As Valentine’s Day draws closer, florists and candy stores aren’t the only ones seeing more business.
Employees at two local adult shops say they’re experiencing more activity as well.
“We definitely see an increase in couples entering the store the night before and morning of Valentine’s Day,” said Chris Dodds of Exclusively Adult in Springfield.
Heather McWaid, assistant manager of Castle Super Store near Gateway Mall, agreed.
“The day before Valentine’s Day,” she said, “is crazy with men who’ve forgotten.”
Exclusively Adult carries a wide selection of lingerie in pink, white and red for the big day, Dodds said.
Castle Super Store also sees good business for undergarments.
“Lingerie is a big seller,” McWaid said.
For couples, soft-core pornography and instructional videos tend to be extremely popular for Valentine’s Day, both Dodds and McWaid said. McWaid suggested “Andrew Blake’s Night Trips,” or another all-time favorite, “Candida Royalle’s Sensual Escape.”
McWaid and Dodds also recommended massage oils for a romantic night. The Kama Sutra line and the Tantric line are the two most popular choices, with a minimal risk of allergic reactions, McWaid said. Dodds said Kama Sutra’s “Raspberry Kiss” warming oil is one of Exclusively Adult’s biggest sellers.
Another option is intimate board games. Exclusively Adult has a wide selection of games, such as “Bumps and Grinds” and “Wild and Sexy Dares.”
Also popular are creams that claim to produce pleasure.
“‘Via’ cream, guaranteed, arouses women’s sexual response,” McWaid said. “That’s our most popular item right now. ‘Oprah’ and ’20/20′ both featured stories” on the doctor who invented the cream.
Both Dodds and McWaid said they rarely see students, however. Occasionally, they see groups of friends or couples with intimate questions.
Pre-journalism major Tiyson Reynolds said he thinks younger or older people use the adult shops.
“I don’t think many University students generally hit the porn shops on a regular basis,” he said. “If anything, I think it’s mostly Springfield adults or teenage kids taking it seriously.”
But for students who are interested in what the adult shops have to offer, sales personnel have extensive knowledge of their products and can help interested customers find something perfect for a romantic night.