opinion

The Answer to Boosting Retail Sales

The Answer to Boosting Retail Sales

One of America’s most Googled sex questions according to Business Insider is “Where is the G-Spot?” How does this type of online information impact and translate into the adult world?

What do the G-Spot, fountain of youth, and dresses with pockets all have in common? No one can seem to find them. Lucky for us, as an industry, we have the ability to help and educate people in finding their favorite pleasure spot. I feel like the G-Spot is finally getting a moment in the spotlight that it deserves. Most consumers finally have access to research the sex education they want. They can take the information they are looking for, such as “Where is my G-Spot?” and find the way it translates best into their lifestyle. Why is this important for what some consider a simple topic? I love the “Where is the G-Spot?” question for several reasons, primarily though, it’s opportunity.

Retailers aren’t just educating customers on a specific toy, they are coaching them on creating customized pleasure experiences.

I often say the adult retail associate is never given the credit they deserve. They are expected to be experts in small machinery and tech items, versed in lingerie materials and sizing, and to be able to give on-the-spot advice on personal topics. That’s a lot of information to learn, retain and then translate onto the sales floor.

Adult manufacturers spend far more resources on training at the store level than almost any mass-market brand I know. Manufacturers and distributors are also spending a lot of time on sex education in general as a part of their core education concepts. I think this says a lot about a manufacturer, distributor, retailer, home party company etc., who takes time off the sales floor or out of their day-to-day to ensure that their associates aren’t just well-educated on what they're selling, but also who they’re selling to. It takes a lot of resources to host and facilitate these educational experiences, and it speaks to a store’s investment in their customer when they participate in non-sales activities. I wish that stores were able to display all of the education they receive and training they go through for customers.

So when it comes to a question like “Where is the G-Spot,” the adult industry is well-positioned to answer this from many different positions, pun intended. Retailers are able to take a customer with this question directly to products that fill their immediate need, and cash in on the hard work. They put in so much time and effort on the front-end to make the sale happen.

A G-Spot item has a ton of easy add-ons which are now increasing both your average units per sale, and hopefully your average transaction amount as well. If someone is open to buying something to address a specific topic, they will be open to buying the supporting items to protect or enhance their investment. Retailers aren’t just educating customers on a specific toy, they are coaching them on creating customized pleasure experiences. The value of this retail experience doesn’t end with the customer leaving the store. The customer leaves the store with a new-found sense of body knowledge and empowerment they didn’t have before. That type of body confidence translates to more than just their sexuality.

This type of specific consumer demand gives manufacturers the power to make products that people specifically want and need. Taking the guesswork out of product planning makes it easy to maintain consistent bestselling products that become must-have staples to anyone that resells these items. Complete product collections can be created to enhance the overall customer shopping and take-home experience. This also allows manufacturers to create timely product education with relevant consumer information. The customer has expressed what they need and it's manufacturers' job to show them what they want with quality products.

So my answer to those who are googling “where is the G-Spot?” — I hope that your journey in seeking is as pleasurable as the joys of finding.

Danielle Seerley is the senior sales executive for Shibari Wands and Voodoo Toys.

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