HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif.—Sportsheets International, a company that for 22 years has been an industry leader in the BDSM and fetish market, has been featured all over mainstream media for the past few weeks in conjunction with the release of the mainstream movie Fifty Shades of Grey. Their products, which were once considered niche, have become a focal point for mainstream America.
Throughout February, Sportsheets branded products have been featured in articles all over the web introducing millions of curious consumers to the mega manufacturer's massive catalog of BDSM and fetish products.
USA Today published an article titled "Your Definitive 'Fifty Shades' V-Day Gift Guide is here!" The gift guide features a wide array of products showcasing how far the movie's reach has gone. The list features everything from baby onesies to Vermont Teddy Bears to nail polish. USA Today featured the Purple Feather Tickler from one of Sportsheets' most popular product lines, Sex & Mischief.
Another major media outlet that covered the impending rush for BDSM toys was the New York Times. In the article "Sex Toy Shops Prepare for Tie-Ins to Fifty Shades of Grey" the newspaper covered a number of reactions from industry insiders and explained how the book—which has to date sold more than 100 million copies according to The Daily Telegraph, making it "the most successful book of all-time”—will be the catalyst for making sex toys more mainstream than they have ever been. The article featured a photo from one of Babeland's locations with a number of Sportsheets products displayed in the store including leather cuffs, paddles and ticklers.
Perhaps the biggest placement for Sportsheets came earlier this month when the company was featured in the print Valentine's Day issue of Cosmopolitan Magazine. Sportsheets President Julie Stewart was quoted in the article "Why Is Kink So Freaking Sexy" and the magazine referred to the Sportsheets executive as a kink veteran. The article included a three-page spread with product recommendations for beginners, intermediates, and advanced users. The advanced guide featured the Sex & Mischief Red and Black Stripe Flogger. Dubbed by Cosmo as "The Stroke of Genius,” the magazine added a blurb to the flogger saying "Give him a hard smack on the butt or gently run the strands over his bare back like he's a delicious human car wash.” The February issue of Cosmopolitan is considered to be the magazine's most popular issue of the year.
Sportsheets has enjoyed huge sales increases as a result of the Fifty Shades phenomenon. According to Sportsheets President Julie Stewart, "January 2015 was the company's second highest shipping month in company history and the movie hadn't even hit theaters yet. We can only imagine what sales will be like once people actually go see the movie and decide to try something new in the bedroom."
The movie has impacted the company so much that Sportsheets held a private screening of the movie for Sportsheets staff, customers and press. All movie-goers received a thank you gift from Sportsheets containing black cuffs, black leash and a black whip.
Stay connected with Sportsheets by following both their Facebook and Twitter Pages.
For more information on all Sportsheets products, visit their official website at Sportsheets.com.
