How to Spot and Shop Inclusive Retailers: Support Those Who Support Every Body

Back in 2019, b-Vibe launched an incredibly fun campaign featuring a variety of bodies against colorful backdrops, with zero airbrushing and a brilliant (and true) slogan: Every Body Has a Butt!

That campaign was already running when I joined the b-Vibe team, and it’s one of the reasons I wanted to. I loved seeing scars and tattoos, fat bodies, thin bodies, Black bodies, queer bodies, disabled bodies, and more. I could look at those pictures, see myself and my community, and be reminded that we are all valid and deserving of pleasure. The campaign hasn’t been refreshed in some years, but the sentiment remains: Every Body Has a Butt.

So what can you do to make sure you’re supporting the retailers who work to make anal play inclusive? What do stores carry and provide to let folks know they have anal toys for all bodies? The conversation extends far beyond this page, but we can distill it into a few simple guidelines that help.

It Starts With the Team

When you walk into the store, look at the people on the retail team. What do you see? Managers, assistant managers, key holders, salespeople, and part-timers should reflect the diverse bodies that use these items.

Why? Because not only does it signal to you, the guest, that you’re welcome in their store, it also gives that location the range of experience it needs to cover the full gamut of products, particularly when it comes to butt stuff.

Sure, every body has a butt, but someone with a prostate⁠ may have a different experience than someone without one when testing the same item. The butt plug that works so well for a thin body may not work as well for a fat body. And a person with a disability may want different features or functions than their able-bodied partner. Decisions about what’s offered in-store should consider all types of people, and when a store has all types of people working there, that’s an invaluable advantage.

Pay attention to how they talk to you, too. Does the store let you set the language of your interaction? Do staff offer their pronouns before asking for yours, or do they assume your gender, or your partner’s?

Listening to Feedback Matters

b-Vibe takes feedback seriously. For instance, after hearing from some of our larger-bodied customers about challenges with our best-selling Snug Plugs, we began increasing the size of the saddle base on our larger models. We consistently heard that the larger plugs were ideal for larger bodies, but the smaller bases made them tricky to insert and remove.

Diversity, Equity, and Insertion: Look for Real Variety

You’ll want to see a number of options, and that means more than simply a range of sizes. It’s common to see a variety of beginner-friendly butt plugs, but consider their colors, materials, and functions as well. Just because I fall in love with a specific color, shape, and size doesn’t mean I know what someone else’s body will respond to. Someone with different anatomy and experience may be looking for things I haven’t even considered because, well, I’ve never had to.

Products with remote controls are not only ideal for partner play; vibrating butt plugs with remotes are especially convenient because it’s far easier to control the device from a remote than while it’s inside the body. Remotes also appeal to folks with mobility issues who want a vibrating, pulsing, or throbbing experience.

Consider the spectrum of humanity and how we are all on it, just in different places. A truly diverse product offering has thought put into it, including (but not limited to) experience level, body shape, anatomy, and price. A rich person in the store does not deserve a safe and pleasurable experience more than someone making minimum wage, and stores that understand this will offer introductory, intermediate, and premium price points. That makes it easier to make a first purchase, and it also gives you, the shopper, somewhere to go when you’re ready to upgrade: in size, in function, and in the extras that often come with a more luxurious purchase.

How to Spot an Inclusive Anal Section

I’ve put together an overly simplified guide. This should be regularly ASSessed by a multitude of people, because, as I said, I’m only one person. Anal toys for all bodies are possible, but not without regularly finding new solutions to old problems.

Money Changes Everything: Price Points for Every Budget

Because of the real cost of manufacturing, it’s virtually impossible to create the exact same item at $20 MSRP as at $150 MSRP, but there are enough comparable options on the market to build ASSortments for everyone. Some stores may be nervous about offering a “cheaper” option when they’re trying to maximize sales, but stores that ignore the price-point conversation lose sales whenever someone can’t afford the more expensive option.

Having something for the frugal shopper can help put you at ease and, more importantly, help you find what you’re looking for without going into debt or feeling shamed for not having a fatter wallet. And if you want to start with a less expensive item, seeing a range of prices means you’re more likely to return to that same store for an… upgrade.

Living in a Material World: Silicone, Metal, Glass, and More

Inclusive anal play is for more than just material girls. Many retailers have stopped catering to one demographic and now offer a variety of materials for a variety of people.

• Silicone warms to body temperature quickly, and that’s not limited to certain anatomy, which is why silicone butt plugs are such a popular place to start.
• Stainless steel and other metals offer a firmer experience that anyone might enjoy, and metal butt plugs are often preferred for pinpoint prostate massage, especially by those with more experience. The same goes for borosilicate glass butt plugs.
• ABS plastic and POM are great, less expensive options for anyone who wants the rigidity of glass or metal without buying a more expensive piece.

New Sensations: Vibration, Beads, and Texture

In addition to price points and materials, consider the spectrum of users and what may or may not feel good for them. Some bodies seek deep, intense vibration. Some want a higher-frequency, buzzy vibe. Some are looking for anal beads that move in and out of the body, with or without vibration. Think about the products’ differing angles, textures, and functions.

If you’re looking for something a store doesn’t currently stock, are they willing to help you source it? Can they special order it for you? Are they listening to their guests?

In a Big Country: Sizes for Every Level

Does your local adult store have products for beginner, intermediate, and advanced anal explorers? You’ll want to see at least a few options in a few sizes: itty bitty, medium, large, oh my, and bigger than you might expect. I’ll admit, most stores I venture into cover the first three well, but there may be gaping holes in their assortments where large anal toys would fit, and appeal to the very advanced shoppers who are there to peruse posterior products!

True Colors: The Quiet Welcome

This might be overlooked, but it’s so simple: offering different colors can speak to guests without saying anything explicitly. Pink, purple, and black, of course, but how fun is it to see more playful colors like teal, orange, and green? The colors of the Pride flag not only signal that a shop is a safe space for LGBTQIA+ folks; offering more products in more colors also shows that the store caters to its diverse community.

Safe Spaces Aren’t Only in Big Cities

Those of us in community with the queerdos of the world, perhaps in more diverse cities, are far more comfortable with the idea that different bodies desire and require a multitude of options. But let’s not forget that there are all types of people in all types of places. In a rural Bible Belt community, there are still trans and queer people who may be safer exploring pleasure with these devices than with the locals. That’s all the more reason to look for quieter signals that a store is safe, and signage and packaging that don’t cater only to cis-hetero people are a simple way to spot that beacon.