Soho Sex Shops - only one wholesale supplier?
Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2006 9:00 am
Hey everyone
I've just been to some of the soho sex shops for the first time in a while, and was quite surprised at the extent to which they all carry the same titles etc - is there much difference between any of them? Is there only one wholesaler/distributer who supplies all these shops? Even the offers (and, more specifically, the offer signage etc) seemed to be exactly the same in apparently "independent" stores.
I know that Darker Enterprises/Private, Harmony and Simply Pleasure(?) are some of the main players, but is there one guy or company who buys all the stuff wholesale for these companies to then sell on? Also, for reasons I can't fathom, some stores have 3/4 different outlets in a few hundred square metre area?? Taking the Private example further; they've got hundreds/thousands of titles in their catalogue, but only a select 40 or so are duplicated all over the soho sex shops.
I understand that there will always be duplication of product lines etc, especially with the well-known studios/producers and newer releases. I also understand that, just like supermarkets, different outlets can sell the same thing and all can live in (relative) peace. Such forces can also mean retailers end up offering the same/similar deals etc, which may somewhat explain the situation I encountered. Further, customers can also be loyal to a particular store etc.
However, there was just something striking me as I walked round a few different outlets that made me consider the positives/negatives of having different stores which could ultimately be at risk of just being clones of each other.
The point of this thread? Well, nothing to earth shattering and it's not going to re-align the UK porn retail market anytime soon. Just thought it a relatively interesting issue to raise...
Cheers
alicia_fan_uk
I've just been to some of the soho sex shops for the first time in a while, and was quite surprised at the extent to which they all carry the same titles etc - is there much difference between any of them? Is there only one wholesaler/distributer who supplies all these shops? Even the offers (and, more specifically, the offer signage etc) seemed to be exactly the same in apparently "independent" stores.
I know that Darker Enterprises/Private, Harmony and Simply Pleasure(?) are some of the main players, but is there one guy or company who buys all the stuff wholesale for these companies to then sell on? Also, for reasons I can't fathom, some stores have 3/4 different outlets in a few hundred square metre area?? Taking the Private example further; they've got hundreds/thousands of titles in their catalogue, but only a select 40 or so are duplicated all over the soho sex shops.
I understand that there will always be duplication of product lines etc, especially with the well-known studios/producers and newer releases. I also understand that, just like supermarkets, different outlets can sell the same thing and all can live in (relative) peace. Such forces can also mean retailers end up offering the same/similar deals etc, which may somewhat explain the situation I encountered. Further, customers can also be loyal to a particular store etc.
However, there was just something striking me as I walked round a few different outlets that made me consider the positives/negatives of having different stores which could ultimately be at risk of just being clones of each other.
The point of this thread? Well, nothing to earth shattering and it's not going to re-align the UK porn retail market anytime soon. Just thought it a relatively interesting issue to raise...
Cheers
alicia_fan_uk