AUSTIN, Texas — Marcelle LeBlanc, CEO of adult retailer Velvet Box, has released an open letter to Texas retailers in response to HB 1549, a proposed law that would ban the sale of sex toys in big box stores and potentially affect boutique retailers as well.
The letter follows:
Dear Texas Retailers,
I am reaching out to alert you to House Bill 1549, a piece of legislation currently under review that could have serious unintended consequences for specialized boutiques like ours. While the bill aims to prevent minors from exposure to adult products, it fails to differentiate between large general retailers (like Walmart, Target, and Spencer’s Gifts) and specialized boutiques that serve only adults in a responsible, professional setting.
We fully acknowledge and respect Representative Hickland’s concerns regarding the protection of minors, and we share the belief that children should not have access to adult products. We appreciate the intent behind HB 1549, and we want to be part of the solution in a way that is both effective and fair. Our approach is one of collaboration, respect, and kindness, as we believe that constructive dialogue is the best way to ensure that well-intended policies do not unintentionally harm responsible businesses.
If passed in its current form, HB 1549 could force many of us out of business by requiring specialized retailers to register as sexually oriented businesses (SOBs), subjecting us to zoning restrictions that make it nearly impossible to operate.
Why This Matters to You
Severe Business Disruption – If classified as an SOB, many retailers would be unable to operate due to zoning restrictions, leading to store closures and job losses.
A Better Solution
Rather than unintentionally harming responsible businesses, we propose:
Regulating general retailers to ensure that adult products are displayed in areas not accessible to minors.
Establishing clear distinctions between general retailers and specialized boutiques to prevent unnecessary and damaging restrictions on small businesses that already operate responsibly and serve only adults.What You Can Do Today
Call or email your Texas representatives in addition to Rep. Hillary Hickland and urge them to revise HB 1549 to exclude specialized boutiques from the SOB classification. Emphasize that a more effective and fair approach would be to regulate large general retailers while making clear distinctions between them and specialized boutiques.
When reaching out, please remember:
- Approach with respect and professionalism. We want lawmakers to see us as partners in solving this issue, not opponents.
- Acknowledge the concern. It is important to recognize that protecting minors is a shared goal and that our industry is already taking responsible measures to ensure this.
- Advocate for targeted solutions. Explain that it is far simpler and more effective to regulate how adult products are displayed in large, general retailers rather than misclassifying specialized boutiques that already restrict access to adults.
Find your representative here.
Email Representative Hickland here.Spread the word to fellow business owners and customers — the more voices we have, the stronger our impact.
We respect and acknowledge the intent behind HB 1549, and we agree that protecting minors is a priority. However, there are better ways to achieve this without jeopardizing responsible small businesses.
Sincerely,
Marcelle LeBlanc, CEO
Velvet Box
For more information, contact LeBlanc at marcelle@thevelvetbox.com.
