While Emojibator’s success can be attributed to launching at the right time-at the height of emoji mania-the decisions they made in positioning the brand with humorous, shareable content played a large role. Kristin and Joe set out to build a brand that was “approachable and relatable”-adjectives Kristin says are not usually used to describe sex toy companies.
How to sell sex toys online in 5 simple steps 1.
They have since expanded the collection into a range of quirky sex toys and accessories-while both still working full time. The two launched Emojibator in 2016, garnering global press attention and winning multiple awards. At the time, Kristin was running marketing operations for a variety of startups and loved the idea of starting a D2C ecommerce business. Joe quit his data science career to pursue music full time when he had the idea for an eggplant emoji vibrator. Joe Vela, Co-founder & CEO / Kristin Fretz, Co-founder & COO, Emojibator
With her husband, Patrick, helping behind the scenes, she launched Strange Bedfellas on Etsy before migrating to Shopify. She experimented with transforming her designs into sex toys-and found she loved the work. When she reached a crossroads in her career, some of her client work that was based in adult themes inspired her to try working in 3D. Meesh started her career as an artist working mostly in illustration and designing 2D characters. Meesh Oglesby-Cunningham, Founder, Strange Bedfellas We also spoke to other founders and industry experts, who are referenced later in this piece. We interviewed the founders of two brands selling sex toys online-one in the maker space and a product-developing duo that manufacturers a range of progressive vibrators. What does it cost to start a sex toy business?.How to sell sex toys online in 5 simple steps.We’ve gathered in one place everything you need to know to sell sex toys online. And as demand increases (the global industry is projected to be valued at $36.1 billion by 2027), there’s still room for newcomers to the space.īut it’s an industry that requires a little navigation. Those passionate about sex education, empowerment, or supporting communites marginalized by traditional sex content and products may find the sex toy industry a fulfilling space to launch as an entrepreneur. With the right tools, a unique product or idea, and plenty of research, however, it’s possible to build a successful brand selling sex toys and accessories online. Restrictions from financial institutions and social media platforms demand that adult brand founders find creative solutions. And, while technology has made it easier to reach buyers, it’s also often the source of strife for those selling sex toys. The nature of the business requires extra rigor on the part of founders to protect customer privacy.
It’s a $24.5 billion global industry ripe for the taking, with more brands popping up by the minute to answer unique desires and reach longing markets.īut as with any topic as politicized as sex, challenges persist. It is only in the past couple of decades that body and sex positivity and more open conversations about sex have elevated adult brands from fringe to celebrated. This shift coincided with mass adoption of the internet and Web 2.0-niche communities found each other and anyone could sell sex toys online to customers shopping from the privacy of their homes.
The pervasive attitudes about sex shrounded the sex toy industry in mystery and taboo. What transpired inside grew from speculation to accepted fact, as it travelled my high school’s whisper mill. In the 1990s, the lone strip-mall sex shop in our suburb was the stuff of lore. This this ultimate guide, we’ll take you through the ins and outs of the sex toy industry, with guidance on everything from developing a brand to ensuring customer satisfaction, as well as advice and real examples from seasoned business pros.