UK Sex Shop News

Blackpool Council wants to create a monopoly for 1 sex shop to be allowed in the town and also it wants to ban any new lap dancing clubs, presumably on grounds of its view on morality.

Councillors are being asked to approve a new policy which would permit only one monopoly sex shop, and which would ban new lap dancing clubs.

Four existing clubs would be allowed to continue operating, but once those licences lapse for any reason they would not be renewed.

Licensing chiefs say the move better reflects Blackpool's aim to be a 'family' resort, and its support of the White Ribbon campaign against adult entertainment.

Members of the council's licensing committee are being asked to agree to reduce the number of permitted sex shops from the current two, down to one.

The policywill go before the council's licensing committee on Tuesday January 19 for consideration.

Ann Summers has launched a restructuring plan to cut rents at 25 of its stores.

The high street chain, which runs 91 outlets, said it has already agreed revised rental terms on its other branches following discussions with landlords in recent months.

However, it said it will now seek a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) deal to move its remaining stores on to turnover-based rents.

Update: Success

24th December 2020. See article from expressandstar.com

Creditors of Ann Summers have approved a plan which would slash rents at two dozen of its stores. The company said that 90% of votes had been cast in favour of its Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA), which switches 25 of its stores onto turnover-base rents.

The firm had already agreed new rents with the landlords at 91 of its other branches, it confirmed earlier this week when announcing the plan.

No jobs will be lost, or stores closed as part of the CVA.

The ETO Show centres around products and online/offline sex toys and pleasure products market.

it is trade only and will next be held at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry on 13-14 June 2021/

The show has just received a temporary sex shop licence from Coventry Council.

A Sydney sex shop owner has revealed how an idea created to help her store survive lockdown has turned into a money-maker, with the shop citing doubled revenues.

The idea was born during Australia's total lockdown of non-essential shops. Eloise Monaghan, the founder of Honey Birdette, explained:

I was frightened for my brand but it made us think, 'right, what can we do?'

So we did virtual appointments, Zoom rooms, Insta rooms, virtual erotic book readings -- but private appointments were the COVID option that really emerged as a banger.

Honey Birdette revealed it doubled its revenue by closing its doors to the public and opening up for private shopping experiences. Customers are then given a glass of champagne on arrival and the privacy to explore everything the label has to offer, with the limited number of guests ensuring COVID-Safe practices are upheld.

The idea proved so popular, Honey Birdette voluntarily closed the doors of a store to the public altogether, only accepting private bookings made through the brand's website.

In the next few months a new appointment-only store will open and it's only the beginning for the global brand, with plans to roll it out in other cities and countries.