Something I've been thinking about a lot lately is the way that marketing affects the way we feel about or purchase sex toys. I was thinking about it particularly with trans people, but today I noticed Eden is using a heterosexual couple to market a new sale. How do you feel about it (both with Eden or in general)?
Do you think it's frustrating that at many places couples toys are aimed primarily towards heterosexual couples?
05/17/2013
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I think right now EF markets to the majority. But I don't get the feeling they are being in-exclusive in any way.
05/18/2013
Yes, especially when the toy is one that is pretty obviously going to be used solo by the majority of people who buy them.
05/18/2013
I'm probably out of place here - but companies have to sell a lot of product to make a profit. Since the vast majority of the market is in heterosexual couples, they can't afford not to attract a segment of that market.
05/18/2013
Quote:
...uh?
Originally posted by
Gunsmoke
I'm probably out of place here - but companies have to sell a lot of product to make a profit. Since the vast majority of the market is in heterosexual couples, they can't afford not to attract a segment of that market.
Its not as if by focusing a LITTLE bit of attention to homosexual couples and trans* peoples, they'd be alienating heteros. The vast majority of...like, EVERYTHING is geared towards a heterosexual audience as it is. Companies would likely turn a larger profit by actually acknowledging everyone, y'know?
But to answer the original post, I would ADORE some more diversity in advertisements on toy sites. Throw in some gayness and some trans* people into advertisements instead of just ignoring them. It would be nice, anyway.
05/18/2013
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It bugs me more with friends than with marketing.
Originally posted by
lexxxmoonchild
Something I've been thinking about a lot lately is the way that marketing affects the way we feel about or purchase sex toys. I was thinking about it particularly with trans people, but today I noticed Eden is using a heterosexual couple to
...
more
Something I've been thinking about a lot lately is the way that marketing affects the way we feel about or purchase sex toys. I was thinking about it particularly with trans people, but today I noticed Eden is using a heterosexual couple to market a new sale. How do you feel about it (both with Eden or in general)?
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05/20/2013
It doesn't bother me, but I'd love to see EF pull a JCPenny with their advertising/promotiona l stuff.
05/23/2013
Since I'm straight... It doesn't really affect me.
05/23/2013
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True. If 90% of your audience is one demographic, that's where your going to spend your bucks. Plus, I'd guess most of the advertising and photos are outsourced. If they have the products you want, who cares who/how it's marketed.
Originally posted by
Gunsmoke
I'm probably out of place here - but companies have to sell a lot of product to make a profit. Since the vast majority of the market is in heterosexual couples, they can't afford not to attract a segment of that market.
I noticed sites like Fleshlight have a whole separate site for the gay stuff at Fleshjack.com. Probably so they don't offend the uptight straights.
05/23/2013
It bothers me yes, and I think Eden actually has a better selection than most brick and mortar stores have in the area of homo-product. Now, when it comes to product for trans, I'm kind of out of the loop since I'm not really intimate with those kinds of intimate details of a trans relationship.
05/23/2013
I'm half of a hetero couple, but I would like to see more same-sex / trans couples in Eden's ads.
If 90% of Eden's market are hetero, that would mean 10% were something else. I think it would make sense to have about 10% of the ads feature non-hetero couples.
I'd hate to think that "uptight straights" would be offended and not shop at Eden. I certainly wouldn't be offended. Seeing more same-sex / trans couples in Eden's ads would INCREASE my loyalty, because it would better reflect my values, and I know I'm not alone in that.
If 90% of Eden's market are hetero, that would mean 10% were something else. I think it would make sense to have about 10% of the ads feature non-hetero couples.
I'd hate to think that "uptight straights" would be offended and not shop at Eden. I certainly wouldn't be offended. Seeing more same-sex / trans couples in Eden's ads would INCREASE my loyalty, because it would better reflect my values, and I know I'm not alone in that.
05/23/2013
I'm definitely not a fan of the lack of diversity
05/23/2013
I think everyone should take a sec to look at other sites, they are way less inclusive. I believe that I, as a lesbian, am very well represented here on Eden. There are lots of pictures and advertisements directed at us.
05/23/2013
I'm bi, so I don't care either way. I think that there are more straight and hetero people who shop in general.
05/23/2013
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I see one section on the site where there is specific LGBT+ marketing, but on other areas of the site it's a lot of hetero couples. I can think of a couple places offhand that do better in that regard. At any rate, it wasn't my intention to call out Eden in particular, and was just using that as an example because everyone here is familiar with Eden's marketing.
Originally posted by
Katelyn
I think everyone should take a sec to look at other sites, they are way less inclusive. I believe that I, as a lesbian, am very well represented here on Eden. There are lots of pictures and advertisements directed at us.
05/28/2013
I put that I think it's acceptable, but honestly I don't care either way. I come here to buy products to suit my individual needs, and read reviews of other people's experiences who are using the product for the same purpose I am. I don't care about pictures for advertisement. Just give me a picture of the toy, and I'm good to go.
05/28/2013
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I have to disagree with you on that. I've recently seen a number of competitor sites that not only have a much better selection of things like harnesses (which, granted, are for hetero folks as well), they also have a whole section just for trans* products.
Originally posted by
Katelyn
I think everyone should take a sec to look at other sites, they are way less inclusive. I believe that I, as a lesbian, am very well represented here on Eden. There are lots of pictures and advertisements directed at us.
05/30/2013
I'm a pretty amateur sex toy user, so I can't speak TOO much on this subject, however I do wish there were more queer ads on this site!
06/02/2013
most the people in the world are heterosexual. it is simple supply/demand.
06/14/2013
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I think the limitations cause boundaries in possible sexual advances....
Originally posted by
lexxxmoonchild
Something I've been thinking about a lot lately is the way that marketing affects the way we feel about or purchase sex toys. I was thinking about it particularly with trans people, but today I noticed Eden is using a heterosexual couple to
...
more
Something I've been thinking about a lot lately is the way that marketing affects the way we feel about or purchase sex toys. I was thinking about it particularly with trans people, but today I noticed Eden is using a heterosexual couple to market a new sale. How do you feel about it (both with Eden or in general)?
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06/15/2013
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Okay. But around 10% of the world's population is gay, AND based on my experience and research, gay couples are more likely to use toys and other sex-related paraphernalia than hetero couples. That makes gay couples a substantial portion of the adult-product customer base.
Originally posted by
Bubba29
most the people in the world are heterosexual. it is simple supply/demand.
06/15/2013
Some heterosexual people might be up in arms about this, but I'm not saying NO hetero people use toys. However, I do think that a disproportionate amount of people who use toys are queer/lgbt/trans/other non-hetero/cis identities (however you personally would like to refer to them) in comparison to the general population, and we can see that in how many of us have "queer" or "lesbian" on our profiles as opposed to straight. I would say at least 1/3 of the time I roll over someone's name, they are some kind of queer identity. Therefore, sex toy companies and companies that sell sex toys should definitely be more open-minded.
I think Eden in general does a good job, and many things are beyond their control, however, I think it would be awesome if to promote a sale, there was a lesbian couple advertised. I would love if there were pictures of queer people on the product pictures, but that's up to the manufacturer, not Eden. I think what would be particularly sexy is if Eden had a lingerie sale advertised by women in lingerie together. (did you see that, Eden?)
I think Eden in general does a good job, and many things are beyond their control, however, I think it would be awesome if to promote a sale, there was a lesbian couple advertised. I would love if there were pictures of queer people on the product pictures, but that's up to the manufacturer, not Eden. I think what would be particularly sexy is if Eden had a lingerie sale advertised by women in lingerie together. (did you see that, Eden?)
06/15/2013
Sorry to post again on this so quickly but one thing I really like that Eden does is, aside from having a forum for us, they also allow us to put our own gender and sexual orientation in ourselves so we can write anything we want. Some people put stuff like "a little bit of everything" whereas others have something more straightforward like "bisexual." For gender, it's a lot easier for people when they don't have to choose man or woman, and can explain that they are trans if they want to, in whatever words they want to too.
06/15/2013
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I definitely agree with you on this. I've seen some pretty creative responses to those fields, too!
Originally posted by
novanilla
Sorry to post again on this so quickly but one thing I really like that Eden does is, aside from having a forum for us, they also allow us to put our own gender and sexual orientation in ourselves so we can write anything we want. Some people put
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more
Sorry to post again on this so quickly but one thing I really like that Eden does is, aside from having a forum for us, they also allow us to put our own gender and sexual orientation in ourselves so we can write anything we want. Some people put stuff like "a little bit of everything" whereas others have something more straightforward like "bisexual." For gender, it's a lot easier for people when they don't have to choose man or woman, and can explain that they are trans if they want to, in whatever words they want to too.
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06/15/2013
I think Eden has a good selection of products for gay/lesbian/trans people, but I still get frustrated sometimes that most of it is geared toward straight couples. We simply don't have as many options as they do. Despite that, I will say that I understand why Eden would want to market primarily to straight cis couples. After all, most of their customers are straight, and they offer some gay-friendly/gender-fr iendly options.
06/15/2013
Sometimes I notice that manufacturers will use exclusively heterosexual imaging on their product packaging, which bothers me.
06/15/2013
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Tantus features a white hetero couple, an interracial male/male couple, an interracial female/female couple, and a white couple with a female and an androgynous person on their homepage. Gotta love the diversity.
Originally posted by
chicmichiw
Sometimes I notice that manufacturers will use exclusively heterosexual imaging on their product packaging, which bothers me.
06/16/2013
I should care with as many LGBT friends I have, but at the same time, I know how marketing works. If you aren't part of the 'target demo' you don't get ads targeted at you. Trans especially have it tough because they are a pretty small market.
Forgive them, they know not what they do, they are only trying to make a buck like the rest of us.
Forgive them, they know not what they do, they are only trying to make a buck like the rest of us.
06/16/2013
I wish more toy companies would consider having diverse couples on the packaging. I would love if Eden was more trans inclusive.
06/16/2013
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Seeing as how a larger percentage of non-hetero couples use toys than the percentage of hetero couples who do so, and that majority of our population supports gay marriage rights, I think it would actually HELP them make a buck to be more directly LGBTQ-friendly.
Originally posted by
TJax
I should care with as many LGBT friends I have, but at the same time, I know how marketing works. If you aren't part of the 'target demo' you don't get ads targeted at you. Trans especially have it tough because they are a pretty
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I should care with as many LGBT friends I have, but at the same time, I know how marketing works. If you aren't part of the 'target demo' you don't get ads targeted at you. Trans especially have it tough because they are a pretty small market.
Forgive them, they know not what they do, they are only trying to make a buck like the rest of us. less
Forgive them, they know not what they do, they are only trying to make a buck like the rest of us. less
Also, the LGBTQetc. community is very loyal to businesses who openly support them.
06/16/2013
Total posts: 33
Unique posters: 27
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