BEIJING, China—For Chen Xiangru, founder of Sweet Secrets, the sagging world economy has forced her to closely examine her business model.
Sweet Secrets, a sex-toy manufacturing company located in southern China, traditionally relied on exporting items to Europe and the United States. But slumping overseas orders are forcing Xiangru and Sweet Secrets to focus on domestic sales in a country where attitudes toward sex have changed dramatically in the past six decades.
According to a Reuters.com article, Sweet Secrets—which owns China’s first registered trademark for a sex toy company—opened a retail shop in Beijing in August.
"When I first started this company, I was really embarrassed about what I did for a living. When people asked me what my job was, I told them I made toys," Xiangru told Reuters.
Changing her company to focus to domestic sales hasn’t always been easy, she said.
Many of the retail store’s employees were not familiar with the products they would sell, some not even knowing that handcuffs could be used in bed.
“But I am surprised that many young Chinese are ready to work for the company,” Xiangru told Reuters.
Even though employee Cheng Chong’s parents view his job at the retail shop as shameful, he believes he is helping people.
“When people didn't have enough to eat during the 1960s and 1970s, they took no interest in, and were not aware of, this matter. But living conditions have improved," Cheng said.
