My theory on holiday shopping

So it's countdown time, the week before X-Mas when retial shops are on full alert. Shoppers rush into stores, find things last minute, and it is BUSY. Sex shops are no exeption to this rule.

Yet, I have a theory about why the week before holidays is the busiest. A family will rush to buy kids toys first, assuming their are kids to buy toys for. These presents are bought ahead of time, because stores run out of the latest Barbie or
Pokemon or whatever. Then the last week before holidays is personal time, where couples will buy intimate things for each other because they have the basic presents done and now its personal time.

This explains why we have had so many couples come in, and why couple toys like the We Vibe 2 are flying off the shelves. We sold five yesterday, which is pretty impressive for a sex toy that costs around a hundred bucks.


Also porn is flying off the shelves. But specifically couples porn. Like Pirates, the epic most expensice porn ever made. Actually the sequel, Pirates 2 is selling more. But that's probably because I'm biased and recommend it becuase it has my favorite porn star Belladonna in it.

Recharge your sex

Rechargeable vibes are the big thing of '09, and they continue to become even more popular as the year comes to a close. I'm a HUGE fan of rechargeable vibes. Not only are they eco friendly by saving you on batteries, but they last must longer than a battery powered toy and are waaaay quieter. Nothing can kill a moment more than the jackhammering buzz of a vibe that wakes your housemate and the family that lives below you.....but I digress.

The Lelo company keeps coming out with the coolest and sexiest rechargeable vibes that I have seen. And as it was pointed out to me earlier by my friend Drew, I see more sex toys in a day than he will see in his lifetime. Anyways, Lelo products. Every time they come out with a new one I get all giddy because I know someone out there is going to find the toy of their fantasies.

Today we got a new member to our Lelo collection of toys. Ina. Ina is a double stimulation vibrator (like the ever so famous Rabbit Habit by Vixen) but is rechargeable with various pulsations.

Ha! Update! I was just told by my boss that Lelo is now coming out with a multiple speed cock ring that's rechargeable that will be called Thor. Sorry Bo (the current rechargeable cock ring by Lelo).

My only problem with the company is the slight genderization of the names and colors of the products. Their rechargeable anal vibe for example is called Billy and comes in blue. Which gender is that supposed to appeal to? And the vibrators mainly come in light pink or dark pink are called Mia, Gigi, Ina, and other slightly girly names. I mean, common, their coming out with a cock ring called Thor? Might as well call it Hercules or Muscle Manly Man-Man-Man.

But besides that the company is amazing, and is really progressive with making rechargeable toys meant for the cock, ass, and whoo whoo. No hole shall be ignored.

What's next, rechargable vibrating nipple clamps?

My day so far

Rearranged erotica. Wasn't aware we carried Lesban Cowboy erotica. Awesome.

Found a broken vibe. :( People need to be more careful when handling products! A dead vibe makes me die a little inside. But no worries, I'll just recycle it! My artist frends like to take dead vibrators from my work and use them in things. Last time I believe a rabbit vibe was used as plumage on a hat (I wore it for a fashion show).

Woman buying the NEW We-Vibe 2. Yes!!! Multispeeds and simpilar control button. Oh and cheaper.

Two guys coming in, looking at masturbations sleeves making jokes and then walking out. You guys are sooo cool.

Older gentelmen looking for flavored condoms. He buys a handful and asks how long the flavor will last. And then buys a cockpump.

So far, pretty good day

Regulars

I love our regular customers. The repeat offenders. The ones that I can predict their purchase before they approach the counter. It's a really great feeling learning about someone through sex toy purchases. And since we're in such an intimate setting, regulars become part of our little family.

A woman comes in once a month to buy half a dozen "personal wipes" in mango scent. She sometimes is accompanied by a man named "Blue" who is a magician and sometimes does tricks for me while she walks around (even though she always buys the same thing)

A one eyed woman comes in to try on our corsets, but never buys them. I always feel bad that we don't have ones big enough for her, but still help her squeeze herself into them.

Gentleman who buys a lot of porn. And always wants it in an unmarked bag.

Pro-doms who sends their slaves and submissives in to buy them things.

Masturbation man who buys something new to jack off into every few weeks.


These people have become my family and friends. My observations and my judgements. Thank you shoppers, thank you regulars.

-Avi

Naked Shopping

I got an email last from a customer asking if they could come to my works public holiday party naked. Polietly I explained that though we support nudity, this is a public event and clothes are not optional.

Now I keep thinking about how cool it would be to shop naked.

Signs that you work at a sex shop

Sign that I work at a sex shop:

drunk at a party finds that I am in sexual education and starts talking about this weird thing he heard about how guys have a g-spot in their asses.

I respond enthusiastically about the "p-spot" and about how prostate stimulation is really great and how I encourage it for those interested. I then started talking about toys that are used for "p-spot" stimulation, like the Aneros.

He stared at me wide-eyed and walked away...

Penis Envy

Sometimes I wish I had a dick.

I mean a real one, not silicone or rubber. I own plenty of those. At times I get these cravings to just jam my imaginary dick into things, and/or wonder what things would feel like if I were to fuck them.

Tenga makes me want a dick.

Tenga (http://www.tengashop.com/) is a line of sex toys created to indulge and expand male masturbation possibilities. They are not just pocket pussies or imitation asses for you to stick your dick in. They are about sensation and texture. They are designed to create different pleasures and unique experiences for the dick. And jeez, do I want to stick my proverbial dick in them.

The idea is to create a male masturbation toy that doesn't pretend to feel like human body parts, but instead explores different pleasures that the body can experience.

They make affordale disposible sleeves in various functions and sizes so that you don't have to spend an arm and a leg to jack off in a new way. There is also th Flip Hole, which is the reusable sleeve that just looks so tempting and fuckable.

Flip Hole




Disposible tenga





Some customers come in multiple times a week to buy the new Tenga products.

*Sigh*

Penis envy

Crushing on Avi

It is my belief that sex shops makes people do silly things. Say things they don't mean, act a way that is unfarmiliar and some what strange. I expereince a lot of these behaviors. People get caught off guard, or become too comfortable. In the end there is no proper way to behave.

Crushing and flirting with employees at my work is a daily experience. People get hit on in all sorts of occupations, but something about working at a sex store amps up the sexual tension and causes flirtation or more. For example *Mark. He is in his mid fifties and must come in at least once a week to flirt with one of the managers. He goes as far as to buy items for the employees, though we do not accept. To get him to leave is tricky, because he does buy large amounts of items and promotes the store to his friends. Is letting him hit on the employees a fair trade? Advertisement and money in exchange for friendly and sometimes over the line conversation?

I once had a customer (female) call looking for me, wanting to take me out the evening. I barely remembered who this woman was while she invited me to dinner and a sex club The strange thing for me was, why was she calling me at work? She comes into the store and obviously knows when I work. Why didn't she just ask me for my number?

Avi Answers is a name I made for my work persona. At work I am charming, informative, dominant, and friendly. I do demos for classes, teach workshops, promote the store, etc. When I am at work, Avi takes over. Not saying that I'm not a wonderful person away from work ;P but I find that customers prefer to crush on the fantasy sex shop worker then, well, me.

My female caller comes back for classes, to watch me demo. Mark comes to the store to watch my co-worker. They fantasize about us, make us out to be untouchable. In a way we are. I feel like dating a customer would be cheating. I've learnt too much inimate secrets about them, things I want to explore and discver on my own time. Once in a while I want to jump a customer, but I hold myself back. I hate spoliers.

Updating sex

One of my favorite things about the sex toy industry is how quickly it is evolving. Every few days I come to work and there is a new sexual invention that I've never thought of before. The things people invent are quite impressive. I can only hope that this field continues to grow, and that products become safer and more body friendly.


Meet Mia, an invention of the Lelo complany. Mia is made from medical grade plastic and is a little bigger than a lipstick. The cool thing about Mia? Not only is it rechargable (no batteries required, awesome!) but it charges in the USB port in you computor. How convenient is that?



Sysil is our newist double sided dildo. The cool thing about Sysil? It's adjustable, so that the position of the phallus can change. The curve can become narrower, or wider to personal preference. It also has a removable vibrating bullet in it. and is water proof. Personally I don't love the color, but I forgive it due to it's kickass design.

Things I have learnt from customers

Never assume that because they are older then you, that they are sexually informed. I had a customer come in and after a long struggle ask for "something you put on a condom and a woman to make it more..." After a little confusion I realized he was describing lube. Working at a sex shop sometimes puts me in this bubble that "most" people are aware of the basics: condoms, lubricant, and porn. But then there are people like this guy that reminds me why sex education even for adults is important. Especially for adults. He and his partner had been using peppermint soap as a lubricant because he thought lube was for gay men.

Some people will disclose personal information that has nothing to do with sex, just because they feel that they are in an intimate and personal environment

Keep a straight face. Sex makes some people uncomfortable and say the most awkward or awful things A woman became flustered by a very large dildo and began to giggle and proclaim loudly that this was probably meant just for black women. Keeping a straight face I replied that people from many races and genders have purchased "The Outlaw". I'm used to hearing homophobic and sexist remarks in the store ("that's meant for lesbians" "purple is for women" etc) but first time hearing anything about race.

A customer being a dick often means they are just nervous and are trying to make you the uncomfortable one. Role reversal.

A customer hitting on you often means they are just nervous and are trying ti make you the uncomfortable one. Role reversal.

When some says "thank you" and how much they appreciate your help, they mean it. I've spent lengths of time listening and assisting people with their questions, and it never gets old when someone actually looks pleased and relieved at the end of the interaction.

Okay, thats all for now

-Avi Answers

Friday Night Blues

Sitting at the store, wondering where all the people are. I usually work the weekend night shifts, which provides me with colorful character folk to observe and report upon. Yet today seems to be a slow night. I clocked in at 5pm (it is currently a quarter to 7) and havn't seen a soul since. So what does an employee do when left alone for hours?

I use all the demo products behind the counter

NOT!

When you, the customer are not here, I do chores. It may not sound as exiting as testing out our products, its not. I clean, organize, make notes, calls, etc.

Sometimes I do try on a costume or corset, and then get caught off guard when a customer comes in whilst i'm prancing around as a cop/bunny/pirate.


Right now I'm just wondering where the hell everyone is.

Judgement on the positive

Recently one of my favorite sexual educators, Midori, came out with an article on Carnal Nation about her contraction of HSV (Herpes Simplex Virus) and how it helped her survive the pinnacle of the AIDS epidemic.

http://sf.carnalnation.com/content/34509/736/how-herpes-saved-my-life

It's a good read, and I highly recommend it.

It made me think of the judgment that people put on those who are STD (sexually transmitted disease) or STI (sexual transmitted infection) positive. Recently a friend came to visit me from Las Angeles. We were gossiping about a disliked fiancée of one of our mutual friends. As this man (the friend) had hooked up with one of my friends during the past year or two, the subject of his infidelity and their complicated relationship is always a good topic. This time she snidely remarked that my friend should get tested because his fiancée tested positive for HPV. There was a pause. A wait for my negative reaction, to call her a slut, for us to make fun of her sexual misfortune. I just couldn't though. HPV has become so common these days it's not funny. Well, no sexually transmitted anything should be "funny", but I'm sure I'm not the only one whose guilty of laughing at someone I don't like when they've contracted the clap one too many times. If I am, my bad. Sorry world, I am sex positive, but above all, I am still human with my faults.

One of them being HPV.

Oh yes, I am one of so many who are positive. (holla!!!!) Though I take it very seriously, I still get a jolt of excitement when I find another fellow HPV-er or someone else who has an STD (STD meaning incurable, STI meaning curable.) It's like we're in this club. And many times it's highly misunderstood. Did I want this disease? No. Could I have prevented it? Possibly, if I were abstinent. Do I practice safe sex as often as possible and preach sexual safety to the high heavens? Fuck yeah! Did I still contract something? Yuppers. Life happens, sex happens, and therefore we must accept the consequences.

I sent Midori a thank you letter for "coming out". It's hard to declare being positive, so many assumptions are made. I should know, I am guilty of making them too. As I have stated before, I am only human, not a sexual p.c. saint. But seriously? Kudos to her and kudos to anyone else that is positive and still living a safe and active sex life and are damn proud of it. In no way do I mean to encourage spreading STDs. What I mean is that knowledge and experience should be spread. Every time I explain my HPV to a partner they learn something new, and come face to face with what I feel our society has taught us to fear the most: the sexually diseased. Those deviants who to their own misfortune have turned to sin and are now paying for it. But again much thanks and kudos to those public figures who are able to step out and educate the public. Who take their "misfortune" and spin it into gold.

My oh my that was an intimate post.

Take Care
-Avi

Sexy Halloween Costumes

As much as I love to criticize and judge girls who use Halloween as an excuse to dress sexy and let their inner slut, I am at fault.

Sitting in a maids outfit behind the cash register is the coolest sensation ever.

I feel pretty.

My favorite toy

Customers ask a lot of personal questions. This is no suprise, since they are disclosing intimate details to me, they'd like to hear some back. I tend to avoid personal preference though, because everyones sex preferences are different. What may feel good for me may be a terrible experience for someone else. Probably once a day I get asked what my favorite vibrator that we carry is, or if I have tried any of them. I deffer by showing the most popular selling, or ones that have been customer recommended.

You want to hear a secret?

I don't use vibrators.

I own a ton. Friends keep buying me them because it seems like a logical gift to give to someone who works in the sex industry. But honestly? I don't use them. Oh I have tried; big ones, small ones, g-spot stimulators, clit vibes, double stimulators, the works. I have done mono and partner stimulation. I just don't care for them. I have never enjoyed using a vibrator.

This for some reason is shocking news. But I think it's important for people to understand that vibrators are not for everyone, even those that are surrounded by them all day. There is not one epic sex toy that works for everyone. There are ones that work for a lot of people, but again, not everyone. Our bodies are complicated and different.

So what is my favorite sex toy? I have a few, which I use to my own disgression. They get me off and make me happy, bring me to climaxes I never thought possible. Some make me cry, scream, laugh, or a combination of all that.
And they are my partners, my lovers, my companions.
Made of flesh and bone, and squishy innards. Sorry to those who expect that medical grade plastics and vibrations can satisfy me. It works for many, but just not for me.

But that's not to say I don't own a chest load of toys (I do, it's huge and currently disorganized). Toys for me are additions to sex. They can make a scene even more pleasurable. And I always have room for more.

Just don't get me a vibrator

:p

Squeaky Clean Sex

Sex is dirty, sex is messy, sex is gross.
Sex is sweaty, sex is lubey, sex is cummy.

Sex stores don't have to mimic this aspect. The mailman came into our store today and asked how I was doing, nodding towards my windex and paper towels that I had just stashed behind the counter. "Oh I'm fine, just cleaning." Glancing around he shrugged "it looks pretty clean." I asked, "Would people come in if it weren't?"

The most popular praise I get on my work place is how clean it is, usualy coming in a suprised manner. What are customers expecting? Dirty displays, sticky questionable puddles, flies surrounding the counter? Everyday we scrub and polish, dust and shine, to make sure that the store is as clean as possible.

Personally, I have visited other stores that don't clean their products as often. And readers? It's gross. A sex toy must be taken care of, even if it is meant for display and not for sexual use. How toys are displayed are how they attract their possible future owners. I once put my fingers in a masturbation sleeve and pulled out gross dust clumps. I don't think anyone wants to stick their fingers in any pussy, be it silicone or real, and pull out dirt. Clean it. I clean our masturbation sleeves twice a week at least, with soap, water, and other secret cleaning ingedients. The only thing I want people to feel when they stick their fingers in is the suction and ribbed sensations that the product offers. (Fleshlight if you were wondering what product).

It reminds me of a poster I used to have in middle school: A clean room is a sign of a sick mind"
A clean store for dirty deeds.

Take care
-Avi

Our journey begins

When approached about my profession, I find myself becoming hesitant. Though I feel no shame, embarrassment, nor shyness about my work, I always take a moment to pause and think about what the "correct" answer would be.

I am many things. An adult store employee would be the simple version of my profession, and usually gets an amusing reaction, but doesn't satisfy my own definition. Sometimes I am an "adult boutique" employee, as if adding sophistication would put the conversation somewhere at ease. Other times I "work in the adult industry", which although true, is too general and often times gets me confused with other adult professions. And then there are the times I stretch the truth and become a "woman's apparel" employee. This is my least favorite answer, but the one I save for those who would be too faint of heart to learn the truth: my extended family and my parent's co-workers.

At times it feels as though I am "coming out" when talking about my work. That it is something intimate and important that I reveal with hopes of being accepted and encouraged. I have gotten a full range of responses. The blank stares of shock followed by a smirk and a pat on the shoulder. Exited smiles and beckoning over friends to talk about when they can visit me. And of course, the assumption that I am only doing my work in order to pay the bills. As if the economy has forced me into degrading work that if given the choice, I would run from.

Let me tell you a little secret: I've been working here for over a year, before I went broke and before the job market started sucking. There is a stack of over fifty applications from people jumping at the opportunity to work my job under the store counter. People beg me for a position.

I've started this blog as a reflection of the time I have spent in my profession. I don't know how long I will be here, where life will take me, but I would like people to have some insight of what us "sex store workers" actually.

Join me as I delve into my world of sex, intimacy, products, and customers. It's going to be one hell of a ride.