Whether you are boutique retailer in a small town, a chain merchant with multiple locations, a home party based business catering to sensual focused parties or any other professional looking to connect to an audience to sell items this upcoming holiday season, there is no better time than now to prepare – except for yesterday, of course.
Now’s the time to shine, seduce, and support your customers in feeling good… inside and out! To help prepare your business for strengthened consumer visibility and sales alike, consider the following three tips.
Tip #1: Create a Naughty + Nice Gift Guide
From purpose to pleasure – STIMULATE’s signature reference of sexual wellness range – there is a lot to offer your audience this holiday season (and let’s face it, year round). Keeping this in mind, create a Naughty + Nice Gift Guide to help your customer – and curious new customers – this holiday season. A few ways to leverage this include creating a store display that features your selected items in a playful, festive way. Whether displayed on gift wrapped boxes or merchandised under a holiday tree, the real goal is to make sure this gift guide is not missed by any customer who walks thru your door. However, don’t stop there! Leveraging social media, email marketing and other promotional avenues, promote this gift guide with plenty of time in advance of the holidays to highlight these items for your audience to see.
As you think about what makes your Naughty + Nice Gift Guide, also consider providing descriptions of items and who they may be ideal for. You can segment items by consumer personality or relationship type, even offering multiple audiences as suggestions for who they may be ideal for. An example of this may be:
- For the Curious Couple
- For the Solo Explorer
- For the Experienced Lover
Other ways to highlight your items can include:
- Stocking Stuffers Under $25, etc.
- Staff Favorite Item
- Trending Product Right Now
When taking the time to thoughtfully feature these items in a gift guide, also take advantage of the many ways you can merchandise these items and promote them in-store and digitally alike.
If you have 12 items, for example, take 12 days in a row to highlight them then once these 12 days are completed, re-purpose but refresh created content in your social feeds and email marketing to gain continued momentum.
Tip #2: Leverage Holiday Pleasure Promotions
The holidays are all about pleasure… right? In the spirit of holiday fun and love, run a campaign leading up to the holidays that promotes a variety of emotional – and sensual – connections with your audience. Among the ways you can do this include:
- Each day feature a different product with either a promotional discount, a gift-with-purchase, or a mini giveaway
- Build excitement and urgency while introducing customers to items they might not normally consider
- Use Instagram Stories, TikTok, and email to drip out daily promotions and train your audience when + why (the holidays… gift giving… ’tis the season) to expect them
Bonus tip? Use QR codes in-store that lead to surprise daily deals to drive repeat foot traffic.
Extra bonus tip? Co-promote your campaigns with nearby or community businesses with like-minded audiences to drum up more visibility. The catch? You need to do the same for these partners, so be sure to pick business partners to co-market with that you confidently trust aligns with your audience. Examples may include local hotels and spas but this can vary greatly depending on your business.
Tip # 3: Infuse Sensuality into Holiday Experiences
Ready to really boost your holiday sales? Look beyond your established consumer based and aim to gain new consumers, as well. The way to do this? Position your store as a pleasure-positive holiday destination. Among the ways to do this may include:
- Host themed events or mini workshops, such as a “Sensual Stocking Stuffers Evening” or a “Couples’ Winter Warmer Nights” party
- Offer gift wrapping with a sensual twist—think velvet ribbons looped with a small toy or discreet but sexy packaging
- Feature wish lists or “Build Your Own Advent Calendar” options to encourage couples to shop together
Keeping in the spirit of partnership opportunities, consider how teaming up with a local lingerie boutique, massage therapist, or body-care brand for cross-promotion can add to your consumer reach.
Not-To-Miss Bonus Tip: Use Inclusive & Pleasure-Positive Messaging
The holidays can be stressful for many individuals, so position your brand as a space for joy, self-care, and connection – not just romance. A few tips to help do this include:
- Use inclusive language in your marketing, such as “treat yourself or your partner or friend”
- Highlight products for all gender identities, bodies, orientations, and relationship styles
- Reframe pleasure as a wellness practice, not just a luxury… this resonates with both new and returning customers.
The key messaging shift here is to celebrate connection, confidence, and comfort this season.
In Conclusion
The holiday season is more than just a shopping rush, it’s a powerful opportunity to redefine intimacy, pleasure, and self-care for your community.
This year, don’t just sell products. Sell experiences that spark pleasure, connection, and confidence.
By blending creativity with inclusivity and smart promotions, adult novelty focused stores and sexual wellness focused businesses can not only drive sales, but also become go-to destinations for meaningful, joy-filled gifting. And the best part? Strengthen sales and business revenue along the way!
