As people look for new ways to ride out the coronavirus lockdown measures, business is booming at adult retail stores.
Key points:
Adult stores have stayed open during the pandemic, which is proving to be a big relief for many
The Eros Foundation says adult toys should can play a role in improved mental health
The industry says it hopes that with limited contact allowed outside of the house, they can help people find ways to stay connected
In New South Wales, the manager of Flirt, Kyla Khatter, said the authorities had not made any requests for adult stores to cease trading through the pandemic.
"Adult stores didn't come into the equation when the government was closing things like brothels, massage parlours, nail salons," Ms Khatter said.
"I think the little adult store was forgotten in the whole close down."
Ms Khatter said business at Flirt's eight regional stores was up by 25 per cent.
"They know what they want, they come in, they spend big, they leave," she said.
Surge in Queensland
Keith Boswell, the managing director of BeDaring Adult Shop near Caboolture, north of Brisbane, said it was at suburban adult stores where sex-toy sales were on the rise.
"If you were in a city, and reliant on foot traffic, you'd be struggling but certainly suburban adult shops are doing well," he said.
"Just like the toilet paper shortages, we also had runs on products.
"We have three stores, one of them is closer to the city and it's been hitting its budget, but at the other two [more regional] stores the sales have been buoyant," Mr Boswell said.
'No different from a yoga mat'
Australia's leading adult-industry body, the Eros Association, said adult toys should be considered essential, providing not only an incentive to stay at home, but mental health benefits.
General Manager Rachel Payne said she couldn't see the difference between "buying a yoga mat and a basketball to keep yourself entertained at home or buying a bondage kit and a new vibrator".
Ms Payne said the stores provided goods that would keep people both mentally and physically well.
"The ability to explore sexual pleasure is something we all innately have within us, and it allows us to have a bit of fun for free," she said.
Ms Payne said the pandemic had shone a new light on the importance of the sex-toy retail industry.
"It has been an interesting situation where we've never really been considered an essential part of society," she said.
"But when society has to stop, and people are limited in what they can do outside of their home, I think access to products like this has been a lifesaver."
She said of all the workplaces versed in how to operate under strict regulations, the adult-store industry was well-placed for meeting health and safety requirements.
"There are certain restrictions they always have to operate within — age restrictions, restricted hours of trade," she said.
Keeping it clean
Ms Khatter said while sales for condoms and lubricant had rocketed, there had also been an extraordinary amount of toy-cleaner purchases — with the eight stores entirely sold out at one stage.
"We're finding it hard to source toy cleaners because I think it must be happening across the whole adult-store industry, it's suppliers as well," Ms Khatter said.
Mr Boswell said an ultraviolet light sterilisation bag that would usually be used for cleaning sex toys had also found a new purpose.
"It's an ultraviolet light where you put the sex toy and it kills bacteria," he said.
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