Starting a sex toys business online

[Meanbusiness25]

Hello, I am researching what would I need to start a business online selling sex toys, but I can only see articles and studies about things like marketing, business plans, legal obligations, but I cannot fin anywhere information about companies that produce them and are selling sex toys to small sellers.
Where can I find this type of information and is there any financial support to start this type of business?
Thank you

 

[Lucan Unlordly]

I know a couple who had a successful business in this arena. They were doing very well until Amazon and other sites decided they were persona non gratis and the bottom quite literally dropped out of their market.

 

[AmazonGeek]

Bear in mind that you can sell them on Amazon but you can't use FBA to fulfil them. You would need to self fulfil or use some other 3PL to do it for you (assuming they allow them).

I did spot some sellers a while back trying to fool Amazon by mis-categorising them - funnily enough as DIY products, which I suppose is right on a technicality. But trying to fool Amazon is not advised!

 

[FreddyG]

I cannot fin anywhere information about companies that produce them and are selling sex toys to small sellers.

Unlike others, who find it necessary to answer all the questions you didn't ask, here's an answer! The simple answer is go to https://www.made-in-china.com/ and look up "sex toys". MOQ is often just one piece - but an in-depth relationship with one or two suppliers will help your margins. BDSM and those sex-dice seem to sell well in the UK.

 

[ethical PR]

Hello, I am researching what would I need to start a business online selling sex toys, but I can only see articles and studies about things like marketing, business plans, legal obligations, but I cannot fin anywhere information about companies that produce them and are selling sex toys to small sellers.
Where can I find this type of information and is there any financial support to start this type of business?
Thank you

Why do you feel there is a gap in the market for you to sell sex toys? How will you compete against larger suppliers who will be able to provide more competitive pricing.

I'm sure a quick search on Google would help you find suppliers .

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

BDSM and those sex-dice seem to sell well in the UK

Could you clearly explain what all this means
I hate PC /American military style abbreviations

 

[WaveJumper]

Alibaba

 

[Meanbusiness25]

I know a couple who had a successful business in this arena. They were doing very well until Amazon and other sites decided they were persona non gratis and the bottom quite literally dropped out of their market.

Thank you. This research is not related to Amazon or to have anything being sold there. I am looking for companies that do produce an sell the items and also looking for data like financials, success levels, how many companies selling this type of merchandise, etc. And, unfortunately, I was not able to get feedback from any of these companies, so, if anyone in this forum have some info on any of them or data related, I would be grateful if you could give me a shout, thank you.

 

[Meanbusiness25]

Bear in mind that you can sell them on Amazon but you can't use FBA to fulfil them. You would need to self fulfil or use some other 3PL to do it for you (assuming they allow them).

I did spot some sellers a while back trying to fool Amazon by mis-categorising them - funnily enough as DIY products, which I suppose is right on a technicality. But trying to fool Amazon is not advised!

Thank you. This research is not related to Amazon or to have anything being sold there. I am looking for companies that do produce and sell the items and also looking for data like financials, success levels, how many companies selling this type of merchandise, etc. And, unfortunately, I was not able to get feedback from any of the companies I have found online selling these.

 

[Meanbusiness25]

Why do you feel there is a gap in the market for you to sell sex toys? How will you compete against larger suppliers who will be able to provide more competitive pricing.

I'm sure a quick search on Google would help you find suppliers .

Unlike others, who find it necessary to answer all the questions you didn't ask, here's an answer! The simple answer is go to and look up "sex toys". MOQ is often just one piece - but an in-depth relationship with one or two suppliers will help your margins. BDSM and those sex-dice seem to sell well in the UK.

Thank you very much. I did not say that there is a gap or asked about competition. I did say that I was doing a research on this subject. Thank you for the indication about China, I know that the market is vast, but I am only focusing on the UK, due to many issues that would be brought by someone buying from them. And I am still looking for a reply from the UK companies, as none of them have replied.

 

[FreddyG]

Thank you very much. I did not say that there is a gap or asked about competition. I did say that I was doing a research on this subject. Thank you for the indication about China, I know that the market is vast, but I am only focusing on the UK, due to many issues that would be brought by someone buying from them. And I am still looking for a reply from the UK companies, as none of them have replied.

Nobody in the UK makes sex toys, so that response does not make much sense. You buy from China and sell in the UK.

 

[HFE Signs]

Why this industry? From a quick google search, it seems a very competitive industry (thanks, its now in my search history ), you will have to invest heavily in digital marketing and have some strong edge over your competitors so you margins will be squeezed. If you're looking to buy and sell a product, you might want to consider something less competitive.

 

[wayzgoose]

This is very common in the dropshipping world. Easy to find UK based suppliers with a quick Google search.

 

[FreddyG]

If you're looking to buy and sell a product, you might want to consider something less competitive.

Because the margins are bonkers high - x 10 is far from unusual. Brits are particularly coy about this market for some reason! But if I tell you that you can buy for $1 and sell for £10, then coyness evaporates.

As @wayzgoose points out, there are plenty of dropshippers available, but they will eat your margins.

 

[fisicx]

Because the margins are bonkers high - x 10 is far from unusual.

Maybe so but your marketing costs will also be bonkers high

 

[Meanbusiness25]

Why this industry? From a quick google search, it seems a very competitive industry (thanks, its now in my search history ), you will have to invest heavily in digital marketing and have some strong edge over your competitors so you margins will be squeezed. If you're looking to buy and sell a product, you might want to consider something less competitive.

Thank you, that is why I am doing research

 

[Meanbusiness25]

Nobody in the UK makes sex toys, so that response does not make much sense. You buy from China and sell in the UK.

Thank you, I would be very grateful if you could give me a link that could show that there aren't any products from the UK, just from China? It would be very helpful, also to understand if those products have quality that can challenge any other country that produce and sell these items, as it is not just about prices. Thank you

 

[fisicx]

Like anything you buy from China (or elsewhere) there are good and poor quality products. You need to employ an agent like @MOIC to help you source the products.

You may be better off buying from a UK wholesaler to see if your business plan is viable. You may discover the marketing costs are prohibitive. Lovehoney for example spends a huge wodge on advertising.

 

[MOIC]

@Meanbusiness25 You need to do a huge amount of research before embarking on this type of business. Yes, you've started here, but it seems you're inexperienced (maybe I'm wrong) to running any business.

As has been mentioned above, the profit margins can be huge, but this depends on the quantities you're buying for each design, as well as your selling costs, that need to be competitive with already established suppliers who have spent a huge amounts in marketing, including advertising in magazines and elsewhere.

The basics that may cause you trouble . . .

1. Opening a bank account for this business.
2. Platforms you can sell on.
3. Order quantities to achieve best prices from suppliers.
4. Product safety and verified certification.
5. Product liability insurance.
6. Marketing budget.

I wish you a happy ending to your research!!

 

[Robbie.uk]

Hello, I am researching what would I need to start a business online selling sex toys, but I can only see articles and studies about things like marketing, business plans, legal obligations, but I cannot fin anywhere information about companies that produce them and are selling sex toys to small sellers.
Where can I find this type of information and is there any financial support to start this type of business?
Thank you

Hi I am from China and living in London. Thinking to start this kind of business as well. I can handle suppliers from China and shipping to UK. Maybe we could be business partners and do it together!

 

[Meanbusiness25]

@Meanbusiness25 You need to do a huge amount of research before embarking on this type of business. Yes, you've started here, but it seems you're inexperienced (maybe I'm wrong) to running any business.

As has been mentioned above, the profit margins can be huge, but this depends on the quantities you're buying for each design, as well as your selling costs, that need to be competitive with already established suppliers who have spent a huge amounts in marketing, including advertising in magazines and elsewhere.

The basics that may cause you trouble . . .

1. Opening a bank account for this business.
2. Platforms you can sell on.
3. Order quantities to achieve best prices from suppliers.
4. Product safety and verified certification.
5. Product liability insurance.
6. Marketing budget.

I wish you a happy ending to your research!!

Thank you very much, your information is both valuable and practical, which is what I need at this point. With my best wishes,

 

[Meanbusiness25]

Like anything you buy from China (or elsewhere) there are good and poor quality products. You need to employ an agent like @MOIC to help you source the products.

You may be better off buying from a UK wholesaler to see if your business plan is viable. You may discover the marketing costs are prohibitive. Lovehoney for example spends a huge wodge on advertising.

Thank you, this is why I said that I was looking into the UK production and not from China. Advertising/Marketing, in this case, will be a bit different from what people expect to see. I am not interested in jumping for the billions that Lovehoney is profiting, because it is a huge machine. This.. will be a very different kettle of fish. But I really need to find a contact from a company that sells these products, and until now, from customer care to directors, nobody bothered to reply.

 

[Meanbusiness25]

Like anything you buy from China (or elsewhere) there are good and poor quality products. You need to employ an agent like @MOIC to help you source the products.

You may be better off buying from a UK wholesaler to see if your business plan is viable. You may discover the marketing costs are prohibitive. Lovehoney for example spends a huge wodge on advertising.

Thank you, I would love to employ him, but unless he likes payment in cookies, I will need to complete research/marketing/data/financial and get funds/investors/business angels/fairies. And only then I will be able to afford hiring someone that likes to be paid in cash and not cookies.

 

[MOIC]

Thank you, I would love to employ him, but unless he likes payment in cookies, I will need to complete research/marketing/data/financial and get funds/investors/business angels/fairies. And only then I will be able to afford hiring someone that likes to be paid in cash and not cookies.

I love cookies!!