From classy, discreet Lelos, to the interesting colors and shapes offered by Fun Factory, to the revolutionary, couples-focused We-Vibe, vibrators are getting sleeker and more powerful than ever.
Increased interest in these toys will help the global vibrator market more than double in value by 2019, growing at a CAGR of 16.98%.
Technavio analysts have gotten the buzz on the top five reasons vibrator sales are growing worldwide:
Mainstream exposure
As much as we hate to say it, Fifty Shades of Grey (both the books and the movie) have done wonders for sex toy sales. Seeing these products popping up more and more in media has encouraged customers to ditch embarrassment in favour of pleasure, and invest in battery-powered boudoir accessories.
Ease of purchase and availability
No longer the domain of the seedy back room, sex toys are increasingly being displayed and sold publicly, which is obviously having a big impact on the number of consumers that vendors are able to reach.
E-commerce is a major reasons for this.
Several online retailers such as pureromance.com and thatspersonal.com offer a variety of vibrators, and ensure discreet packaging for consumer’s privacy. The benefit of anonymity while making online purchases is among the biggest reasons for the success of the sale of sex toys over the Internet.
Shift in social norms
Sexual norms have evolved over the years. There’s more information available than ever when it comes to sex, and sexual wellness is gradually becoming less of a taboo and more of a requirement for today’s population.
Increased number of start-ups
The significant growth of the sex toys market, particularly the adult vibrator segment, has attracted the attention of investors and inventors alike. The global vibrator market has seen a rise in the number of start-ups offering innovative products that are changing the market dynamics. Start-ups like Lelo Ora and the Ultimate G have created vibrators that are remarkably different from existing products in the market in terms of both design—Lelo products look like the love child of an iPhone and a dildo—and materials.
Changing perception of investors
As more innovators break into sex toys, investors (both large and small) are turning their attention to the market. Additionally, crowdsourcing has been a boon for those looking to create next-gen vibrators.
For example, the Revel Body vibrator took only four hours to raise $800,000 for the project. With a unique design and novel TrueSonic technology, the product easily piqued the interest of customers.
Projects like this illustrate the high market potential, which will keep attracting investors to the market over the projected period.
