UK's Sh! Women's Emporium Celebrates 30th Anniversary

UK's Sh! Women's Emporium Celebrates 30th Anniversary

LONDON — Sh! Women’s Emporium, which bills itself as U.K.'s "first-ever women-friendly sex shop," is celebrating its 30th anniversary.

Launched in April 1992 and based in the Hoxton area of the London Borough of Hackney, the Sh! Women’s Emporium has over the last three decades evolved into “a pioneering, multi-award-winning brand that has forever changed the face of the British sex industry,” news outlet ATV Today reported.

“When Sh! first opened its doors in 1992, the conversation surrounding women’s sexual rights was very different,” explained ATV Today’s Vivian Summers.

Owner Ky Hoyle, the article noted, “decided to open the country’s first sex shop for women with a £700 budget after visiting a seedy Soho sex shop aimed only at men.”

Hoyle said that “incredible progress has been made over the past 30 years, but there’s still work to be done to achieve the goal of ensuring all women, transgender and nonbinary people can enjoy safe and healthy sexual pleasure and Sh! will be there to do it.”

“We are thrilled to celebrate this huge milestone,” Hoyle told the reporter. “For three decades we’ve been helping women of all ages, backgrounds and sexual preferences to understand that they have the right to sexual pleasure, and showing them how to achieve it without shame or blame.”

Hoyle also celebrated Sh!’s “many triumphs and battles along the way. Notable moments include introducing sex toys to the NHS [National Health Service], visiting Downing Street bearing a special ‘gift’ for the prime minister’s wife, being taken to court for supposedly breaking outdated obscenity laws — we won — and discovering the Jessica Rabbit vibrator that became a global sensation.”

The boutique has been operating as an online business since closing its London location in 2020 during pandemic restrictions.

For more on Sh! Women’s Emporium, visit their online store and follow them on Twitter.

Copyright © 2024 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Honey Play Box to Debut 'Fortexa' Finger-Flapping Vibrator at XBIZ Expo

Honey Play Box will introduce its new Fortexa dual-action, finger-flapping vibrator at the XBIZ Expo next month.

Pipedream Products to Sponsor Networking Happy Hour at XBIZ Expo

Premier pleasure brand Pipedream Products will sponsor an evening networking happy hour during XBIZ Expo.

2025 XBIZ Expo Schedule Announced

The full schedule for XBIZ Expo, set to take place Jan. 16-19, has been released, detailing the slew of business-to-business activities slated for the premier pleasure product trade show, exclusively open to manufacturers, retail buyers, educators, reviewers, influencers, press, and other industry professionals.

Lovense Debuts 'Osci 3' Rabbit Vibrator

Lovense has introduced the new remote-controlled Osci 3 rabbit vibrator.

Blush to Sponsor Networking Happy Hour at XBIZ Expo

Pleasure brand Blush will sponsor a happy hour at the upcoming XBIZ Expo, reinforcing the event’s focus on building connections and fostering collaboration.

Passionate Playground, Thunderpussy Collab on Custom 'Joyboxx'

Passionate Playground and Seattle-based female rock band Thunderpussy have collaborated on a branded custom Joyboxx.

Honey Play Box Debuts 'Gem' Vibrator

Honey Play Box has introduced its new Gem vibrator.

DV8 Dare Marks Its 10th Anniversary

The Deviate Network is celebrating the 10-year anniversary of its DV8 Dare line of pleasure products.

BasisDx Adds Subscription Option for 'Pro13' Home Testing Kit

PASS-certified home testing kit provider BasisDx has added a subscription model option for its Pro13 kit.

Melanie Rose to Host 2025 XBIZ Honors

Melanie Rose, host of the popular Netflix show “How to Build a Sex Room,” will MC the retail edition of the 2025 XBIZ Honors, set to take place Jan. 18 at the iconic Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood.

Show More