CANADA — Lovehoney has collated some key facts on the Canadian sex toy market.
Lovehoney launched its Canadian website last year and has since experienced significant growth, the company said, adding that it has been gathering information specific to Canadians and their shopping habits throughout the year.
Since the June 2016 launch in Canada, Lovehoney.ca has sold tens of thousands products including sex toys, bondage gear, lubricants, lingerie and accessories.
Lovehoney's future projections show growth throughout 2017, especially as temperatures dip and consumers stay at home through the cold Canadian winters.
Lovehoney estimates the sex toy market for Canada specifically is worth $300-400 million.
"At Lovehoney we believe everyone deserves a fun and fulfilling sex life — we're on a mission to spread our sexual happiness message around the globe,” Lovehoney co-founder Richard Longhurst said. “Numerous surveys show that Canadians share our belief that having a great sex life is an important part of your general health and wellbeing. We'd be delighted if Lovehoney becomes as popular in Canada as it is in the U.K."
Since the site launched, Lovehoney has clocked up more than 150,000 searches on the site, with the terms being indicative of what sexual activity in individual regions are interested in. “Strap On” was No. 1 across the country, with male/female visitor gender split almost equal.
“This suggests that Canadians are becoming increasingly more interested in the technique pegging, whereby a female wears a harness and dildo to penetrate their partner,” the company said.
Pegging has become less and less niche over the last year, Lovehoney says, noting a 194 percent increase in searches in 2015/2016, with cultural references in mainstream media and TV.
"We've found it fascinating to see that while 'strap-on' is by far the most searched term on our site, Canadians are actually shopping for vibrating cock rings, male masturbators and clitoral vibrators,” said Anna Lee, Lovehoney’s resident sex toy expert for Canada. “Are Canadians too shy to buy? We want to let people know that strap-ons and the technique pegging is not something to be afraid of. It's pleasurable, fun, adventurous and we have a range of products to suit all tastes.
Pegging is an incredible way of pleasuring your partner as the prostate gland, which is located around two inches in on the front wall of the anus, is directly linked to the penis and testicles.
“When stimulated, this can result in some seriously explosive orgasms! At Lovehoney, we have a variety of strapless strap-ons that penetrate the woman, often providing her with vibrations and incredible internal sensations.
“Also, as cock rings are also one of the top searches, we want to educate the Canadian nation about the variety out there.
“There are remote controlled ones, ones that have vibrating rabbit ears attached to them, ones that will help with premature ejaculation, stamina, double penetration, ones that are stretchy, rigid, have ticklers ... the list is endless!"