It is now a well-known fact that online sex toy industry is a $15BN market. With a whopping CAGR of 7%, this niche is predicted to surpass the $50BN mark by 2020. The market research found that a major proportion of these sales is mainly from three types of sex toy categories- Dildos, Erection rings, and Adult vibrators. In fact, adult vibrators itself accounted for 23% of the total global sales in 2017.

The adult toy industry is expanding, and one of the biggest reasons for it is the increased rate of acceptance among global users. Sex toy brands are not just manufacturing toys but also working towards neutralizing the taboo around sex education and sexual wellness. Similarly, they are also addressing the problems related to purchasing a sex toy.

If you Google “How to purchase sex toys in 2019”, you would see thousands of articles addressing your query. It’s because these businesses are making the patch easier for the common users and want as many customers heading their way. It’s all guided marketing and a way to create a positive ecosystem for the business.

This growth in the acceptance and the market value is indeed substantial. However, it was not always like this. A few years ago, an entrepreneur would think a million times before considering this niche. It was not easy to start a sextoy business.

How was the past for the sex toy industry?

America, which is the largest market of the adult toy industry currently, was not even a market in late till the early 90s. You could presume only a few of the manufactures who would lump the sex toys with other types of novelties in the market. Stuff like branding and clamshell packaging were far away from reality.

There is a night and day difference between the sex toy industry then and now. The worse part was faced in 1998 when states like Alabama criminalized the sale of sex toys. Despite this, the early 90s saw a spark, and the attitude towards pleasure products began to change among the common users.

Shows like “Sex in the City” impacted positively on the people’s mindset. Women began to realize the importance of self-sufficiency and ways to take control of their sex life. The message towards women sexual empowerment was embraced by the mainstream media as well.

The most recent wave of massive product awareness was seen with the “50 Shades of Grey”, which created a revolutionary market for an array of assortments to the adult toy industry. For instance, the remote operated Kegel Balls -which are the main attraction of any cam-show these days- were never sold out before the movie.

Image source: Twitter

Not just that, this single movie created a whole new market for an array of other assortments. Did you notice that “Tally-ho chair” in the movie? If you haven’t it looked like this:

The erotic furniture created by Mark Mrazier Jones would cost you more than $15,000.

If you still can’t guess the extent to which sex toy market is growing in this millennia, know that the King JCobra ring- a sex toy for men is also delivered in a box made by the master craftsmen of Bentley and Rolls Royce.

Not only the market has evolved but also the toys have transformed a lot. Here is an image of an old vibrator from the early 20s. Just see how things have changed so far.

How online Sextoy business became a multi-billion industry?

The era in 2019 is way ahead of the market in the old days. Today, not only the global acceptance has increased but also the quality and the ways to purchase have improved a lot. Today manufacturers face tough competitions from thousands of others in the market.

To keep up with the trends, manufacturers are ensuring higher quality, better safety, and boost pleasure in the toys. The aim is to improve the toys in every aspect and provide the highest quality products to global customers.

· Manufacturers today are spending millions on research and development. They are taking feedback from the users and considering their demands, suggestions, and needs in the products.

· Sex toy brands are growing their corporate social responsibilities and participating in mainstream events. They are making donations to the charitable causes and sponsoring other events.

An array of events, developments, and trends have played their own vital roles in taking online sex toys industry to this great height.

Advancements through the manufacturing perspective

Technology has made manufacturing facilities more advanced, efficient, and speedier. From unsafe rubber to secure silicon replicas, the manufacturing units have evolved greatly so far.

· Batteries have gone affordable and rechargeable, making USB powered sex toys more accessible than ever.

· Manufacturers can now use better motors with motion control, making sex toys like vibrators more controllable and multi-functional. You can get multiple motions and speed to get advanced controls like pulsating, tapping, and rolling.

· The new looks and feel have changed the way sex toys perceived earlier. Today, they come in different colors, shapes, and sizes, making them fit and likable by everyone.

· Toys have gone waterproof, letting users enjoy the pleasure in the bathtub or under a hot shower. The best part is –now users can properly clean their toys in running water without any hassle.

· The cheap, low-quality and plastic toys have become high-quality, affordable, and safer for human use. At least, users now have got a safer alternative than the unsafe household items-

Caption: It’s healthy when you eat it! Not when you play with it.

Advancements through the social perspective

The practice of sex toys has become more prevalent over the past few years. The mainstream media is covering the topic without any discrimination. Once taboo, the sexual pleasure products are now being seen as enhancement products and they don’t question your natural abilities.

· These toys have empowered women with sexual context. With usage in multiple contexts like solo masturbation, foreplay, and actual intercourse, women can now have a more controlled and empowered sexual life.

· The growth of the LGBT community and its legalization is yet another factor for the growth of the sex toys market, especially in developed countries like the US, UK, and France.

· The online market has made it possible to avoid the stereotypical norms and purchase sex toys without disclosing an open identity. If you know how to purchase a product from Amazon, you would also know how to purchase sex toys from online sex toy stores.

· In many countries where sex toys are still taboo, online stores have made sex toys accessible by maintaining privacy through undisclosed packaging.

· Many countries have not put a ban but do not allow open selling and advertisement of the sex toys. Manufacturers have found a way to that by producing sex toys in social acceptable shapes and colors. Such toys are sold in these markets with a disguised identity like any regular household product. Just check these out-Would anyone say if this is actually a vibrator?

Or maybe you can just buy an alarm clock without being judged; if it’s really an alarm clock. You know what I mean-

Such products let you avoid the hesitation and give the confidence to order one without fearing the taboo around you. At least, when your boss asks, why you are late for work, you can say-

Caption: Sorry boss! My dildo broke

Advancement through the online market perspective

It doesn’t matter if the social perspective in some places has changed. It’s extremely a taboo in developing nations, and the case in developed nations is still not very comfortable. People still hesitate to visit a physical store and buy that stuff.

This is where the online eCommerce stores for sex toys come to the rescue. The online availability of erotic stuff has made things quite easy for everyone. We saw how manufacturers maintain the disguise and packaging standards to deal with censorship. The same also makes the online market easily accessible to common users.

· Newer web technologies have made the development of eCommerce sites extremely easy. Today, you don’t have to know the technicalities of how to start a sextoy business, or how to develop an eCommerce site. You can simply use readymade scripts, eCommerce CMSs, or SaaS solutions to set up your website in no time.

· Social media channels like Facebook, Reddit, Twitter, and Tumblr have played a great role by letting marketers connect with users more easily. Despite the censorship, the marketers have been able to lump up their promotional messages with the regular content. It’s more like keeping explicit product behind the curtain but still conveying the intended message.

· This extreme ease of website development encouraged as many entrepreneurs in this niche. As a result, we see thousands of businesses competing with each other and making this market a multi-billion industry.

· The brands have developed their own eCommerce sites and have been selling their products globally through a well-defined shipping network. Those who have not developed their sites are selling the products on sites like eBay and Amazon through disguises.

Both the offline and the online market are serving the customers in their own ways. Online sellers are similar to other e-commerce businesses. It also creates a flood of offers on the web. While the items sold through the offline retail channel still overwhelms, we are seeing proceeded development in the online retails too. The physical experience offers customers an opportunity to interact with the item, but the online retailer demonstrates a multiple dimension of accommodation, carefulness, and privacy that is extremely important for sex toy purchasers.

To conclude

Sex toys sold through online stores are related to cliché images and societal norms identified with closeness. Unlike the offline market, they are not disheartening buyers from a straightforward confrontation. The advertisers are maintaining cautious bundling of sexual items with regular products, for example, vibrators as massagers. It has positively helped the purchasers to win over the reluctance. Disguised marketing has indeed helped online business to grow and make this industry cross the $15BN mark. Lastly, we can say, the innovation, manufacturing development, design crafting, packaging techniques, and cutting-edge eCommerce technologies have made this market superior to others in the line.