Beate Uhse Cites New Sex Store Openings in Revenue Gain

HAMBURG, Germany — Sex shops are going mainstream, at least in Western Europe.

Beate Uhse, the company that rejected a deal to help bail out Penthouse International last week, says its finding success in building sex boutiques in a chain of German department stores.

Beate Uhse on Thursday said it posted a 5.5 percent gain in revenue in the last six months, attributing much of its financial expansion to its new erotica shop line for women, Mae B.

Beate Uhse is marketing Mae B in Karstadt department stores in Hamburg, Berlin and Frankfurt. The company, in a statement Thursday, said that the boutique chain is “outstripping even the company's own expectations.”

With the expansion, the company built a new distribution center in Almere, The Netherlands, that opened in May to help position the erotic retailer.

In Karstadt’s Frankfurt outlet, Mae B has taken a small portion of the 100,000-square-foot department store on its first floor and sells a line of sexy lingerie, body paint, fur-trimmed handcuffs and dildos.

According to the Beate Uhse, Mae B is drawing not only the German hausfrau, but also teenagers and couples.

And that makes company executives upbeat. "The strongest quarters still lie ahead," company spokesman Otto Christian Lindemann told XBiz.

In Thursday’s earnings report, Beate Uhse recorded $10.5 million in pretax profit, an increase of 32 percent from the first six months of last year.

The Beate Uhse chain has more than 200 sex shops in nine countries and recently opened one in the red-light district of Amsterdam.

The company also sells erotic lingerie, sex toys and videos through its two mail-order catalogs, Beate Uhse and Pabo.

Beate Uhse also offers adult content through its website operations and a telephone sex network in Europe. It owns 49 percent of Beate-Uhse TV.

Beate Uhse, with nearly 1,400 employees, has a wholesale manufacturing business with two latex product plants in Germany and the Netherlands.

The Beate Uhse Erotik-Museum was opened in 1996 by Beate Rotermund — the company's late founder and former chairwoman — and is among Berlin's top tourist attractions.

The Flensburg, Germany-based public company had $333.4 million in revenue in 2003.

Copyright © 2025 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 News

Elegant Angel Premieres Nicole Kitt Showcase 'Cats Eye'

Nicole Kitt gets the spotlight in a new four-part showcase release from Elegant Angel.

Sexpo Australia Relaunches as SexEx

Sexpo Australia founder David Ross has relaunched his adult lifestyle expo as SexEx.

Private Releases 'The Love Hotel 2'

Private has released “The Love Hotel 2,” directed by Dave Menich.

Orion Unveils New Styles From 'Svenjoyment Bondage' Line

Orion Wholesale has released two new styles from its Svenjoyment Bondage line.

Ember Fiera, Jesse Pony Headline 'TS Girls Do It Best' Sequel From TransSensual

Ember Fiera and Jesse Pony topline the sequel to “TS Girls Do It Best” from Mile High Media studio imprint TransSensual.

Khloe Kapri, Melissa Stratton Topline 'Lesbian Trainer 3' From Sweetheart Video

Khloe Kapri and Melissa Stratton headline the third volume of “Lesbian Trainer” from Mile High Media studio imprint Sweetheart Video.

NYC Adult Stores Lose Challenge to Zoning Law, May Face Relocation

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit on Tuesday upheld a lower court’s decision to allow enforcement of a 2001 zoning law aimed at forcing adult retail stores out of most parts of New York City.

Gal Ritchie Toplines Dorcel's 'Pigalle'

2025 XMAs winner Gal Ritchie stars with Clara Mia in the latest feature from Dorcel, titled “Pigalle.”

B-Vibe Spotlighted in Glamour Magazine

B-Vibe has been named Best for Anal Toys in a Glamour Magazine article on pleasure brands.

Williams Trading, ANME Founders Partner for Livestream Event

Williams Trading has partnered with CalExotics, Doc Johnson, and Nasstoys to host a virtual trade show July 14-15 during ANME.

Show More