit discomfort and unease than shopping for a sex toy. Unless you’ve done your homework, looking at the displays at an ‘adult’ shop can be downright intimidating. Thankfully, the staff at Good Vibrations are the perfect blend of patient, informative, casual and considerate. Being hounded with advice by an employee while comparing anal beads sounds like an axed Mr. Show sketch, but the folks behind the counter at Good Vibrations seem to be blessed with an innate sense of intuition. Not ones to hover, they’ll gladly offer insights and suggestions when approached, creating a respectful yet educational experience for all who enter. Given we’ve already lauded Good Vibrations in the past, this is simply your latest reminder that your tools of arousal are best purchased locally.”
At all nine Good Vibrations locations, education staff trains SESAs not just on sex facts but also to put guests at ease and understand their needs. From anatomical differences to product features, both in the brick-and-mortar stores and its online site GoodVibes.com, trained SESAs have helped people find answers to their question as well as product recommendations.
“We take a lot of pride in the training we provide our staff,” said Andy Duran, education director for Good Vibrations. “Our Sex Educator Sales Associates all go through 40-plus hours of training in store, including 16-plus hours of online courses and assessments. We know that one’s sexuality can be an incredibly personal and sometimes charged topic to discuss with a stranger in a store, so creating an atmosphere of safety and comfort while maintaining professional boundaries is essential to the Good Vibrations experience.”
