Babeland Celebrates 20 Years of Good Vibrations

It's been twenty years since the high-end sex shop Toys in Babeland first opened, providing quality sex toys, lubricant and workshops in a welcoming, upscale environment. Now, founders Rachel Venning and Claire Cavanah share the story of their growth and success, perfectly wrapped up for you, reader!

"One day back in 1993, Rachel and I were hanging out at my apartment, and she was making fun of a bottle of lube I'd bought," said Cavanah. "We both started complaining about the experience of shopping at any of the local places where one could buy lube, and the dismal choices. Everything catered to men, gay or straight, and nothing felt welcoming or useful for women. It was our 'Eureka' moment."

The two women found a Seattle storefront, and through some creative dumpster-diving, furnished and outfitted it for business. Calling the process, "a true barn-raising experience," the two remember opening their cigar box cash register to accommodate some of their first customers, a lesbian couple from Canada who drove down to Seattle before the shop was officially open, to buy a harness and dildo.

"How could we say no?" said Cavanah. "Babeland is the kind of place we would want to shop."

Toys in Babeland was instantly welcomed by Seattle-ites; so much so that the women decided to take their successful business model to the Big Apple. Cavanah moved across the country and in 1998 opened up a shop on Manhattan's Lower East Side, an edgy neighborhood with heart and lots of small businesses.

In 2003, they expanded with a sleek new shop in trendy SoHo, and in 2008, opened another location in Brooklyn. At all locations, in addition to selling toys and goods, workshops are offered in what is now a twenty-year educational program.

"We wanted to empower our customers with information and encouragement to have the pleasure they deserved," said Venning. "Thousands of people have attended our workshops; we like to think we've helped create a lot of good sex!"

The success of Babeland (the "Toys in" has been dropped from their moniker) is due in part to good timing, as sex toys have become much more acceptable as is the concept of marketing them as a more high-end purchase.

"Sex toy design has become very innovative and sophisticated, and young women don't need classes to discover the G-spot anymore. Seriously, we used to offer a 'find your G-spot workshop' every few months and it would sell out," said Cavanah. "Over the past five years or so, we just didn't have as much interest. I think it's because there's so much information available now in magazines and online that speaks much more frankly to women's pleasure that the demand for a class just isn't there."

Cavanah and Venning are celebrating their 20th anniversary in a variety of ways, including hosting parties at all their stores, with the biggest celebrations in the original Seattle shop and at the SoHo location in New York. Throughout 2013 they've been highlighting Babeland's Best, a collection of their top 20 toys.

Additionally, they've been giving away lots of free gifts and prizes, including one sex toy per day in the month of September, and a raffle for $1,600 worth of toys. And their clients are eating it up.

"We're really lucky," said Cavanah. "We've been able to find supportive and enthusiastic customers everywhere we've gone."

As is often the case with sex, sometimes it is far better to give than to receive. It is this concept that "Come for a Cause," Babeland's philanthropic initiative was built on.

For over 20 years, Babeland has contributed to non-profits and organizations devoted to social change through their fundraising partnerships and community donations program. In the past, they have donated over $200,000 to over 300 organizations as diverse as GMHC, The Trevor Project and Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States. Through this program Babeland's website jokes that they're "making the world a better place one orgasm at a time."