Feature Articles
Why It's Time for Adult Retail to Embrace AI
opinion
Why It's Time for Adult Retail to Embrace AI
In the late 1980s, I was working in the rental car business. My first company didn’t have a single computer. Everything — contracts, inventory, employee records — was done by hand. If you wanted a report, you dug through paper files and crunched numbers on a calculator. It was tedious, but it was all we knew.
What Retailers Gain by Partnering With Family-Run Brands
opinion
What Retailers Gain by Partnering With Family-Run Brands
In an age increasingly dominated by corporate consolidation and faceless supply chains, choosing to work with a family-owned and operated business can offer retailers a depth of value that goes far beyond pricing and product margins.
How the 'Back Massager' Vibrator Became the World's Most Versatile Sex Toy
opinion
How the 'Back Massager' Vibrator Became the World's Most Versatile Sex Toy
Wand vibrators are once again having a pop culture moment. Recently, Harry Styles expanded his lifestyle brand, Pleasing, by introducing a “Pleasing Yourself” double-sided wand vibrator developed in collaboration with sex educator Zoë Ligon.
Strategic Retail Buying in a Shifting Pleasure Economy
opinion
Strategic Retail Buying in a Shifting Pleasure Economy
Retail buying has never been a static job, but recent volatility in pricing, caused by shifting tariffs, global import costs and freight variations, has demanded a new level of agility for adult industry buyers and managers. As business expenses rise, so does the pressure to optimize the return on every product.
Michigan's Intimate Ideas Offers Playful Retail Setting for Wide Range of Shoppers
opinion
Michigan's Intimate Ideas Offers Playful Retail Setting for Wide Range of Shoppers
Jerry Manis, the regional manager of Intimate Ideas’ Michigan stores, never planned on working in adult retail — but he says it’s turned out to be a surprisingly rewarding gig.
Kraig McGee Blends Family Values, Creative Background at TAF Distributing
opinion
Kraig McGee Blends Family Values, Creative Background at TAF Distributing
Walk into any Adam & Eve store in the Mountain West region of the U.S. and you’ve likely stumbled into a TAF Distributing outfit. Owned by industry veteran Kraig McGee Jr. and staffed by his closest family members, McGee’s 35 TAF-operated stores span 13 states, from woodsy Idaho to scenic Utah and well beyond.
How Pleasure Brands Can Ethically Market to LGBTQ+ Communities
opinion
How Pleasure Brands Can Ethically Market to LGBTQ+ Communities
Every June, the rainbow floodgates open. Suddenly, pleasure products are “Pride-themed,” companies change their logos and brands rush to show just how inclusive they are — at least for 30 days. But as a queer, nonbinary marketing strategist who works with adult brands year-round, I’m here to say: Rainbow dildos alone are not progress. They’re often just noise.
A Retailer's Road Map for First-Timers' Anal August
opinion
A Retailer's Road Map for First-Timers' Anal August
Anal August offers a prime opportunity for brands and stores to capture new customers and drive growth in a category that’s gaining mainstream momentum. As consumer interest in anal play continues to rise, now is the time to meet first-time buyers where they are, with approachable products, trusted education and a clear path to pleasure.
Optimizing Your Leadership Through Wellness Practices
opinion
Optimizing Your Leadership Through Wellness Practices
For many of us, 2025 has proved intensely stressful — and we’re still only halfway through the year. In times like these, it may seem counterintuitive or even irresponsible to talk about seeking pleasure. Yet pleasure, presence, joy and connection can help you return to a mental and physical state that allows you to face and handle stressors.
Chastity Play Is Trending: Why It Should Be in Your Marketing Strategy
opinion
Chastity Play Is Trending: Why It Should Be in Your Marketing Strategy
From chastity fetishes to power play, erotic control — once considered an esoteric niche within the world of BDSM — is now entering the mainstream. Google searches for “chastity cages,” “chastity fetish” and “orgasm denial” have exploded over the past year, with interest especially high for beginner-friendly models.
A Look at Adult Retail's Role in Community Care
opinion
A Look at Adult Retail's Role in Community Care
In the adult retail industry, we focus on empowerment, exploration and connection. We connect people with products that can transform their relationships with their bodies, with their partners and with themselves.
Strategies to Bring Pleasure Brands Into the Spotlight
opinion
Strategies to Bring Pleasure Brands Into the Spotlight
Every brand dreams about landing a feature in The New York Times or Men’s Health — and pleasure brands are no exception. After all, mainstream media coverage isn’t just a vanity milestone. It builds trust, attracts new audiences and opens doors to connecting with retailers, partnerships, and investors.
Is Your Retail Business Sextech-Ready?
opinion
Is Your Retail Business Sextech-Ready?
Sextech isn’t just a niche novelty anymore; it’s the future of sexual wellness. From wearable sex toys that provide biofeedback to interactive sex toys with AI capabilities, sextech has made significant progress over the past few years.
Top Product Launch Tactics to Boost Q4 Sales
opinion
Top Product Launch Tactics to Boost Q4 Sales
According to recent industry insights, over 70% of sexual wellness brands finalize their Q4 lineups between July and early September. This is a high-stakes window for launching new products.
Scroll-Stopping Social Media Strategies to Capture Short Attention Spans
opinion
Scroll-Stopping Social Media Strategies to Capture Short Attention Spans
Attention spans are shrinking across all types of media. No matter how innovative a concept may be, if it doesn’t stop the scroll, it’s quickly forgotten. That’s why Netflix has intentionally been simplifying its content, with executives directing writers to create scripts that are less complex and nuanced, and more second-screen-friendly.
The Hidden Cost of Letting Retail Define Pleasure Brands
opinion
The Hidden Cost of Letting Retail Define Pleasure Brands
Not long ago, spotting vibrators and lubricants at a national chain like Target or CVS might have raised eyebrows. Now, it’s almost expected.
Rebranding Sexual Wellness Through a Self-Care Approach
opinion
Rebranding Sexual Wellness Through a Self-Care Approach
As most of us in the industry already know, sexual wellness remains the black sheep of self-care. Discussions about wellness glorify meditation apps, skincare routines and workout regimens — but mention masturbation or using a sex toy, and most people shy away from the topic.
Why Sex Toy Innovation Isn't What Shoppers Want Right Now
opinion
Why Sex Toy Innovation Isn't What Shoppers Want Right Now
During my first year in the industry, the luxury vibrator on shelves was LELO’s Gigi, priced at $109. It was made with high-quality silicone, boasted an ergonomic design, a travel lock and a warranty. Soon after, Je Joue released its first product, SaSi, which employed “rolling ball” movements to simulate oral sex.
How Adult Retailers Can Enhance Sales With Supplements
opinion
How Adult Retailers Can Enhance Sales With Supplements
The supplement industry is big business. In 2024, Future Market Insights estimated it to be valued at $74.3 billion, and other market research firms anticipate that number will grow to upwards of $170 billion in just 10 years.
Why It's Time the Pleasure Industry Got Serious About IPX Waterproof Ratings
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opinion
Why It's Time the Pleasure Industry Got Serious About IPX Waterproof Ratings
As someone who regularly communicates with manufacturers, retailers and consumers, I’ve seen how this ambiguity can do a disservice to both the customers who use these products and the businesses that sell them.
