Despite recession, good time for sex toy industry: Amazon, Brooklyn’s
Shag sales on the rise!

BY Joe Jackson
DAILY NEWS WRITER
The Dow may be down, but the sex toy industry is heating up online and
in store. From Web behemoth Amazon to Brooklyn boutique store Shag,
sales of an increasing range of sexual accessories are on the rise.
“Everyone says thank God you opened - it’s about time,” said Sam Bard,
36, who co-founded Shag in Williamsburg last December.
“Each month’s been better than the last,” she said.
The “sexy shop” sells everything from vintage handcuffs to body paints
and hosts sex-themed events like “introductory lessons in rope-bondage.”
Bard believes the recession helped the business, which opened on
Roebling St. for rent considered low for the gentrified neighborhood.
“More couples are staying at home to save money, so rather [than]
spending $150 on a one-time dinner, they will spend the same amount
for toys that will continue to be used indefinitely,” she said.
Customers agree. “The expense of the toys is so insignificant compared
to the growth of the relationship sexually,” said Heather, 40, who
admits that even though she’s on a tight budget, she and her boyfriend
laid down $150 on a “his and her” vibrator.
Sex accessories store Babeland, which has three outlets in the city,
makes half of its sales online. It recorded an 18% spike in Web
visitors and a 13% jump in sales in 2009.
“New Yorkers account for the biggest percentage of our online sales,”
said spokeswoman Pamela Doan.
Meanwhile, even household company names are getting in on the action.
Amazon launched its Sexual Wellness page in 2003 with 338 items,
mainly condoms and lubricants. But it soon began to market more
adventurous items - restraints, vibrators and flavored lubricants.
“We’ve seen this category grow pretty significantly over the last
couple of years,” said spokeswoman Charmaine Diploa. Now the company
stocks nearly 60,000 items, with adult toys and games being the
biggest share.
A recent week’s best-selling item was the “Magic Wand Massager” - a
nonphallic vibrator - and “Doc Johnson Lucid Dream #5″ - a multispeed
waterproof stimulator.
Amazon reckons its sales surge is due to its discretion - and unique
brand of convenience.
“Customers receive an Amazon box and no one needs to know what’s
inside except for that customer,” said Diploa. “And they love the fact
they can purchase a vibrator, a watch and a Kindle all in one place.”
(Mistress Eva says, There will always be death taxes and SEX! Until the human race ends, SEX will sell. Ironically, my Phone Domination/Phone Sex Business is doing well considering we are in a Recession. August was one of my busiest months! Now maybe I should sell sex toys too!)
Mistress Eva
DommeEmpire.com
Call Me! 1-800-TO-FLIRT Extension: 94-39-577



