Visited a sex-shop lately?
Are the days of furtive looks from people sidling down the road, checking that nobody is watching them before entering a sex-shop, long gone?
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Not exactly, but a new, less inhibited clientele is daring to frequent sex-shops. So who are these new consumers and what are they looking for?
Long reserved for men suspected of perverted behaviour, sex-shops are being increasingly frequented by single women and couples – and a number of high-street brands have emerged to meet and encourage the trend.
Suddenly it seems that sex-shops are becoming recreational places where one can happily fantasise about the most varied sexual practises, and even purchase a bit of that fantasy.
Sexy lingerie and sex toys…
Darkly lit sex-shops, with blacked out windows and thick curtains protecting the entry were a male-only bastion for a long time. But today many women, whether heterosexual or lesbian, are looking to seduce or surprise their partners with chic or enticing underwear that they can’t find in traditional lingerie shops.
Attracted by the shop window of G-strings, lacy bodices and leather bits and bobs, these women now dare to enter mainstream sex-shops. And they don’t just stop in the lingerie department; while they’re there, they may also take the time to buy one of the ‘accessories’ on offer and discover the latest sexual gadgets, magazines and films.
Some of these female customers come to have a bit of a peek and familiarise themselves with sexual practises previously unknown to them. A pleasant welcome is therefore vital: feeling reassured by the sales staff’s attention, knowledgeable advice and frank, unembarrassed manner, women are more comfortable to express their fantasies and choose sex accessories by themselves. They’ll then be ready to frequent sex supermarkets where the choice on offer is even larger and where you can fill your shopping trolley like in any other supermarket!
Having fun with sexuality
Forty years ago, the sexual freedom linked to contraceptive developments led to frequent change of sexual partners and that was ‘the thing to do’. Today with AIDS and STIs rife, couples who want to stick together faithfully but still have lots of sex fun are looking for new experiences. They pluck up the courage to go into sex-shops and purchase ‘enhancing’ items. And these new clients are usually looking for a bit more than a saucy film or specialist magazines.
As people become more sexually adventurous, practises previously reserved to just a few, are now becoming more mainstream:
- Fetishism and sadomasochism using leather-wear, thigh-high boots and increased sales of handcuffs and whips;
- Use of sex accessories such as dildos, vibrators, geisha balls… in all shapes, sizes and materials;
The proliferation of AIDS has made the use of condoms necessary and those found in sex-shops are no longer just simple contraceptive and protective accessories. They have become a star feature of sexual activity thanks to their variety of shapes, colours and flavours.
In sex-shops, couples can discuss, get information and imagine how to give each other shivers of pleasure. From the blatantly erotic, such as crotchless underwear or a glass dildo, to cute fluffy panties with matching handcuffs, and the sensual, with massage oils, scented and flavoured body products.
Mainstream sex-shops and product parties
Birthday gifts, hen or stag party presents: there’s no lack of festive occasions for offering a saucy little sexual gadget. The youngest (of course over 18 as required by law), with even the smallest budget, enter sex-shops in groups to check out the gadgets such as sweet and fragrant edible underwear or sex-stimulant products, as well as checking out the X-rated comic strips.
Visiting a sex-shop is no longer taboo, but rather a way of approaching sex in a more relaxed and humorous way. And there’s another ‘sex-shop’ model that's taking off; a sensually revisited Tupperware type of party.
It works exactly the same way as Tupperware or Avon parties of yore – you invite some girlfriends round, get the saleswoman in, and then spend the evening looking over, trying out and buying the latest in sexual gadgetry. Guaranteed lots of fun!
The two best known UK high-street sex-shop brands, who have successfully surfed the mainstream sex-shop wave, would be Anne Summers, who not only has a number of stores, but also offers a party scheme, and Nice ‘n’ Naughty who sell in-store and online.
Marianne Chouchan, Jane Banham
Copyright © 2010 Doctissimo
Posted 09.12.2010
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