Shop Talk

Sexologist Sunny Rodgers reflects on what authenticity, adaptability and AI taught pleasure brands in 2025. (Note: This article was written by Sunny Rodgers and appears in the December 2025 issue of SE Magazine.) In the pleasure products industry, 2025 wasn’t just another year — it was the year everything got real. After half a decade of digital acceleration, brand noise and...

Regional Manager Annber Kealoha explains how Janra upholds quality across stores and what trends to expect in 2026. (Note: This article appears in the December 2025 issue of SE Magazine.) As Regional Manager, Annber Kealoha plays a pivotal role in shaping both the day-to-day operations and long-term success of Janra’s growing network of adult stores. She supports existing and new locations, making...

Janra’s top-selling GM, Reign Elias, shares how she balances management and top-tier product movement with humor, showmanship and strategy. (Note: This article appears in the December 2025 issue of SE Magazine.) Few leaders in adult retail bring the kind of energy, humor and theatrical flair that define Reign Elias’ management approach. As a General Manager who doubles as a top-performing salesperson, Elias...

When SE’s Kris Kay and Kristen Burke hit the road to visit stores along one of Florida’s most traveled highways, they had no idea they were about to embark on a full-blown Bill & Ted–style adventure, teleporting through time with every door they walked through. (Note: This article appears in the December issue of SE Magazine.) In the Tampa Bay area,...

SE’s Managing Editor gets out of the office and visits seven brick-and-mortar locations along one infamous stretch of Florida highway. What he discovered is a microcosm of our industry today.  (Note: This article appears in the December 2025 issue of SE Magazine.) If you ever want to witness Florida in its purest, most gloriously feral form, point your car toward the 262...

For the majority of those who answered our year-end readers’ poll, 2025 was a disappointing year. From tariffs to the economy, stores are looking forward to what a new year might bring. Were your store's sales up or down in 2025? Up: 20%  |  Down: 60%  |  Same: 13%  |  Other: 7% If your sales were the same or down, what would...

Intimita Novelties co-founders Lance Burden and Fiona Dunn bring years of expertise in adult retail to the wholesale space, aiming to improve the customer experience. (Note: This article appears in the October 2025 issue of SE Magazine.) Lance Burden didn’t just decide to go into the adult industry — he grew up in it. “When I was about six years old,...

Josh Ortiz of XR Brands, via his “Dear DadBodDom” SE column, delves into the challenges of cis-hetero male insecurities and how retailers can turn these conversations into opportunities for education and increased sales. (Note: This story by Josh Ortiz appears in the August issue of SE Magazine.) Q: Dear DadBodDom, My store is located in a typical college town with a...

Polo Medina, owner of Sex Shop Matamoros, shares how his partner, Laura Castro — once hesitant — became his biggest supporter. (NOTE: This story appears in the June 2025 issue of SE Magazine.) When her husband, Polo Medina, now owner of the three Sex Shop Matamoros stores, first envisioned opening adult retail stores in their city, Laura Nancy Castro Muraira was...