Vibrator Sales Up -- Are Sex Toys A Woman's Best Friend?

Vibrators are poised to become the world's most popular gadgets.

Business is booming -- for the sex toy industry. It seems that erotic accessories are poised to become some of the world’s most popular gadgets, right up there with smartphones. The Daily Mail reported that UK sales of sex toys are projected to soar above £250 million this year (approximately 403 million dollars). And as of May 2011, consumers were spending an estimated $500 million a year on these products in North America, according to Scientific American.

It seems that sex toys are recession-proof. The economic downturn may even have fueled higher sales, Stefan Dallakian, owner of online sex toy distributor Paris Intimates, told CNBC last summer. “At a time when unemployment is high and bank account balances are low, people are passing the time by getting busy,”he said. The industry’s move online -- allowing for consumer anonymity -- has also helped to boost revenue.

But there may be another reason that the sex toy industry has flourished over the past few years. The Daily Mail attributes the boom to celebrities increasingly discussing their sexual proclivities in public forums, such as on Amanda de Cadenet’s “The Conversation” and an upcoming British television program called “More Sex Please, We’re British.” Fictional on-screen characters have also contributed to a more sex-toy-friendly atmosphere. Perhaps most notably, “Sex and the City” (during the pre-recession era) dedicated an entire episode to Charlotte’s discovery of the Pearl Rabbit vibrator, and the Maggie Gyllenhaal-helmed film “Hysteria,” about the history of the vibrator, will be released on May 18th.

Women as well as men have become increasingly comfortable with electronic devices in the bedroom. A survey released in November 2011 showed that 50 percent of Americans reported using vibrators, and 70 percent of men said that they were comfortable with the electronic device. The same survey showed that the majority of participants agreed or strongly agreed with the statement “[vibrators are a] healthy part of many women’s sex lives.” Amen to that.

Related on HuffPost: How To Buy A Sex Toy

Comments

[Adam69]

12:01 PM on 04/15/2013

Well this is the way it should be the ultimate pleasure orgasms....we all want and need them so why not get more bang for the buck sort of speak. Both the wife and I love toys and our vibrators they get a work out....have changed the batteries a few times...so natural so pleasing and folks have been pleasing themselves for centuries.....our toys are better today....:)

[BGToys]

11:37 AM on 01/22/2013

Having the ability to relax and to pleasure oneself is important for mental well-being, for sexual exploration, and for ultimate comfort when actually being with a partner. The more we know about our particular bodies, and what turns us on, off, and everything in between, the better we will be able to work towards reaching higher and higher climaxes. My favorite little toy under $20 is http://www.blissfulgoodies.com/Waterproof-Slender-G---Purple/sku-CNVELD-PD1015-12?a=artificial_vagina&gv=true

[emmaziff]

10:53 AM on 06/22/2012

Women are now more self exploratory and open about masturbation and sex toys. Men could be suffering because they are having to compete!

[PinkLadyNZ]

12:40 AM on 06/17/2012

great article. I am always in a quandry on which vibe to go for.
my favourite has to be the rabbit - definitely my best friend - this is the latest one i have purchased and my god its good! http://vibes4u.co.nz/Doc-Johnson-Ivibe-Grape-Rabbit-Vibrator/sku-CNVETB-6001-02?a=vfa

[Randy1120]

10:21 PM on 06/15/2012

Sex toy sales are up because men are buy them for their girlfriends! Whenever I leave for work, I tell my girlfriend the vibrator has new batteries ;) She laughs but says okay thanks! So yes it is a women's and man's bestfriend. I have no problem with my girlfriend using a vibrator at all. Why should I? I bought her this one http://www.blissfulgoodies.com/Teardrop-Bullet-With-Smoke-Controller/sku-CNVELD-9982-05?a=artificial_vagina&gv=true

[LillyyF]

06:09 PM on 06/15/2012

I ran into this article looking up reviews for vibrators so... yes they are a woman's best friend!

[Dolce Dills]

02:37 PM on 06/08/2012

STOP being so insecure already! They don't and CANT replace or surpass the REAL THING!
But when the Dogs away wouldnt u rather the kitty play with panasonic rather than the Dog next door?

[RealistBC]

06:02 AM on 05/29/2012

Women don't like men much, so why not?

[Professor Wagstaff]

12:01 PM on 05/30/2012

If only vibrators earned 7 figure incomes, eh?

[chiefg]

10:47 AM on 05/28/2012

Greese is experiensing the opposite effect on sales of tallywhacker replacements. The economy is bad for sex in Greese but here in this country business is still thriving in the sex toy industry.

[W L Simpson]

01:30 AM on 05/27/2012

wham-blam-thank u mam doesn't do much for the average member of the opposite sex.

The 3 R's should include 1 S, at the proper stage of adolescence, when ever that is.

But wait! the 3 Rs aren't taught much either, any more.

[Professor Wagstaff]

12:36 PM on 05/30/2012

Given the state of modern manners, I suspect that often you don't even get a "Thank You, Mam" anymore.

[salsnow73]

04:14 PM on 05/18/2012

Has anyone seen the video of the guy in tank-top ejaculated so quick?

[WyrmGurl]

10:33 AM on 05/18/2012

I don't like vibrators. Sorry. Non-electrical devices of all sorts...o, yes. But vibrators, even the best and most highly recommended, are too rough and unpleasant at the lowest levels...no matter the material. I prefer metal and extremely high quality borosilicate glass. And other accoutrements, of many varieties. No latex (allergic), no silicone (degrades even with great care).
There certainly are a lot of terribly bitter, insecure, angry people on this thread. Nothing wrong with occasional selfishness...even with a partner. Neither men nor women are more or less disadvantaged, and not everyone is "replaceable". No need to be threatened by images, or devices, or fantasies. But the paranoia, misogyny and misandry are everywhere and abundant.
I don't read Cosmo. It's an anachronism. Blargh. I don't get my ideas from garbage rags with photoshopped celebutard covers. Or watch sexist crap like SATC. I think that intelligent women can do a bit better than that. There's a whole world out there...
BTW, the "Shades of Gray..." books are so poorly written and puerile they make "Twilight" almost look good...did I just say that? Please kill me quickly. "Shades..." started out as "Twi" fan-fiction...so no one should be surprised at its "Dick and Jane" qualities. Feh.

[chiefg]

10:49 AM on 05/28/2012

Woow. I had to grab the dictionary to understand this post.

[Professor Wagstaff]

12:06 PM on 05/30/2012

Sounds like you've probed this subject thoroughly

[WyrmGurl]

12:59 PM on 05/30/2012

Sad and demented, but social. As in social disease.

[rontheking]

01:44 AM on 05/17/2012

Another labor-saving device that improves the life of men everywhere...so that we don't have to work sooo hard....

[J Owen Williams]

11:28 PM on 05/26/2012

Are we related?

[rontheking]

03:38 AM on 05/27/2012

OMG! I have a doppelganger! It really is a small forest!

[zippy335]

08:49 AM on 05/16/2012

It seems that my last comment was pretty cryptic. It's only purpose is to make you think.

Pornography is as empowering to women as vibrators are empowering to men.

What if I had written it this way?

[justbenice]

03:08 PM on 05/15/2012

Oh, how I enjoy when blurbs like this are posted. The comment section never fails to entertain! All we're missing is an all out "I know you are, but what am I" comment! Makes a slow, boring afternoon in the office go by so much more quickly! :)