Page 62 - AVN May 2015

FEATURE
INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS SEEM TO
APPRECIATE OUR HIGH-END PRODUCTS
AS THEY ARE MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE
OVERSEAS.
—ANTRECE, ADAM & EVE STORES FRANCHISEE
FEATURE | By Kim Airs
MAKERS & SELLERS Left, Bob Wolf of Synergy Erotics at the Altitude Intimates show. Megan Swartz of Déjà Vu (far right) was also at the show with co-worker Annber Kealoha.
And despite being further inland,
shipping costs haven’t been a problem.
“As odd as it sounds, the cost to have our
freight shipped from Long Beach to Las
Vegas is only nominally more expensive
than shipping from Oakland to South
San Francisco, and any increased freight
costs are easily offset by the significantly
lower cost of warehouse space.” Overall,
Wolf has no regrets about relocating to
Sin City.
Regarding the variety of adult retail
stores in Las Vegas, Comella said, “I think
the geography of sex shops in Vegas is
really interesting. There are, for example,
a handful of old-school sex shops with
video booths and glory holes that still
exist and that haven’t been zoned out
of existence” (such as Showgirls Video
on Las Vegas Boulevard, which has been
immortalized by the late Bill Margold’s
collection of cement hand, boob, butt and
shoe prints from many famous, old-school
porn stars displayed on the wall of the
shabby yet endearing store). “There are
also a number of sex shops that have
really worked to redefine themselves
over the past few years as the women’s
market for sex toys and pornography has
grown. Those stores have been repainted
and made them lighter and brighter,
hired women to work on the sales floor,
and started carrying higher quality
products. It’s been a really interesting and
noticeable shift.”
Some prime examples of this shift are
the Love Store (a three-store chain), and
couples-friendly branches of the national
chains Lion’s Den and Hustler. Comella
appreciates that Las Vegas offers a wide
variety of sex shops that cater to different
kinds of customers, all within several
miles of each other.
Megan Swartz, buyer and manager
of the two Déjà Vu stores in Las Vegas,
revealed that, surprisingly, the Déjà Vu
stores cater to a majority of locals—70
percent local and 30 percent tourists—but
sales are 50/50 between the two customer
bases. Both stores offer the additional grown-up temptations of arcades, theaters, and an adjacent strip club next to the
Industrial Boulevard location.
As an adult retail business that caters to tourists, Swartz commented, “Déjà Vu is well known by the casino doors (bell/
valet/concierge) for our clubs and boutiques. We are also well known by the cab and limo companies. Typically when you
are traveling, those would be the people you would ask for recommendations.”
Tourists shop at Déjà Vu for the best of the best, and Swartz noted that those customers are usually married couples or
couples in long-term relationships. “They either do not have ‘shops like these’ where they are from or are embarrassed
to visit adult stores because they are from a small town where everyone knows everyone. Either way, that is usually the
customer that will load up on suggested items.”
But it doesn’t stop with those customers. Bachelorette and bachelor groups often visit Déjà Vu for party favors and pole
classes. And many other shoppers are looking to buy some items for their weekend getaway to throw out before returning
home to a significant other. Yes, many rely on the motto “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.”
Sticking to Las Vegas’ well-deserved nickname of “Sin City,” the community is often a hot spot for swingers and escorts
having a good time in the city. Swartz shared, “Of course, we get swingers in! They are no stranger to having a little fun in
the bedroom and we welcome them. We get a lot of entertainers because we are right in the heart of the gentlemen’s clubs
and we have the best selection in town.
“We definitely get escorts and they are the BEST kind of customer. They get a thrill out of being catered to and having
money spent on them frivolously!” she exclaimed. “Honestly, most of the men get an equal thrill out of dropping the black
card for their purchase for them. So it is great for us! Takes very little effort to run up thousands on a tab and they always
leave happy.”
Swartz concluded, “At Déjà Vu, we are in the business of people-pleasing one dildo or lap dance at a time.”
The local Adam & Eve store is another adult retail business that finds success even though it’s located well off the tourist
area. Antrece, the owner of the Las Vegas franchise, shared her thoughts on her customer base.
Ten miles off the Las Vegas Strip on North Decatur, Antrece said, “The majority of our clientele are locals. However, we
do get plenty of tourists.”
But how do tourists find her store? “While our billboards are extremely effective, our website (AdamEveLasVegas.com)
also draws in a lot of tourists,” Antrece said. “Some customers have Adam and Eve stores in their hometown and often seek
us out for a visit.” And keeping in touch with these tourists coming back is important for her and her company.
Antrece mentioned, “We provide our tourists with the same amazing service as our locals. Although we take pride
in building rapport with all of customers whether or not they are local, we are not always aware of our clients’ personal
information. At the register, we encourage all of our clients to sign up for our rewards program that entitles them to special
discounts, notifications of upcoming promotions, and free gifts.”
Antrece pointed out, “International tourists seem to appreciate our high-end products (LELO, Jimmyjane, We-Vibe) as
they are much more expensive overseas. All of our customers, regardless of where they may be from, visit us with the intent
to try something new.”
And this is, of course, why adult retail stores will thrive in Sin City—and, for that matter, anywhere people are bound and
determined to have a good time.
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