Make money without burning calories
Everything happened with the store by accident, out of boredom.
I moved to Transbaikalia not so long ago. I started a family here, but there are no friends or relatives nearby. Then I decided to fulfill Pinocchio’s dream: to find out whether it was possible to earn money while lying on the couch. I tried it. It turns out that it is possible. Previously, I turned the computer on and off using a button, but now I have a reason to understand all this properly. I chose the niche at random.
I saw that different online stores sell different things, but I couldn’t decide right away. I look: a ready-made sex shop is for sale, all inclusive, price - 360 thousand. I fell for it and bought it. Only later did I find out that all this was a dummy, not even worth five thousand. But by that time I was already fired up, and the fixed idea - to return the money spent - did not leave me. I wanted to do this without sweating too much and without burning calories. I started thinking. I came to the conclusion that at all times people ate, drank and had sex. It will continue to be so, I believe. In addition, intimate goods are something new for our country. There has always been sausage, but it has only recently become freely available. In general, I decided to try again the direction in which I failed. I looked for suppliers, read, compared, weighed all the pros and cons. That’s how I came across “The Supplier of Happiness,” and we began an affair. And now we have been together for more than two years.
Decor
To register a business, you must register as an individual entrepreneur or LLC. In most cases, individual entrepreneurs are registered because it is faster and easier. To register an LLC, it is necessary to prepare a charter, minutes of the meeting of founders, and contribute the authorized capital. The advantage of an LLC is that the participants are liable within the authorized capital, and individual entrepreneurs are liable with their own property. Since, with the right approach to business, this type of business does not promise serious losses, you can safely register an individual entrepreneur.
Typically, difficulties arise when filling out a tax application in form P2001, namely, indicating the activity code. There really is no type of activity in the classifier with a hint of the sale of intimate goods, so you should select the code:
- 47.78 – Group “Other retail trade in specialized stores.
- 47.75 – Group “Retail trade of cosmetics and personal care products in specialized stores.” Since the sex shop sells products that have direct contact with the skin, choosing such a code is necessary.
- 47.71 – Group “Retail trade in clothing in specialized stores.” By choosing this code, you can safely sell leather products, hosiery and other accessories.
Note! It is not recommended to indicate a code indicating the sale of medicines. Otherwise, you will have to obtain a license, without which the sale of medicines is prohibited. When choosing code 47.78, you can sell any dietary supplements to increase libido, but only on the condition that they are not drugs. For example, Viagra is not a medicine, but a dietary supplement, so it, like other stimulants, can be freely sold.
Wife, work, hobbies and happy life
Despite everything, this work still remains a hobby for me. So, by profession I am an equipment repairman, I work in the energy sector. But one does not interfere with the other. The main thing is to always have the Internet at hand. At my main job, I use my phone if I have free time, but there is often no time to sit down. And at home I’m already working on the computer. This is an interesting thing, it sucks me in.
I run the store completely alone. Sometimes, when I'm stuck at work, my wife helps me. I’m trying to entice her to help more often, but she doesn’t really get into it - she has a lot of household chores, children. I myself didn’t order anything from my store, I just ordered some panties. And so my wife and I have enough of each other even without any goods.
Place of trade
A store with a “zest” can be located both in large cities with a population of 250 thousand people or more, and in small towns. Sleeping areas are strictly not suitable. There are several reasons for this:
- There is a high probability of meeting neighbors or acquaintances at the entrance, and among the clients the overwhelming majority are shy people.
- The trafficability of the retail outlet will depend only on the densely populated residential area, and for the above reason there will be few takers.
Recommended sales locations include:
- Small store in the city center. To place goods, it is enough to rent a room with an area of 20-50 m2. A larger store will allow for zoning of space, dividing goods into subgroups and allowing customers who come for different categories of intimate products not to overlap.
- Department in a shopping center. With this choice, the entrepreneur can count on an influx of curious clients from among the shopping center buyers. But there is one nuance: many are still embarrassed to be noticed not only by acquaintances, but also by strangers, so it is better to stay in a more “secluded” place, for example, not in the center on the first floor, but at the end of the corridor on the second floor or higher. And signs and “tips” skillfully placed throughout the shopping center will help you find the store.
Advice! It is worth looking for a retail space among closed casinos and slot machine chains. Initially, they occupied premises in public places, and in terms of square footage they are optimally suited for locating a sex shop.
To ensure that law enforcement agencies do not restrict activities in connection with violation of Law No. 436-FZ of December 19, 2010 “On the Protection of Children from Information...”, you should find premises away from schools and other institutions where minors study or spend their leisure time.
About dropshipping and impatient customers
In general, I am satisfied with the dropshipping system. The only downside I can name is logistics. People are different, so are circumstances. It often happens that people need a product “here and now,” but we have a delivery schedule, which still takes some time. If you look at queries in search engines, you can see that people are looking for “sex shop around the clock”, “urgent delivery to Syktyvkar” and the like. Of course, in addition to Russian Post, there is also Pickpoint, but, you see, all this is not the same coat - we are not yet able to deliver the goods to the client really quickly.
There have never been any failures in my store. Our supplier has wonderful employees: there is a girl, Svetlana, who works as a psychologist. No matter who is on the other side, she finds a common language with everyone. Of course, misunderstandings happen. It happens that a package arrives to the wrong recipient. There are returns that are defective, sometimes something doesn’t fit in size. But all these problems can be solved.
How much money do you need to open a sex shop?
In general, the higher the assortment of the store, the better. For this reason, it is unlikely that you will be able to open a profitable sex shop with 300-400 thousand rubles. To offer a client a more or less decent assortment on 40 m2 of retail space, you will need to invest at least 1 million rubles in the product. About 200 thousand more will be spent on advertising and promotion of the store. A little more than 300 thousand rubles will be spent on setting up a retail outlet and purchasing commercial equipment. In total, the total investment for opening a sex shop starts from 1.5 million rubles.
It is best to open a sex shop in a self-service format - this is an important competitive advantage. The thing is that the client is often embarrassed to ask for the desired product that is located behind the counter, especially when there are other customers in line. It is better when the client independently moves around the sales floor, has the opportunity to touch the product, turn it around, and examine the item he likes more carefully without outside help. Closing the window in sex shops only scares away the buyer.
To trade with a higher margin, you need to ignore intermediaries and purchase goods directly in Moscow, or better yet, in China. Those who say that Chinese sex toys are “junk” either never sold such goods, or simply purchased them in the wrong places, wanting to save until the last minute. China - China is different. Moreover, many American and European companies locate their production in China, and then their goods are sold around the world under well-known brands. After all, the consumer, for the most part, does not care where the product is made - the main thing is that it is of high quality, adequate in cost and satisfies their needs.
According to experienced businessmen, the most effective advertising is on the Internet (including Yandex Direct), small advertising stands around the city and the banal posting of leaflets at every entrance. To maintain and develop the client base, it is advisable to hold promotions and work with partners: photo studios, massage parlors, beauty salons, etc.
The image of the ideal seller of such a store is a friendly and pretty girl who is not afraid to approach the client. It’s even better if your employee has a medical education and can give sound medical advice - in this case, success is guaranteed!
How much can you earn? If you decide to open your own intimate goods store, you should know that you can make a good profit from it. Despite the fact that at first you need to have a good initial capital, it will pay off in just a few months. Monthly profit can be 100-400 thousand rubles. depending on the range of goods sold. Due to the fact that our intimate goods stores are also used by foreigners, the profits can be quite huge. How to choose equipment for opening an intimate store You need to carefully select the right equipment. At the initial stage, select a compact space that you can rent. It is advisable that it be located in some not too noticeable place. Inside the store there must be numerous racks on which you will subsequently place the goods. Also take care of creating a special catalog through which the client can familiarize himself with the available products. And it is imperative to choose a seller who will not be shy about such work and will be able to advise on any category of product. Which OKVED code to indicate when registering a business? You need to use OKVED code 52.48 - in case of opening a real store. If you want to trade on the Internet, you can indicate the OKVED code 52.63. What documents are needed to open? You must have the following documents: • registration of your own individual entrepreneur or LLC; • notarized statement; • owner's passport details and identification code; • document confirming payment of state duty. Which taxation system to choose for registering a business? It would be advisable to use the simplified taxation system (STS). Do I need permission to open? When opening an intimate goods store, no special permissions are required. The only thing is that you must have quality certificates for the goods being sold and a conclusion from the sanitary-epidemiological station. Sales technology First of all, you need to hire a salesperson who can advise any buyer without shame. If a potential buyer comes into your store, you must immediately offer your help. But if you notice that the client is embarrassed and does not make contact, then if possible, do not touch him. Let him first examine the product himself, and if necessary, you can advise him. How much can you earn? If you decide to open your own intimate goods store, you should know that you can make a good profit from it. Despite the fact that at first you need to have a good initial capital, it will pay off in just a few months. Monthly profit can be 100-400 thousand rubles. depending on the range of goods sold. Due to the fact that our intimate goods stores are also used by foreigners, the profits can be quite huge. How to choose equipment for opening an intimate store You need to carefully select the right equipment. At the initial stage, select a compact space that you can rent. It is advisable that it be located in some not too noticeable place. Inside the store there must be numerous racks on which you will subsequently place the goods. Also take care of creating a special catalog through which the client can familiarize himself with the available products. And it is imperative to choose a seller who will not be shy about such work and will be able to advise on any category of product. Which OKVED code to indicate when registering a business? You need to use OKVED code 52.48 - in case of opening a real store. If you want to trade on the Internet, you can indicate the OKVED code 52.63. What documents are needed to open? You must have the following documents: • registration of your own individual entrepreneur or LLC; • notarized statement; • owner's passport details and identification code; • document confirming payment of state duty. Which taxation system to choose for registering a business? It would be advisable to use the simplified taxation system (STS). Do I need permission to open? When opening an intimate goods store, no special permissions are required. The only thing is that you must have quality certificates for the goods being sold and a conclusion from the sanitary-epidemiological station. Sales technology First of all, you need to hire a salesperson who can advise any buyer without shame. If a potential buyer comes into your store, you must immediately offer your help. But if you notice that the client is embarrassed and does not make contact, then if possible, do not touch him. Let him first examine the product himself, and if necessary, you can advise him.
Stake out a place in the sun. Fast. Inexpensive
I can't call this a business at all. I have a very ordinary store, nothing out of the ordinary. I know that there are entrepreneurs whose income is not comparable to mine. But I don’t have a day to day. Sometimes there are no orders for a day or two, sometimes there are nine at once. Sometimes there are one hundred and forty orders a month, sometimes there are ninety. There is no stability, so I am still working on it, striving for it.
I invest almost no money in this project, I don’t conduct any research. Of course, some penny still goes to the side. For example, to pay for a beautiful number “8-800”: it is easier to remember, it inspires confidence in the buyer. Technical support for the site costs some money, you need to spend a little on Yandex.Market - all the little things. This and last New Year, I gave myself a gift and paid for the year on the Tiu.ru, Sappo.ru and Ebay sites. Stake out a place in the sun, so to speak. I don’t think it’s advertising, but people go back and forth. So it works.
I sell without restrictions throughout Russia. They buy it everywhere. Of course, Transbaikalia also flashed, no more than other regions. In the village where I live, the population is about 9 thousand. One day I saw that an order had come from exactly here, and it turned out that I knew the person who ordered this product from me. Probably the most orders come from Central Russia - Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Let's start doing business
Suppliers
As in any business, you can contact the direct manufacturer or find wholesale suppliers. We do not recommend purchasing cheap sex products from Chinese stores: the quality may be subpar and your reputation will suffer. It’s better to work with trusted companies or designers who make unique things - yes, yes, there are those too!
Staff
Intimate goods are specific products; this is not for you to sell building materials. You and your employees must have a detailed understanding of the product range and be able to work with a wide variety of people. Since the target audience is quite specific, you need to be a good psychologist to persuade a person to buy. On the one hand, there is a shy middle-aged woman who wants to give her husband an unusual gift, on the other hand, there is an experienced professional who has tried everything in this life. You must be able to work with everyone and be tolerant of people of different orientations and different sexual inclinations.
In addition to the seller, we recommend hiring outsourced employees: an accountant and a programmer. You will also occasionally need a smart copywriter to write product descriptions and a marketer to run advertising campaigns.
Shipping and payment
Payment and delivery methods are the same as usual: cash to the courier, cash on delivery at the post office, bank card or using payment systems.
Take care of confidentiality: it is unlikely that your customers will want to receive the ordered goods in bright branded packaging that clearly hints at what is inside. Many people choose online sales precisely for the reason that they are embarrassed to go to retail sex stores: it is somehow safer on the Internet. Therefore, no identification marks of your products: this way you will earn customer loyalty.
Guarantee of anonymity on the site
Premises and warehouse
In principle, these are optional conditions - you can sell sex products even while sitting in your apartment. In this case, make sure that the suppliers and their warehouse are located nearby, ideally in the same city as you. This way you can ensure fast delivery.
We create a website
You can create an online store website on the InSales platform or contact an online agency. Remember the main rules of modern websites:
- structure your assortment into categories and subcategories: the fewer clicks and actions a person takes, the more convenient it will be for him to use the site;
- communicate with customers in instant messengers: WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram;
- advertise on free services: for example, let your store be displayed on city maps;
- don’t forget about product aggregators: Yandex.Market, Ozon.ru, Avito.ru and others. Register, pay the owners a certain amount and get traffic;
- make a good adaptive version so that ordering from a smartphone is as convenient as ordering from a PC;
- the telephone number and the basket of goods should be in a visible place: remember maximum convenience for customers.
About first income, dreams and plans for the future
I am very interested in doing all this, I was literally sucked into it. The first proceeds amounted to 220 rubles, and I was as happy as a child. I’ve never found anything, never won, but here – as much as 220 rubles! Miracle!
More and more often I want to give up everything to hell, sit at home with my wife and children, do what I love, which I like more than my main job. I want to afford more than I can now. I want to give my children more than I had as a child.
I’m not a romantic, I didn’t wish for anything like that, I didn’t ask anyone for anything. I have one small dream, and now I’m waiting for a holiday to happen on my street, and music to play in my house. In the meantime, I continue to work.
Interior features
There is a very fine line between vulgarity and sensuality, and the owner of an intimate store needs to try to create a trusting atmosphere, and not become like a shop with cheap Chinese toys.
Note! Every year new “players” appear on the intimate goods market, but 90-95% of them close, and the reason is the lack of a strategy for conquering the market.
An inexperienced visitor will be put off by the “intrusive” interior: bright red walls, mannequins in revealing lingerie, intimate sounds and shelves lined with toys for adults. It’s worth borrowing interior design ideas from intimate salons, which were not only able to “survive” during the crisis, but also develop a chain of stores. Use in design:
- Soffits, intricate lamps with soft light.
- Upholstery for walls in dark colors. Red can be used, but in the form of details and accents. Pastel colors will not work, but rich, dark colors will elevate the interior.
- Zoning of space.
Even a casual visitor will not leave without purchasing if he sees the product he needs. To do this, you need to place essential supplies for adults in a visible place, near the entrance. In addition to universal products, souvenirs, jewelry, and perfumes will also be of interest.
Interesting! A well-known network of sex shops positions itself on the market as an organization that helps strengthen families, improve relationships, and fidelity. This tactic allows you to attract married couples, shy people or people with prejudices. The supplier of intimate goods emphasizes that it is engaged in education in the culture of love, helps achieve sexual maturity, and participates in moral education. You can use similar tactics in your own business to attract customers.
