An Interview with Taylor Sparks of OrganicLoven.com: "Bodies and genitals have not changed much since sex toys have come to fruition, but the technology has really improved."

Taylor Sparks, founder of OrganicLoven.com

Retailer Taylor Sparks surveys the trends and smart biz decisions that enhance her sex toy business, OrganicLoven.com

Organic Loven makes a promise almost no other online shop can: your purchase is guaranteed to be good for you.

Company founder Taylor Sparks is a pleasure industry veteran who also hosts adult cruises and events. Sparks bridges the gap between retailers and adults-only events spaces, creating incredible brand recognition for her manufacturer partners online and on her group play-cations.

Sparks excels in the adult retail business because she has spent countless hours as both buyer and consumer. Her knowledge-gathering has become the cornerstone upon which her entire brand revolves.

Sparks combs her products' ingredients list with a fine-toothed comb and customers have flocked to OrganicLoven.com in jubilant response. Though the pleasure industry is undoubtedly steering away from toxic toys and rash-inducing lubes, Sparks takes this approach to a much-needed extreme. Her retail lube brands are free of petroleum, glycerin, parabens, and and any harmful chemicals that most FDA agents still gloss over. Sparks' sex toy line-up is similarly devoid of jelly, phthalates, vinyl, PVC, and plasticizers.

In this exclusive interview with ThePleasureConnection.net, Sparks reveals the products and marketing styles that have kept OrganicLoven.com green in more ways than one.

How did you perceive the trend vibe of 2023 for the sex toy industry as a whole?

After 2-3 years of an amazing upswing in the sex toy industry, thanks to the Covid lock down, some companies have seen sales slip from a little to almost nothing. Sales for some companies have flat-lined or settled where they may have been if their trajectory was not interrupted by the lock down. One of the toy companies that suffered this downward spiral was Lora DiCarlo, who went out of business this year.

How did the online retail world fare for you in 2023? Have online shops like Organic Loven made a full come-back now that Covid scares are pretty much over and life has gone back to (mostly) normal?

Organic Loven had a great upswing in sales during Covid and the lock down in 2020 and 2021. This was in part due to the number of distributors that we work with both in and outside of the US. We never stopped shipping. We grew more than 700% from 2019 to 2020 and an additional 100% in 2021. Our 2022 sales were down over 2021, but still way up over 2020 and 2019. Our 2023 sales fared about the same as 2022. Last year we shipped to 48 countries.

How did you expand your retail business this year? What's kept Organic Loven growing and evolving?

The sexual education of clients has grown in this industry. We are not just selling them toys and lubes without offering them an education to go along with those products and in all areas of their lives. We now have several digital download courses that I also conduct live on communication, relationships, setting boundaries, and women’s sexual health and wellness. I’ve also expanded my consultations to full on coaching packages of 4 and 8 weeks for individuals, couples, and throuples in both monogamy and ethical non-monogamy.

If you could address the many manufacturers that help supply your store, what feedback would you give? What could manufacturers do to keep both of your and their businesses running smoothly and attracting more consumers at the retail level?

I would suggest to those manufacturers that are still working with chemical based products to look at the data of how much the organic market has expanded in the past 10 years. How many of the chemicals within intimate body care and toys are being banned in many countries and that there are safer alternatives to porous rubber that contains phthalates. So many of these chemicals have been directly connected to numerous cancers and yet, they continue to use them. Organic Loven does not carry any such products and more and more stores are ditching these harmful products as well.

Are there any product categories or products themselves that really nailed it this year? What were your retail customers buying and asking for?

For us, our top sellers have been cock rings, lockable toy cases, and as always, organic lube! Those were closely followed by the We Vibe Moxie+ and the Oh My Bod Fuse!

It seems you've also addressed a major, yet-unfulfilled consumer need yourself this year by publishing your second book. Tell us a bit about your new book, 'An African-American Guide to Ethical Non-Monogamy.' How does this book tie into the sex toy space and help Black consumers to fully discover themselves and their sexual potential?

My book is a guide for those seeking information on how to transition into or through ethical non-monogamy. It is focused on the African- American community because our sexual, marital and relationship history in the US has had a challenging past.

Monogamy, Christianity, and all forms of what is considered ‘normal’ within relationships stems from European standards. So, in order to get here, we first visit there. Then we cover the various loves styles that are under the umbrella of ethical non-monogamy, offering this guide as to their differences and how they function, how they do not function, and examples of such love styles. We also cover communication, setting boundaries, managing emotions, and even how to recognize abusers within the community.

Lastly we offer resources for those who may seek coaching, counseling or therapy that is focused on ethical non-monogamy. It is not designed to put anyone in a box, but to allow people to design their own loves styles based on what is best for them and their partner(s).

As you consider the future of sex toy design and today's consumer standards, which direction are you taking your retail business in the coming years? What are some goals you have to keep new consumers coming in and current consumers coming back?

Toys can only have so many designs because all of our bodies and genitals have not changed much since sex toys have come to fruition. But the technology has really improved. More ‘toys’ are also addressing sexual health and wellness for both vulva and penis owners. This expands a company's offerings when we start to look at the whole person/client holistically and offering them products that address them.

Our cock rings of all types (lasso, rubber, customizable) have always been great sellers for all of our male clients, but especially for those who suffer from ED when it comes to keeping an erection. Cock rings can assist in keep them erect. Toys such as Pulse by Hot Octopuss also can assist clients with ED for those who can keep an erection, but have trouble achieving one. The Pulse directly stimulates the perineum assisting in getting the erection.

CBD infused lubricants and stimulants have assisted great for vulva owners who may experience slight pain during or after sex. CBD is an anti-inflammatory and reduces pain as well as opening up the blood vessels in the genital area helping to achieve orgasms more easily. CBD tinctures can help reduce anxiety and depression as well.

Were there any trends that fizzled out this year? As a retailer, what did you see that didn't work and probably won't be coming back or selling very well?

Our share-a-sale referrals are down this year. Not exactly sure why, but they are down over previous years, although we continue to bring on new affiliates.

Taylor Sparks, adult retail founder of Organicloven.com