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Feature Articles

opinion

How to Get Shoppers in the Mood for Pleasure During the Holidays

Carolers may be singing about tidings of comfort and joy, but this time of year, the holiday rush, social fatigue and long to-do lists can leave many people feeling a bit short of both. Fortunately, consumers are now more willing to invest in self-care — and to expand their understanding of that category beyond cocoa and cozy blankets, to include sensual care and pleasure.

Rin Musick ·
opinion

How Small Stocking Stuffers Lead to Big Holiday Success for Retailers

With the holiday rush fast approaching, here’s a tip for retailers aiming to be among this year’s big winners: Think small.

Sunny Rodgers ·
trends

Retail Pulse: How Ecommerce Brands Are Driving Clicks With Creative Marketing

Running an online store for adult products is a unique challenge. Ads get flagged. Payment processors label businesses as “high risk” and shut down merchant accounts with little warning. Yet despite these obstacles, entrepreneurs are creating thriving online communities, driving consistent traffic and helping sexual wellness brands find their audience.

Ariana Rodriguez ·
trends

Retail Pulse: How Distributors Are Elevating Sales Through Education and Curation

Once seen mainly as logistics providers, distributors have progressively taken on additional and complementary roles in the pleasure industry: as educators, marketers and even brand builders. Distributors introduce brands to consumers all over the world, applying their own unique strategies to selecting the best products for their customers in various markets.

Ariana Rodriguez ·
trends

Retail Pulse: How Brick-and-Mortar Stores Are Boosting Sales With Ambiance and Service

Walking into an adult store and being greeted by someone who not only knows the difference between various kinds of materials and motors, but also understands and empathizes, is where brick-and-mortar retailers really shine. Physical spaces enable them to engage shoppers’ senses, build rapport in real time and close sales.

Ariana Rodriguez ·
profile

WIA Profile: Brittany Greenberg

When Brittany Greenberg first walked into an adult store as a curious shopper, she felt something was missing. The lighting was dim, the product selection lacked focus and the atmosphere whispered “shame” rather than celebration.

Women in Adult ·
profile

Zondre Watson Levels Up POS, E-Commerce Solutions for Ero-Tech

When POS systems malfunction or fail, Zondre Watson is Ero-Tech's go-to tech guy. A self-described “data geek and eternal retail rebel,” Watson knows adult retail inside and out. He’s experienced the sex toy industry as a store manager, sales data enthusiast and web developer.

Colleen Godin ·
opinion

How Adult Retailers Can Retain Staff, Strengthen Team Morale

Running an adult retail store is not just about stocking shelves with fun products. It’s also about creating a space where people feel comfortable, curious and confident in exploring pleasure — and the heart of that experience is your staff.

Rin Musick ·
opinion

AI Inventory Tools That Help Retailers Save Time, Boost Accuracy

Last month, I discussed how managing your inventory with AI can help you make sure that your store stocks what sells — not merchandise that gathers dust. That’s because AI tools can analyze data, identify trends and predict demand for thousands of items across multiple locations, all within minutes.

Zondre Watson ·
opinion

Why Blue Tick Verification on Instagram Matters for Sexual Wellness Pros

In an era when misinformation proliferates so rapidly, establishing trust with your audience is both more difficult and more crucial than ever. That blue check mark next to your name on Instagram — the Meta Verified badge — can mean the difference between achieving credibility and being ignored.

Naima Karp ·
opinion

How Genuine Connection Drives Retail Success

When I hear struggling adult retailers lament about a lack of customers, I want to sympathize, but I also want to tell them: “People haven’t stopped shopping. They haven’t lost interest in pleasure, play or discovery. If your business is underperforming, the problem may not be your customer base. It may be how you’re connecting with them — or failing to.”

Alexandra Bouchard ·
opinion

How Retailers Can Keep Travel-Season Sales Going Beyond the Holidays

It’s November, and that means quick escapes. The couple planning a cozy night in, the weekend guest grabbing a cheeky host gift, and the solo traveler prepping for an impulsive getaway all share one thing in common: They’re not just browsing; they’re assembling a discreet, travel-ready kit to have all their pleasure essentials packed and ready.

Sunny Rodgers ·
profile

WIA Profile: Sandra Bruce

It goes without saying that a retailer who takes a “hands-on” approach to guaranteeing quality and safety is more likely to earn customer trust and loyalty. In the pleasure industry, where shoppers seek products to enhance their intimate lives — and even fulfill their deepest desires — that personal touch is even more impactful.

Women in Adult ·
profile

The Male Rose Co-Founder Heather Gruber Discusses Journey in Building the Brand

Recognizing high demand and interest as profitable pleasure products spread across influencer platforms, in 2021, Jamael Williams and Heather Gruber decided to launch a company with a clear mission: to help men feel more comfortable using pleasure products and talking about them with their partners.

Colleen Godin ·
opinion

The Basics of Total Cost of Ownership in Retail

Almost every retailer has experienced that “oh no” moment. It’s when support tickets pile up, staff can’t get answers fast enough, store openings get delayed because Wi-Fi isn’t ready, or the POS proves to be outdated. Suddenly you’re too busy fixing problems to focus on driving sales.

Sean Quinn ·
opinion

How to Market a Product You Can't Name or Show Online

You’re trying to sell legal, helpful products to consenting adults — yet the internet treats those products like a problem. The viral success every brand dreams of can seem maddeningly elusive when search engines block or restrict common keywords, social feeds shadow-ban PG posts, review bots misread images and policies shift overnight with no notice.

Hail Groo ·
opinion

How Managing Inventory With AI Helps Retailers Stock Smarter

If you’ve ever stood in a stockroom looking at a wall of unsold merchandise, then you know this basic truth: Your inventory is an asset — until it starts gathering dust. But how do we predict what customers want? That’s the eternal retail dilemma.

Zondre Watson ·
opinion

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.

Sara Gaffoor ·
opinion

What Sexual Wellness Brands Can Learn From Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift is an undeniable cultural force, but her superpower isn’t just music. From surprise album drops on podcasts to billion-dollar tours, the Swiftie empire has turned into a global movement in large part thanks to effective marketing.

Naima Karp ·
opinion

How Humor Breaks the Ice in Adult Retail

Laughter sells. That’s especially true in our industry. Where vulnerability and curiosity walk through the door together, humor can help turn hesitation into comfort.

Alexandra Bouchard ·
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