- Title: CHINA: Sex toys for home market
- Date: 18th August 2009
- Summary: BEIJING, CHINA (AUGUST 15, 2009) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF "SWEET SECRET" SEX TOY STORE CUSTOMERS LOOKING AT PRODUCTS ZHAO ZHONGHAI, 35-YEAR OLD RETAILER, TALKING TO CHENG ZHAO HOLDING A DILDO HAND TOUCHING DILDO MR. DAI LOOKING AT SEX TOYS HAND TOUCHING LATEX VAGINA (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) DAI WEICHENG, 25-YEAR-OLD CUSTOMER, SAYING: "Since China opened up a long time
- Embargoed: 2nd September 2009 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: China
- Country: China
- Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz
- Reuters ID: LVAD2ITSA13DD2L457KP778TSY5J
- Story Text: These dildos are made in and for China and unfortunately, not for the rest of the world to enjoy.
Once a profitable exporter selling sex toys to the west, Sweet Secret, based in southern China's Shenzhen now sees huge potential for sex toys in the domestic market.
The company's founder Chen Xiangru is training her staff to understand the products they are selling ahead of the first store opening in August in Beijing.
Few staff knew what a dildo was until they took up a job at Sweet Secret.
But Chen says the conservative country has come a long way and is now finally ready to embrace the sex toy industry.
SOUNDBITE: Chen Xiangru, Founder of Sweet Secrets saying (Mandarin):
"When I first started this company, I was really embarrassed about what I did for a living. When people asked me what my job was, I told them I made toys. But, when I began to create and manage the new brand, I was guided by my perception in hopes to create products that support health and harmony."
Under Chairman Mao Zedong's rule, sex was a taboo where holding hands or kissing in public could land you in prison on charges of "obscenity".
China's "Opening Up", launched by Deng Xiaoping in 1979 brought major change to the country as it opened its doors to the west.
However, neither Mao Zedong nor Deng Xiaoping could have probably foreseen the explosion in the sex products industry that would take place- - it is now worth about 70 million U.S. dollars a year, according to the China Sex Association.
25-year-old customer Dai Weicheng says the young people of today have a very different perspective.
(SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) DAI WEICHENG, 25-YEAR-OLD CUSTOMER, SAYING:
"Since China has opened up a long time ago, we already have sufficient demand in this market. So I believe that our perspective has changed a lot, nearly integrating with those of Europe and the U.S. I don't think it's necessary to rule out such things."
Zhao Zhonghai was among a few dozen retailers who came to the opening of "Sweet Secret" and was optimistic about what he saw.
(SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) ZHAO ZHONGHAI, 35-YEAR-OLD RETAILER, SAYING:
"I am very satisfied with the quality and workmanship of Sweet Secret products. I am also positive about its market potential."
Sweet Secret founder Chen hopes to open five retails stores in Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzen by the end of 2010 to meet the increasing demand for this growing industry.
Kitty Bu, Reuters, Beijing. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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