Sex Toys Buzz Their Way Back To The Top
We all could’ve guessed this, but here is a reminder in case you missed it. Since the pandemic started, sex toys have been selling fast.
Over the last decade the way in which people approach sex and sex toys has become less conservative, mostly due to the topics increased exposure through social media, literature and television. This destigmitization has been largely advocatedby celebrities such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Dakota Johnson, Cara Delevingne and has allowed sellers of adult toys to take things to another level. This is why when the rise of the COVID-19 disaster locked the whole world indoors - the sex toy market grew like never before.
Imagine what was happening when all across the globe millions of people were locked in their homes. They were either ridden with anxiety to a point that sex couldn’t even cross their mind, or stuck alone with a sex drive so high they don't know what to do with themselves. But for those who didn’t have a live-in partner, the New York Department of Health endorsed enjoying this time on your own. It is clear that people took that advice seriously.
The positive impact of the pandemic on the global toy market in 2020 was a direct result of the increased adoption and innovation of sex toys during the lockdown. As the lockdown stretched to last over a year, sex toy manufacturers were forced to get creative and began investing in unique product design to keep people entertained indoors.
In March 2021, CamSoda Vice President Daryn Parker announced a development that would elevate their users’ experiences. The plan was to combine people’s favorite things, food and sex, which resulted in a ‘Teledildonics’ technology which is quite literally a way for your vibrator to give you ‘alerts’ about how far away your GrubHub or UberEats order is.
"People have been stuck at home for over a year now. They have grown accustomed to ordering takeout food from their favorite restaurants regularly. Quarantine cravings are real and so too is the COVID-19 delivery food boom.”
Sex toy retailers have used their creativity and leveraged the international lockdown measures to push their sales to record highs. Leading sex toy brands have reported a significant increase in sales throughout 2020, seemingly in line with the instruction to stay inside and avoid any contact.
As cited in Vice, brands such as WeVibe and Womanizer exceeded their monthly sales projections by more than 40% just at the start of the pandemic. They also noted that sales for Womanizer, which mostly makes toys designed for masturbation, were especially high.
However, the female segment stole a whopping 60% of the market revenue in 2020. With vibrators, dildos, and anal beads becoming displayed in wellness departments and even on front pages of websites, it is safe to say that the toys have surpassed taboo and social stigma to become a regular part of our daily lives.
Post Covid Outlook
Overall, the growing adoption of sex toys during the COVID-19 Pandemic is set to significantly increase their market growth by 2026. Although in 2021 the market is expected to witness a slight decline of nearly 9% as compared to 2020 just as a result of the ever changing circumstances and the lifting of lockdown measures, it is expected to resume its growth trajectory by mid-2022.
While many store-front businesses suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic, online retailers used the international lockdown measures to their advantage in order to boost their sales to an all-time high. This is good news for the adult entertainment industry, as it can be the start of a new era where our vibrator telling us that our food has arrived is just the start. Who knows where our imagination will take us next?
