14 Fun Facts About Sex Shops

Discover fascinating facts about sex shops!

1. In the 1899 Sears Roebuck catalogues, a battery-powered vibrator cost $5!

The advertisement was remarkably modern: ‘An aid that every woman appreciates’.

The vibrators sold by sex shops at the turn of the century were advertised in US magazines and newspapers as a household appliance for massaging muscles.
By 1917, vibrators were more popular than toasters and were the sensation of the era.

2. The sex shop was invented by a German woman in 1962. After her career as a pilot ended due to pregnancy and after becoming a widow, German-born Beate Uhse began selling sexual health products door-to-door to survive during the difficult post-war period. 

She shared her knowledge about sex—such as using rhythm method calendar charts as a form of contraception.
In 1946, Beate wrote and distributed a sort of marriage guide that sold over 32,000 copies in two years.
Eventually, with the Sexual Revolution of the 1960s, she decided to put her knowledge into business and opened the "Institute for Marital Hygiene", later proceeding to open the very first sex shop!
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3. Beate's initiative stimulated the creation of new sex shops across the globe. Even conservative countries like Russia and China began permitting and legalising this new retail model starting in the 1990s.
Incredibly, France, often considered one of the most liberal countries on the planet, only opened its first erotic shop in Paris in 2001.

4. Another global benchmark in the erotic industry is Good Vibrations, opened in 1977 in San Francisco, United States.
A sex shop specialising in vibrators, it caused a sensation at the time by showcasing a diverse range of models, shapes, sizes, and functions. It was also created by a woman, Joani Blank (1937–2016), who wanted to offer an alternative to the seedy, male-dominated sex shops that were previously the norm in the US.

At the time, she worked at the University of California San Francisco medical school with women who experienced anorgasmia and encouraged them to try vibrators.
Another major achievement: Joani invented her own strap-on vibrator, the butterfly vibrator, which focused on clitoral stimulation—predating many modern clitoral-focused vibrators.
She also founded a publishing house focused on sexuality and even wrote a sex education book for children.
Today, Good Vibrations remains one of the largest and most iconic names in the sex shop industry.

5. Starting in the 1990s, the internet transformed the sex shop market and the sale of erotic products through e-commerce.
Interest in vibrators, handcuffs, and similar accessories grew even further with the hit show "Sex and the City", where the four protagonists spoke openly about sex. The Rabbit vibrator was in high demand after appearing in an episode of this iconic series.

6. In the 1980s, few women dared to enter a sex shop. One reason was that many venues were predominantly frequented by male patrons visiting peep-show booths.
In the 1990s, the success of "Sex and the City" prompted the launch of more upscale sex shops tailored exclusively to women.
Today, roughly 90% of sex shop sales take place online.

7. In 1974, English fashion designer Vivienne Westwood opened Sex, a London boutique catering to sadomasochism that sold rubber garments, bondage leather, and eccentric footwear.
The shop was decorated with whips, chains, masks, nipple clamps, and even a hospital bed covered with a rubber sheet.

8. July 31st is recognised as Orgasm Day. The date was initiated by British sex shops in 1999 to spark discussions on the importance of a fulfilling sex life.
The original celebratory slogan was "Reach it, don't fake it", since, according to research conducted in the UK at the time, at least 80% of British women were unable to reach orgasm.

9. Cambodia's first sex shop remained open for only a single day before being shut down by the police. Authorities in Phnom Penh determined that the store was selling "dangerously large" toys that could cause harm to local women.

10. Japanese sex shops are like a Disneyland for adults. One can find everything from condoms in adorable illustrated packaging to vibrators with cute designs. What enjoys the greatest notoriety, however, are used schoolgirl panties sold in specialised vending machines.
The school uniform culture is generally one of the most prominent fetishes in Japan.

11. Coco de Mer, known worldwide for its ultra-luxurious erotic offerings, was founded by the daughters of the creator of The Body Shop. At the London boutique, one could purchase solid gold vibrators or handcrafted pieces made from fine woods, alongside other highly sophisticated items.

12. Former actress, advertising executive, and US Army member Dell Williams established Eve's Garden—the first women-only sex shop—in the 1970s. The decision came after she felt uncomfortable being attended by a salesman while trying to buy a vibrator at Macy's department store.
She became a prominent figure following the launch of her store and was frequently interviewed to share her perspectives on feminist issues.

13. Following the 1990s boom when sex shops were at an all-time high, the early 2000s proved more stable for the erotic retail sector. In 2012, with the release of "Fifty Shades of Grey", the sex shop market experienced a massive resurgence. E.L. James's bestseller helped generate a 200% surge in sales in the UK.

14. To operate legally in Portugal, a sex shop must be located at least 300 metres away from "places of worship of any religion, educational institutions, parks, or children's playgrounds". They are forbidden from "displaying in shop windows" pornographic or obscene content, and the business name cannot contain "expressions or figures that offend public decency". And that applies even today!