This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
Who’s got wood? 24/4/09 12:43 pm Page 2
33
Erotic Trade Only May 2009
TOUCHING WOOD
hardwearing coatings. It’s very of WET Original lubricant.”
flattering that customers use words Bradly also mentioned some other
like elegant, luscious and enticing new lines coming to Don Wands soon,
when they first encounter our including a metal range that shares
sculptures. Most stores display them the same threaded vibrating insert as
in the illuminated glass display case Treeze, and a range called Tools
that they use for all their premium aimed at the gay market. For more
products, and they certainly look information visit donwands.co.uk or
lovely with a little extra lighting. contact sales@donwands.co.uk
“However, it’s when a customer My last port of call was
gets to feel the wood, its smooth TransportsOfDelight.co.uk and its
roundness and relative warmth... creator, Catriona Thompson. I’d met
That’s when a buying decision is her at the Skin Two Expo in
made. LoveHoney were one of the dockland’s ExCeL exhibition centre in
first non-US companies to buy from 2007, and she not only remembered
us and I must say that I enjoy meeting, but was also still prepared
working with them, not least because to talk to me...
it’s nice being able to speak English “Transports of Delight started in
to a native! Until recently, we haven’t 2005. I was a carpenter by trade and
been able to meet the margins it was a drunken two o’clock in the
required by distributors. But with Dilitare: “People will always spend... ...money on what they enjoy” morning conversation with friends
improvements we’ve made in our about why I didn’t have a lathe in my
carving process and bulk savings on Pearce was also fast to address incredibly tough and splinter-free. workshop. I said I’d get one when I
raw materials, we are now looking for environmental concerns. “All the Treeze toys are also lube friendly.” retire and embarrass grandchildren by
UK and European distribution wood is from certified sustainable Urging retailers to bring their adult making wooden dildos. Literally a
partners.” sources. In a world increasingly toy sales to life with an alternative to drunken, throwaway comment, but
I couldn’t leave it there though. concerned over climate change, plastic and rubber, Bradly said: “Not the next morning, all sitting with
Not while the question of why carbon footprints and being eco- only are Treeze manufactured from an hangovers, it still didn’t seem such a
‘NobEssence’ was chosen as the friendly, my wooden dildos will make innovative material, they are some of bad idea!”
business’s name was in the air. Alicia a person feel good about themselves, the most beautiful products on the So from blurry beginnings, I
chuckled: “The very first carving my whilst making them feel good. As a market. Customers will love the fact wanted to know how Thompson works
partner Jason made for me captured unique selling point, all my dildos are that when the vibrator wears out they now. She replied: “I make everything
the very essence of - need I say offered in a range of sizes and I do will be able to simply unscrew it and to order. The way the website works is
more? Our next step is we’re adding a offer a custom service whereby replace it at a fraction of the cost of users chose the design, the size, and
vibrating product to our award- customers can send their own designs a new unit. We expect this to result the type of wood. So each diletto is
winning range. It’ll be available in the to be made.” in few to no returns and additional completely tailor-made to whatever
autumn. We want to get it just right Focusing on his range’s branding, future sales. Treeze vibrating wood the customer wants. I have clients
so we’re not rushing it out, but we’re Pearce explained: “The term dilatare pleasure wands include a replaceable come to me and say ‘I’d like the girth
both very excited by it.” and all the product names are Latin vibrator, two AA batteries, a padded of your largest product but with the
and all have meaning appropriate to tan velvet pouch and a sample pack length of your smallest product’ and I
WOOD YOU BELIEVE IT? their own design. Dilatare - Dilate,
expand. Augeo - enlarge. Procella -
Rather closer to home, Dilatare is wave. Although the first dildos were
based in Barnsley, South Yorkshire. made from stone and wood, the
Boss Steve Pearce told me: “The wooden dildo market now appears to
business was born approximately six be rapidly expanding and my
months ago and came to be partly by customers appreciate the handcrafted
accident and partly by my own aspect of something out of the norm
sometimes over-active imagination. and far removed from the run-of-the-
My first, main business is mill mass-produced, plastic, man-
bespoke/custom carpentry made material toy, the provenance of
specialising in ‘high-end’ kitchen which can be questionable.”
worktops - spdevelopments.org.uk. As He wound-up, saying: “Whilst I’m
a by-product of this business I was currently selling the dildos direct via
left with a small mountain of off-cuts my Dilatare.com website, I actively
of wood that are both too nice and encourage wholesale enquiries with a
too valuable to simply throw away.” view to step back from direct selling
“A wise old boss of mine often myself. I’ve seen wooden dildos on
used to say to me, ‘Stephen, always the open market ranging from £35 to
bear in mind people will always £185 each. At my prices, wholesale
spend money on what they enjoy’. I orders could effectively achieve 50
used to sit and ponder that pile of per cent to 100 per cent mark-up
off-cuts, wondering what I could use without too much effort. I’m also
them for, whilst running this little prepared to tweak or change the
motto through my head over and over designs for wholesale orders. I am
again. The idea of wooden dildos also considering integrating a
came to me in a light-bulb moment. vibration facility into my next range.
At this point, I had absolutely no idea It’s been an exciting and interesting
that wooden dildos already existed. first six months for Dilatare, and I’m
After a quick search of the Internet I looking forward in great anticipation.”
was shocked and surprised - both
that there was clearly a good market TOUCH WOOD
for wooden dildos and that of the cost
of some of the existing product ETO Show exhibitors Don Wands UK,
lines.” which is best known for its range of
Seeing a gap in the market for a glass toys, added wood to its portfolio
more reasonably priced product, in April. The company’s Brian Bradly
Pearce set to work. He continued: enthusiastically explained about the
“My range is always being tweaked innovative new Treeze range, and how
and I try very hard to be as diverse it was wood with a difference.
and imaginative as I can to “The Treeze wooden vibrating
accommodate all tastes whilst still pleasure wands and plugs from Don
retaining full functionality. I think Wands are made from a
back and laugh at the first prototypes wood/urethane hybrid material that is
I made - they were more like phthalates-free, hypo-allergenic, non-
instruments of torture!” porous, waterproof, non-coated,
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56
Produced with Yudu - www.yudu.com