Page 20 - AVN Intimate Fall 2015

COVER STORY
“There really is no such thing as a true
‘bridal season’ anymore,” said Nick Zarbin,
owner of The Spot Boutique in Dallas.
“There are some items you need to stock
year-round.”
He added, “There are a few items every
adult retailer needs to stock, regardless of
where they are located or who their clientele
are. Packs of penis straws, some form of
tiara and some form of sash. Those are the
top-selling bachelorette items.”
With same-sex marriage now the law of
the land, Zarbin said manufacturers and
retailers alike need to start thinking about
serving their LGBTQ clients better when it
comes to bachelor/bachelorette items.
“If manufacturers are smart, they will
start coming up with items that are LGBTQ
friendly,” he said. “Not all retailers will
need to stock those items, though. If you
don’t have a large gay client base, they are
not going to start shopping at your store be-
cause you carry those items now. But if you
do have a gay client base, then you definite-
ly need to be stocking items for them.”
Andy Duran, sexual health educator
and customer service specialist for Good
Vibrations, underlined the importance of
catering to a broad spectrum of clientele.
“We’ve always made it a point to offer
non-gender-specific items for our custom-
ers. Many queer couples were coming to
Good Vibrations to purchase items for their
weddings long before it was legal. I think it
is essential for retailers and manufacturers
alike to have representational products for
their customers. It’s not only smart busi-
ness, it’s remembering what we are in this
business for. At Good Vibrations, we pride
ourselves on providing the resources our
community needs; many of which are not
easily obtainable, but should be.”
As sex toys manager for online retailer
Adult Empire, Chelsea McCain can speak to
what consumers are buying all around the
United States. According to McCain,
“People are branching out way beyond the
sash and weenie straws these days, even
though those classics never fail to amuse!”
Consumers are looking to “spice it up in
the bedroom” with a variety of items.
“People even make little baskets with
massage oils, flavored lubes and mini
vibes,” she said.
“I think people are embracing the idea of
helping to make the bride/groom honey-
moon sex more adventurous, yet in a cute
way! Edible undies for both partners, candy
boobie tassels and even fun books to skim
through to help branch out on positions and
other love-making activities.”
Manufacturers continue to find novel
ways to help shoppers enhance their sensual
experiences. Once such line is from Doc
Johnson. “Bachelorettes and brides seriously
love our CandiLand Sensuals collection,”
said Doc Johnson Marketing Director Sunny
Rodgers. “While the line exudes a femi-
nine, upscale vibe with its understated and
romantic packaging, the affordable price
points make CandiLand Sensuals a consum-
er favorite. Plus, items like Kissable Love
Dust are perfect presents for bridal showers,
and we have a few kits that will be coming
out in fall that will really round out this fun
product line.”
Beyond Fuchsia More colors, styles in nuptial novelties
opportunity as the wedding season has stretched from May to
The “bachelorette season” has now evolved into a broader selling
October. So what was once a small spike in adult retail sales can
now be a bigger part of a store’s net profit.
Kitschy penis items, fun erotic candy and
blinged-out pimp cups are still very much in
demand. However, those items are more for the
social media aspect of a bachelorette party. Every
special event in our lives gets posted on Facebook,
Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter and Vine. A selfie with
a six-foot inflatable penis or the bride carrying an
extreme-sized dildo is amusing and gets attention. That’s ultimately
what the person posting the picture wants: lots of attention on the bride
and the bridal party sharing pics of an awesome girls’ night out.
Which leads into another shift in this category. Bachelorette and “girls
night out” party favors now come in a wider range of styles, providing
alternatives for a low-key or more mature bride. For example, there are
more color choices on the market now. The traditional pink, fuchsia and
purple bachelorette items are now competing with more merchandise
(goblets, boas, sashes, et cetera) that comes in subtle hues of white,
powder blue and silver.
20 | INTIMATE | FALL ‘15
The surge in same-sex marriages has opened up a subcategory: the
bachelor party. There have always been party favors such as boobie hats,
drinking mugs and DVDs for the bachelor. But guys generally didn’t
invest in merchandise to celebrate their upcoming
nuptials. This year, we’ve seen male wearables for the
groom(s) enter the market, such as sashes and crowns.
The largest trend in this industry has involved the
actual bachelorette party; pre-gaming the festivities
with an adult toy “honeymoon party” is becoming
more common. Home party reps are often asked to
have available cash-and-carry items or present pleasure
items for both the bride and groom. And home party reps who can add
a little “101” instruction on blow jobs, oral sex and beginner’s bondage
can bank on higher product sales. This is also a great time to offer
couples’ intimacy kits, which are perfect for the honeymoon.
Regardless of taste, age or gender, the bachelor/bachelorette party
is about having fun celebrating the couple’s future together. May it be
filled with great sex, prosperity and endless love!
—Erin V.
Erin V. is the marketing and vendor liaison at Williams Trading Co.