Often when the topic of business startups comes up, the focus tends to lean toward tips and advices, even after they have already started up. This is doubly true with a sex toy startup.
In recent years, there has been a major shift in consumer buying habits. Spontaneous, impulsive buying has been benched by more conscious consumers who place far greater importance on online reviews and social media referrals when choosing a product — and the adult industry is no different. Consumers can’t try out a sex toy before they purchase it, so they rely heavily on reviews and recommendations to make informed decisions about a brand or product.
Love them or hate them, social media trends and influencers can have an enormous impact on your brand, particularly when it comes to knowing what the next must-have product or favorite new brand is going to be. You only need to look at the recent success of rose vibrators; one viral video shared on social media and soon everyone from consumers to manufacturers wanted a piece of the action. The result: a growing appetite in the market for discreet sex toys, the type that can be left out anywhere, handily charging.
First impressions matter, so why should sex toys be any different? From roses to unicorns to other imaginative ergonomic designs, the market today is filled with innovative and creative styles, and the demand for subtle, beautiful toys is not slowing. Regardless of the shape, a cute appearance, bright colors and modest size all play a crucial role in grabbing the attention of a potential customer. When these features are combined with a powerful motor, the opportunity for success is astronomical.
To keep up with this growing demand, retailers should be stocking up on discreet, subtle and beautifully designed sex toys. Whether you opt for clitoral suckers shaped like everyday objects, mini vibrators that can be mistaken for makeup accessories, or even unlock the realm of fantasy-based vibrators and dildos, investing in discreet sex toys today is going to have a huge impact on your bottom line, both now and in the future. But with so many options to choose from, how do you know which will be the best choice for your customers?
It can be quick and easy to jump on the latest trend and purchase a cheap, no-name product for resale, but if you want your customers to keep coming back for more, then you need to pay attention to the smallest of details. Today’s consumers are more conscious than ever about their purchases. They are looking for toys that push the boundaries of design, are made from high-quality, body-safe materials, manufactured by reputable brands — and above all else, toys that are compact, discreet and add a sense of fun and beauty to their sex lives. Toys they wouldn’t be embarrassed to have in their handbag or sitting on their bedside table when guests are around.
Besides being less intimidating to first-time buyers, discreet toys offer a more fun and lighthearted approach to sex toys, as well as a unique gifting opportunity — the type of gift that someone could happily buy for their partner or even one of their single girlfriends on Galentine’s Day, without any embarrassment.
Whether you are a brick-and-mortar store or an online retailer, investing in subtle sex toys that your customers can take anywhere is a sure-fire way to future-proof your business and attract new customers. With so many options to choose from today, and many more launching in line with the latest trends in TV shows, films or simply social media influencer recommendations, you truly can offer something for everyone’s taste and desire.
While there will always be room on the shelves for those more realistic-looking and fetish products, discreet, compact and travel-friendly toys are having a moment — and in the wake of the huge boom generated by the recent rose vibrators and the multitude of innovative designs that have followed, that moment doesn’t look likely to end anytime soon. After all, whether your customers are complete beginners or highly experienced in sexual pleasure and the products that enhance it, first impressions are everything — making beautiful, subtle sex toys almost too hard to resist.
Why Retailers Should Be Stocking Up on Discreet Toys by Sam Hadlow originally appeared in XBIZ