This August of 2020 will be the 40th anniversary of Fantasy Gifts, over those forty years there have been many changes mostly for the good better quality products and more information about sexual health items and some things have not changed such as the continued scapegoating of sexual health products in local zoning rules. The internet which has dramatically changed how retail works not only in the sexual health area but all retail continues to be a moving target, once I figure something out it is obsolete, and keeping up with social media is exhausting, this blog gets lost in the daily upkeep of over 30 social media sites, and a podcast. Newsletter? who has time????
Right now as I type this my hardgoods buyer is in a meeting with Nasswalk one of the oldest companies Fantasy Gifts deals with and they have some amazing new dildos for use with harnesses, others with very realistic materials that move with your hand and gorgeous silicone rechargable vibrators that are incredible smooth. Shirley Of Hollywood was on my 2020 list of files to make, so was Spartacus and Sport Sheets companies that continue to make wonderful products.
We continue to carry DVDs and Greeting Cards and while we don’t sell as many they still are an important part of Fantasy Gifts, along with bachorlette novelties, there used to be a much larger selection of novelty gifts, mugs and office themed items but that is gone as no groups of office employees go shopping together for a birthday or a goodbye party anymore and that’s ok, if an awareness of sexual harassment and the decline of it in the workplace means no more wind-up jumping dicks are sold at Fantasy Gifts then so be it.
Anal and prostate theme sexual health items are much more popular and such an ordinary part of many folks sex lives that they are no longer considered just for gay men and the health benefits of prostate stimulation is more known. Having the proper item for anal play is important as just because it is a sex toy does not mean you can put in in your butt. A proper anal product will have a wide flange so that it cannot slip past the sphincter and get stuck.
Materials have changed from smelly plastic to silicone and silicone blends which are easier to clean and many are rechargable and much quieter than toys of the past. The world of lubricants has changed too, there are water based and silicone based and blends of the two, remember to never use a silicone lube on a silicone toy. Organic, vegan and CBD lubricants are also available. The “rabbit vibe” continues to be a very popular style and the “magic wand” both are available at the stores and our website in many variations.
The lingerie selection is much more varied in sizes and price points with there being more packaged items available, the company DreamGirl has continued to have stunning styles and a great price! We buy for each stores personality now and the lingerie selection will be different at each Minnesota location and the website has even more choices.
The website is a partner site with a trusted distributor, the technology and banking was way to much to keep up with for a small company such as Fantasy Gifts, keeping the site up and trying to compete with the whole of the internet was impossible, the site has a much larger selection of items then brick and mortar store could ever carry and the locations, maps and this blog are easier to maintain.
Thank you to everyone who has made Fantasy Gifts a wonderful place to work and we will continue to work on having a fun, comfortable well lighted space for you to shop for your sexual health items, DVDs and lingerie.
My Mom, sister and I thank you for 40 years of trusting Fantasy Gifts and I know my brother who has the two New Jersey stores thanks you too. My Dad is no longer with us but he knew that women wanted a place to find out products where their feet didn’t stick to the floor and he created Fantasy House in August of 1980 in Minneapolis and from customer requests we are still here, again thank you!
Colleen Bertino