The story below is taken from the October 2013 issue of AVN magazine, where we asked 10 sexperts to talk about future trends that they would like to see in the pleasure product industry. Each shared some interesting thoughts, and we'll be posting these individually over the next couple of weeks. Pictured here: Reid Mihalko.
Reid Mihalko
Sex and relationship expert and geek. ReidAboutSex.com
Me personally?
I would like to see more items targeted toward baby boomers and post-menopausal women. We are seeing people who are aging but they are having more and more sex later in life. I personally have lovers who are in their 70s and 80s. But they need things to help them continue having great sex.
Men, women and older couples need to navigate that shift into changing bodies, changing libidos and changing abilities, so why can’t manufacturers help them navigate those shifts?
I’m not just talking about hormonal lubricants that are out there to help with things. Aneros is good in that it talks about stimulating the prostate with their toys and all the benefits. But other companies could do the same.
There are existing toys and devices that could be marketed to an older audience, showing them that even though they might be in their Golden Years they can still have a great sex life. Sex furniture, like what Liberator makes, is good for that. Older people can’t hold certain positions for long periods of time, so sex furniture helps.
Manufacturers could also target empty nesters. Not everyone is a 30-year-old fetish model, so ads that target older couples could show these items are for them too; anything that helps educate them about having great sex in their later years.
Toy-wise, I would love to see a Spider-Man web slinger for lubricant. Or a James Bond-style watch that shoots lube where I need it when I need it. When you are hand fucking someone, or two people at once even, you can’t really take time out to apply lube. I am fortunate in that I have a “lube caddy”; it’s like having a golf caddy, who gives you the right clubs as you need them, but my lube caddy applies lube as I need when I’m hand-fucking someone. To have a watch or something that could do that would be wonderful.
Also, I would like to see the industry come up with Sex Standard Kits. Most homes have smoke alarms or CO2 alarms and emergency kits. This would be like an emergency kit but it would have standard items that everyone would have to help have better sex. They would be stocked with a vibrator, a bullet, lubricant, etc.
And finally, I think someone needs to look at making something to help people of size hold vibrators and toys in place. Sometimes people of size, who have a larger belly, can’t always reach the vulva or penis easily. It would be nice to see an extender or a vibrator designed with a longer handle for them.
Monday, check back on AVN.com to hear from Sabrina Morgan.
To see the digital edition of the issue, click here.
