SHOTS starts sales promotion for International Masturbation Month

International Masturbation Month is celebrated in May, but how did it come about and what can retailers do in their stores to embrace it? Inge Arissen from SHOTS’ Marketing Department knows the answers. “The Masturbation Month didn’t start as a complete month. It was first celebrated as National Masturbation Day on May 7 in 1995 as an initiative of San Fransisco sex shop Good Vibrations. It was a response to Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders being fired by President Bill Clinton in December. The reason for her firing was a statement in which she claimed that masturbation should be part of sex education for students: ‘I think it is something that is part of human sexuality and a part of something that perhaps should be taught.’ Eight days later, she was fired,” Inge explains. The National Masturbation Day moved from May 7 to May 28 in 2005, but was later extended to a complete month. The general meaning has transformed from a statement to a celebration of self-love and people’s right to masturbate. Next to this, masturbate-a-thons are being organised on National Masturbation Day. These masturbate-a-thons are held to raise awareness and money for AIDS organisations and women’s health initiatives. Talking about combining pleasure with purpose. But what can retailers do during the whole month of May? “Spread the word! Make banners, offline and online. Motivate people to masturbate, solo or with a partner. Let your customers explore new ways of masturbating by providing them with the right information, but also the right products”, Inge says, “SHOTS Europe has come with a special deal for International Masturbation Month that lasts until May 6: SHOTS Toys vibrators and Easy Riders for small prices. Get your store ready for May. So, be quick, go to shots.nl and get your hands on these products. And then, let your customers lay their hands on themselves!”