Starting a sex toy business

[temp256]

I'm starting up my very own business: making and selling fine, high quality sex toys. So far things are falling into place nicely. I have excellent business partners, several products which everyone loves, sales people lined up, and even capital. Right now my biggest problem is keeping up with demand, so it's time to find manufacturers.

This is where I run into trouble. My company name is great, but anyone can tell it's a sex toy business. As such, people might be hesitant to get involved, or may even be offended. Is this something I should be worried about? Companies may be soulless entities concerned solely with the bottom line, but they're run by all sort of different people with different morals.

One idea I had is to have an innocuous company name which I can use for manufacturers and daily business, and keep the sex toy name as a brand. This also means cheques and credit card transactions will be discreet.

An alternative is to make the sex toy name the company name, and also make up a generic name or abbreviation solely for finding manufacturers.

How do other sex toy companies solve this problem?

 

[silverwhisper]

temp, any prospective business partner is going to want to know what the business is about, which means they're gonna have to find out somewhere along the way before they sign a contract.

some may prefer a more discreet business name, and that's ultimately your choice as the owner--but i suspect that dollars speak louder than puritanism for the kinds of business partners that will prove worthwhile.

but let me ask you something: people are going to want to know about your business, just socially or while networking. if you're comfortable with it, go with it, i say. if you aren't though...that begs 2 questions:

1) are you sure you want to be in the business if the nature of the business is a cause of embarrassment for you?
2) how will you explain the business to friends/family?

ed

 

[snugglestruggle]

I'm starting up my very own business: making and selling fine, high quality sex toys. So far things are falling into place nicely. I have excellent business partners, several products which everyone loves, sales people lined up, and even capital. Right now my biggest problem is keeping up with demand, so it's time to find manufacturers.

This is where I run into trouble. My company name is great, but anyone can tell it's a sex toy business. As such, people might be hesitant to get involved, or may even be offended. Is this something I should be worried about? Companies may be soulless entities concerned solely with the bottom line, but they're run by all sort of different people with different morals.

One idea I had is to have an innocuous company name which I can use for manufacturers and daily business, and keep the sex toy name as a brand. This also means cheques and credit card transactions will be discreet.

An alternative is to make the sex toy name the company name, and also make up a generic name or abbreviation solely for finding manufacturers.

How do other sex toy companies solve this problem?

Most packaging will say somewhere made by XXX manufacturing company with an address or web site. Assuming there is a product similar to yours, check out their packaging and start there.

 

[temp256]

My business partners know exactly what they're getting into, and they love the idea. The problem is manufacturers. An industry contact said the field is full of conservative people who definitely wouldn't appreciate making sex toy parts. My current plan is to give them a discreet name, but I don't know how this will work out in the long term when I start using a company bank account.

Embarrassment isn't an issue. I've talked to numerous people about the business, and they all think it's a good idea. I don't really have any friends at the moment, but I'm sure my family would be supportive. I intend to tell them once I'm successful.

 

[silverwhisper]

that may be so temp, but again, they're gonna find out what the product is at some point: the packaging at the very least will make that really clear.

in what country/countries are you looking to have your production done?

ed

 

[temp256]

The manufacturers don't need to know, and will likely never find out unless they happen to follow the sex toy industry. The individual components are innocuous enough, and I'll be doing the assembly and packaging for now.

Currently I'm working with US manufacturers, but this might change in the future.

 

[Green_Jack]

Please don't take this in the wrong way, but I think this problem is mostly in your head. Seems like your "industry contact" is expressing his or her own opinion. Parts is parts, and unless you're making something like "Guaranteed Child Seducer!" what's the problem?

 

[lovecraft68]

My business partners know exactly what they're getting into, and they love the idea. The problem is manufacturers. An industry contact said the field is full of conservative people who definitely wouldn't appreciate making sex toy parts. My current plan is to give them a discreet name, but I don't know how this will work out in the long term when I start using a company bank account.

Embarrassment isn't an issue. I've talked to numerous people about the business, and they all think it's a good idea. I don't really have any friends at the moment, but I'm sure my family would be supportive. I intend to tell them once I'm successful.

I'm a little confused. You say you need to people to manufacture-so mass produce-your 'sex toys' well you are not going to to anyone who does not already do so, so what's the problem? Or am I misunderstanding something in your question?

 

[temp256]

Oh, by "industry", I meant the manufacturing industry. My design is completely different from the standard moulded silicone, and requires manufacturers who aren't exposed to the sex toy industry.

The problem isn't in my head, because RFQ listings on major websites under the company name have been deleted. Either no one takes it seriously, or they aren't interested in being associated with sex toys.

 

[subwannabe]

Can't really address your posted problem but was wondering if you have some kind of general liability insurance or similar in case something goes wrong, like you get sued for an allergic reaction to your product or if it somehow gets bad bacteria on it which causes people health issues, including possible death. Shit happens.

 

[temp256]

No insurance yet. I'll probably have to get some once I start making money, but until then I can give general disclaimers, and advise people on safe use. If something catastrophic does happen, it's a limited liability company, so my personal assets will remain untouched.

 

[borisk]

That's Awesome you are at least trying to be "made in the USA".

Since I don't know what your manufactures will be making I do know that some times companies either don't want to deal with a small fly-by-night and loose $$$ from tooling because the company may file for chapter 11, or require a high initial investment.

I would be curious of your products.

Just don't ship to Alabama

 

[lovecraft68]

Have you looked into the kickstarter program to try to drum up some money to invest?

 

[temp256]

I can't give too many specifics without risking being identified, but I'm trying to get some wooden parts machined. Manufacturers don't care if they're dealing with a little firm, because setup and tooling costs are included in the first run. They're not going to take a risk and hope I'll keep ordering enough parts to cover initial costs: they simply pass it on to me.

Rest assured, I will never set foot in Alabama. I have interested distributors in Texas though. I'll have to examine the law carefully.

I've thought about doing a kickstarter, but at the moment I really don't need money. I need to get production sources set up, and figure out the boring business side of things.

 

[sensualsharon]

Have you looked into the kickstarter program to try to drum up some money to invest?

To my knowledge kickstarter and other similar progams will not accept adult ventures. As for the business name, you can have your registered business name and a DBA, your "Doing Business As" name, they are different. I am also in adult and didn't think of that until after I'd become Inc. and registered my business name. This is a common mistake ones make. People do not want an adult name appearing on their credit card statements. If you get a DBA, that is the name that will appear on their statements. I let my lawyer handle it, I can't figure all those forms out. I just should have gotten the generic, non sexy sounding name to begin with. Live and learn.

 

[subwannabe]

Sounds like you need to go to the "Shark Tank".

 

[GiggLeGasm]

sounds like you need a patent attorney and an insurance agent. You're considering selling a sex toy that, from the sounds of it, will be used internally. You need to protect yourself before you make any money.

Also, wooden sex toys do exist. Do a search to find out who is manufacturing for those companies. Hopefully, you can save yourself some costs associated with design if you go to a company who is already in the industry.

 

[southern_gal]

Sounds like you need to go to the "Shark Tank".

I was thinking exactly this and would love to see their faces.

 

[EMFabNC]

I can't give too many specifics without risking being identified, but I'm trying to get some wooden parts machined. Manufacturers don't care if they're dealing with a little firm, because setup and tooling costs are included in the first run. They're not going to take a risk and hope I'll keep ordering enough parts to cover initial costs: they simply pass it on to me.

Rest assured, I will never set foot in Alabama. I have interested distributors in Texas though. I'll have to examine the law carefully.

I've thought about doing a kickstarter, but at the moment I really don't need money. I need to get production sources set up, and figure out the boring business side of things.

We are a very small company that can probably help you cut out your wooden parts for you. I'm very low key, not too worried about "production runs" and such. If you want one made, cool. If you want 1,000 made...cool. We have a 3axis CNC Machine that is capable of processing a full sheet (4'x8') that can cut all grades and thicknesses of plywood, LDF/MDF/HDF, composite materials, plastics, acrylics, etc. Everything we do is absolutely custom and I never know whats going to come through our doors at any given time. Even if you need your generic parts engraved with your customers name or a special message, anything is possible.

If you're still interested, shoot me a PM. Let me find out what you need and I'll send over some pricing. Thanks!