Page 80 - AVN September 2017

PRODUCT NEWS
Good Vibrations Acquires Babeland Stores
Rachel Venning and Claire Cavanah—who
founded the feminist and sex-positive
adult boutique Toys in Babeland, now
known as the small adult retail chain
Babeland—have sold their company to San
Francisco-based adult retail chain Good
Vibrations.
“It’s been a joy and an adventure to
start and grow Babeland,” Venning said
in a statement released by the company.
“I have enormous gratitude for all the customers, staff, and community that have
been part of this. I’m ready for a new adventure. Having Good Vibrations take over
makes it easier to let go because we share so many of the same feminist values.”
Cavanah and Venning opened the first Babeland store in 1993 in response to
the lack of women-friendly sex shops in Seattle. The store offered top-quality
products, a pleasant place to shop, and most of all information and encouragement
to women who wanted to explore their sexuality.
“I don’t yet know all the specifics of the sale, so I can’t speak to the ‘why’ of it
all,” said Lynn Comella, author of the upcoming book Vibrator Nation: How Feminist
Sex-Toy Stores Changed the Business of Pleasure. Comella noted the sale of Babeland to
Good Vibrations in a way reunites the two chains.
“It’s really interesting to have this come sort of full circle,” she said, noting that
when Cavanah and Venning planned to open their store in Seattle, they sought out
advice from Joani Blank, who opened Good Vibrations in 1977. Cavanah traveled
to San Francisco and worked an internship at Good Vibrations and took what she
learned there back to Seattle.
Today, Babeland is recognized around the world as a welcoming place to shop
for sex toys, books and videos. It is a women-friendly sex toy store with three
locations in New York City, a flagship store in Seattle, and a website,
Babeland.com.
Babeland has received numerous honors, including Zagat Survey Awards for
Top Service in New York City in 2003 and 2006. It was voted Best Place to Buy Sex
Toys by City Search, the Village Voice, New York magazine, New York Press, Miami New
Times, Seattle’s The Stranger and Seattle Weekly.
Today, Babeland employs 60 people; no layoffs are expected following the sale.
Good Vibrations is a premier retailer
trusted for 40 years to provide high-quality
products, education and information that
promotes sexual health, pleasure and
empowerment. Good Vibes invented the
concept of the of the clean, well-lighted
vibrator store and has stayed true to
its core mission to provide a safe and
welcoming boutique environment where
customers can shop for sex toys and books
and attend workshops.
“Promoting sexual health and pleasure has been at the core of Good Vibrations
and Babeland for decades. This acquisition represents a powerful synergy where
both brands can grow successfully and fulfill the founders’ visions of a more
sex-positive world,” Jackie Rednour-Bruckman, executive vice president of Good
Vibrations, said in a statement about the acquisition.
This is not the first time the Good Vibrations chain has acquired another sex-
positive store and continued to operate it under its own brand. In April of 2016,
Good Vibrations acquired Camouflage adult boutique in Santa Cruz, California.
Rednour-Bruckman said at the time, “While part of the Good Vibrations family,
Camouflage will continue to run independently and retain its unique and playful
spirit. Longtime staff are still at the helm to help provide a fun and sexy place
along Pacific Avenue in downtown Santa Cruz.”
Comella said it makes sense the stores will combine, since they have similar
missions and goals, and have made major impacts not only in the industry, but in
sexual health and business as a whole.
“The cultural impact Babeland has had—not just in Seattle, but also in New
York—and the significance of the chain to its communities and customers is
incalculable,” she said. “When they opened in 1993, they were one of only a
handful of other stores—Eve’s Garden, Good Vibrations, Grand Opening—that
were promoting the ideas that everyone deserved sexual information and greater
pleasure.
“I am just so happy that the Babeland brand and its identity will continue to live
on,” she added.
For more, visit Babeland.com or GoodVibrations.com.
Spank Paddle Debuts from Boneyard Toys, C1R
PLEASURE PRODUCT NEWS
Boneyard Toys from Channel 1 Releasing has created its first paddle, the Spank.
Made from silicone that feels soft to the touch, the Spank targets the ever-
expanding BDSM market while it also appeals to the market of skull lovers.
The Spank is lined with raised skulls on both sides of the paddle, which
temporarily imprint into the skin.
“With Boneyard, in order to be competitive, you will always see a feature or
design that is a little different from everything else on the market,” said Rob
Reimer, Channel 1 Releasing’s chief marketing officer. “From all the feedback we
have gotten from previews, we think we hit this one out of the park.”
The Spank is a paddle for the beginner to the advanced enthusiast. The flexible
paddle is rectangular with rounded edges, and it makes the perfect slap sound. The
Spank features a large
hanging loop at the
end for easy storage,
and comes with a
collectible Day of the
Dead skull keychain.
The Spank
measures 14.75
inches in length
(including handle)
and 2.25 inches wide.
Email sales@c1r.com
for wholesale details.
80 | AVN.com | 9.17
Banana Golds Condoms Available From
East Coast News
East Coast News is now the
exclusive adult distributor of
Banana Golds condoms.
“We are very excited to
partner with Banana Golds,” said
Justin Vickers, retail coordinator
for East Coast News. “Their
commitment to promoting
safe sex is something all of our
customers have no problem
getting behind.”
The mission of Banana Golds
is to make condoms cool by spreading safe sex awareness and to make protected
sex fun, popular, sensual and golden. The condoms are triple tested for strength
and reliability, exceed U.S. and ISO standards, durable and made with high-quality
premium lubricant and latex.
Banana Golds is also dedicated to the idea of promoting safe sex. Their
#MakeCondomsCool hashtag is designed to change public perception and
popularize condom usage and safe sex. Additionally, for every multi-pack that is
sold, Banana Golds will donate one condom to deserving charities.
East Coast News is offering the Banana Golds condoms in cases of 1,000, three-
packs, and 12-packs. They are in stock in all three locations and ready to ship
today.
For more information on East Coast News, visit ECN.com, call (800) 999-2483
or email sales@ecn.com.