Doc Johnson’s VP of Sales and Marketing, Scott Watkins, weighs in on how adult retailers can choose the best supplements to stock in stores.
(NOTE: This story appears in the February 2025 issue of SE Magazine.)
In recent years, sexual enhancement supplements have surged in popularity, making a significant contribution to the products sold by adult retailers. While historically, discussions about sex were shrouded in stigma, there has been a noticeable cultural shift in recent years. People are becoming more open about discussing intimacy, pleasure and overall sexual health, which has helped normalize conversations about enhancing pleasure and libido.
Supplements promise a natural, non-invasive way to support sex drive and performance, making them broadly appealing. This movement falls neatly into a larger trend toward holistic health, where consumers are turning to plant-based remedies and supplements for everything from better sleep to improved cognitive function. It was only a matter of time before sexual enhancement supplements were added to the mix.
To help adult retailers determine which supplements are most suitable for their stores, we spoke with Scott Watkins, VP of Sales and Marketing at Doc Johnson, about which products retailers and their customers love the most.
Male enhancement supplements
Kush Queen Harder: An expertly formulated gummy designed to elevate stamina, performance, size and confidence. Made of natural ingredients, these sour blueberry gummies have been shown to improve blood flow and erections, boost libido and stamina and improve overall sexual satisfaction. Active ingredients include agmatine sulfate, maca root, damiana, horny goat weed and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA).
Matrix Vibes daily vitality gummies (for him): A daily vitamin that offers holistic support for men looking to naturally boost their libido and overall well-being. Formulated by doctors, the active ingredients in these strawberry-flavored gummies include fenugreek, maca root, mucuna pruriens, wild yam and ginseng.
Matrix Vibes instant arousal serum (for him): This doctor-formulated topical serum promotes immediate blood flow into the penis, resulting in an erection in just minutes. Active ingredients include ginger, gingko biloba, horny goat weed, guarana, astragalus, maca root, ginseng, tribulus, wild yam, fenugreek and nymphea.
Happy Schlong: Utilizing various libido-enhancing and nootropic plants, these boob-shaped gummies increase stamina and help men last longer. It works in harmony with your body by complimenting its natural processes. Active ingredients include maca root, horny goat weed, tribulus, terrestris, ginkgo biloba, red ginseng and guarana.
We at Doc Johnson want people to know that when they come into an adult shop, they can get consistent, clean options that are actually effective.
— Scott Watkins, VP of Sales and Marketing at Doc Johnson
Female enhancement supplements
Kush Queen Wetter: A thoughtfully crafted gummy offering enhancements to libido, desire and lubrication. Natural ingredients such as maca root, damiana, saffron, horny goat weed and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) promote relaxation, improve lubrication and increase orgasm intensity.
Matrix Vibes daily vitality gummies (for her): A daily vitamin for women featuring a revolutionary formula designed to enhance daily life. Formulated by doctors, these watermelon-flavored gummies offer holistic support by boosting libido and promoting overall well-being. Active ingredients include fenugreek, maca root, mucuna pruriens, wild yam and ginseng.
Matrix Vibes instant arousal serum (for her): A carefully crafted, doctor-formulated serum designed to enhance and elevate sexual arousal and pleasure for women. This fast-acting serum triggers vaginal lubrication through its natural ingredients, which include maca root, damiana, zanthalene, wild yam and ginseng.
Happy Chocha: These penis-shaped gummies come in various flavors and utilize a combination of seven Amazonian plants to help increase blood flow, regulate the nervous system and increase overall libido. Active ingredients include maca root, fenugreek, borojo, clavo huasca, mucuna pruriens, horny goat weed, ginkgo biloba, red ginseng, tribulus terrestris and guarana.
Nothing helps a sale like having acute knowledge of and experience with how the product works.
— Scott Watkins
Educate yourself on common ingredients
While the ingredients used in sexual enhancement supplements vary, many of them are herbal or plant-based compounds with a long history of use in traditional medicine. By educating yourself on how the more common active ingredients work to improve sexual health, you’ll be better prepared to answer customer questions and make more sales.
Maca root: Originating in Peru, the root of the maca plant is known for its ability to improve sexual function and libido, provide an energy boost and relieve symptoms of menopause. It is also used to enhance fertility and treat erectile dysfunction.
Tribulus terrestris: A fruit-producing Mediterranean plant, tribulus terrestris is commonly used in traditional medicine to enhance sexual function and improve stamina.
Ginseng: Known for its energy-boosting properties, ginseng is often used in sexual enhancement supplements to increase overall vitality and sexual performance.
Fenugreek: A clover-like herb native to the Mediterranean region, southern Europe and western Asia, fenugreek is known for its ability to balance hormones and support libido.
Horny goat weed: Refers to various herb species of the Epimedium genus containing chemicals known to help increase blood flow and improve sexual function.
Every item of ours goes through third-party testing for safety and cleanliness. We make sure they contain each ingredient advertised, and nothing more.
— Scott Watkins
Quality Tested = Quality Assured
While sexual enhancement supplements are appealing to many for providing a natural solution to sexual dysfunction without a prescription, there is a lack of quality control. In many countries, including the United States, supplements are not as strictly regulated as pharmaceuticals, so the purity, potency and safety of the ingredients used in these products may not always be guaranteed. For example, products could contain contaminants, or they may not include the advertised ingredients at the correct dosages. This is why it’s essential to only stock products from reputable brands that have been thoroughly vetted.
“Every item of ours, whether Doc Johnson branded or one of our partners, goes through third-party testing for safety and cleanliness,” shares Watkins. “We make sure they contain each ingredient advertised, and nothing more.”
A lack of regulation also leads to counterfeit products that, at best, don’t deliver the benefits they claim to, and at worst, can have negative side effects.
“Counterfeits often contain unregulated amounts of sildenafil or tadalafil, which can vary widely in concentration and pose health risks,” Watkins explains. “This is another reason we use third-party testing and ensure these ingredients are not in our products.”
Not only are retailers wise to these quality issues, but customers have also caught on. Looking towards the future, Watkins believes customers will be more selective when deciding which sexual enhancement supplements to purchase.
“I think people are going to start looking for the supplements that actually do what they say with no side effects,” he says. “It’s not fun to buy something that either doesn’t work or creates other problems.”
Your sales associates’ seal of approval
More and more adult retailers are stocking up on sexual enhancement supplements in order to meet the growing demand. These products are becoming a staple in wellness routines, particularly as more individuals are prioritizing holistic, non-pharmaceutical solutions to support their sexual well-being. And it’s not just adult stores that are carrying them!
“They’re a massive seller in and outside of adult industry spaces,” Watkins says, talking about the growing number of convenience and novelty stores that carry such products. “However, we at Doc Johnson want people to know that when they come into an adult shop, they can get consistent, clean options that are actually effective.”
When it comes to quality, retailers know they can rely on Doc Johnson to supply them with products that won’t lead to dissatisfied customers.
“Retailers we’ve spoken with are extremely happy with the products and sales potential,” Watkins continues. “We’re still trying to get the word out about them more, so customers will come looking for them, not just learn about them in-store.”
In stores, sexual enhancement supplements do best up front near the register, serving as the last stop before a customer heads out the door. They make for excellent budget-friendly add-on items, especially if the salesperson is trained on the difference between products and ingredients. This may take more than offering them some reading materials though. According to the VP of Sales and Marketing, when it comes to learning about the benefits of sexual enhancement supplements, there’s nothing better than hands-on experience.
“We always recommend the salespeople try them for themselves,” he explains. “Nothing helps a sale like having acute knowledge of and experience with how the product works.”
For more information, visit docjohnson.com.
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