I’m creeping admiring the Facebook statuses of some of my guy friends. There are a few dudes (Craig, Jason, Albert and others) that I love getting their status updates from. Why? It’s heartwarming – they are clearly in love with their wives. Really. It melts a girl’s heart to see this affection in a public-ish forum especially from the dudes! I’m THIS close to asking them what keeps things sizzling in their relationships. Me & hubby are celebrating our 20th anniversary this year and friends often ask…”so, what’s the secret?” Well, as my hubby would say “I can’t tell you that..then everyone would want some.” LOL
So, Valentine’s Day is coming up. Forget the chocolates and the flowers (ok, no I’m kidding, we really want to keep those) but maybe you want to spice things up a little? I was recently invited to a very sexy social hosted by my friend Tamika and an online sex toy shop. She said “Come, it’s going to be tons of fun,” as I choked on my vodka 7.
But then it occurred to me that timing is everything and I this piqued my interest …and maybe yours.
I had the opportunity to interview Katrina McKay- Owner & Director of Ohhh Canada – the online shop where you can find sexy beauty products, luxurious toys and burlesque-style lingerie (and it’s proudly Canadian!). I wanted to ask her about her business and um…what’s HOT.
UrbanMoms: What is the most common thing you hear from women when they meet you and learn about your products?
Katrina: “You don’t look like someone who would sell sex toys,” is a really, really common response when women find out what I do. But I love it. It’s a great conversation starter. I always ask what they think someone who sells sex toys should look like (They often tell me they’re not sure…but not like me in my fashionista attire..and then both of us get to have a giggle”. It also makes me feel good to know that my little store can offer the kind of shopping experience that women want; at Ohhh we pride ourselves on making our customers feel comfortable and cared about. We treat our customers like old friends. We give advice, and we giggle with them. We really love what we do, and I know it shows.
UrbanMoms: What do women want in the bedroom?
Katrina: Great question. Women want to be adored…and we all deserve to be. What that means to each of us can be very different. For some of us, that’s being tied up with a silver tie a la Fifty Shades, and for some of us that’s a massage with a delicious smelling oil. It’s also important to realize that just like our tastes in food and wine, our sexual appetites and cravings (fantasies) change over time as well as we are exposed to new things and ideas, as well as due to the way we naturally grow as people.
UrbanMoms: Ok, now what do men want in the bedroom?
Katrina: From my hundreds of conversations with customers, men want to feel important in the bedroom. They want to be the givers of pleasure, excitement and love. Nothing is true of all people at all times, of course But this is a predominant theme. The good thing is…it’s really easy to help men feel important in the boudoir. Tell him, show him, squeeze him.
UrbanMoms: Has Fifty Shades of Grey influenced how people shop? Or did you notice a surge of shoppers?
Katrina: Ah, Fifty. We haven’t seen that much of an upswing in sales due to Fifty, but it has definitely changed the types of items that our customers are looking for. Kegel balls have become a must-have, for example, whereas before they were primarily seen as a health product. What I call “light fetish” toys are also really popular like crops and whips; we’re finding that customers are adding these on to their orders for lube, even!
UrbanMoms: Why did you start up this online shop?
Katrina: At heart I have always been an entrepreneur, and as far back as I can remember. I have always been very sex-positive – meaning that I enjoy helping others express and explore their sexual selves in safe ways. Talking about sex doesn’t make me uncomfortable at all, and it’s something that we don’t talk about enough as a society, particularly in North America. So putting the two together – the sex-positive and the entrepreneurial spirit became my recipe for success. I also wanted to create a boutique that catered to people like me; girly, fashion-focused and desirous of nothing but the best.
UrbanMoms: What’s your idea of a romantic Valentine’s Day ….or night?
Katrina: Haha! The Valentine’s season is pretty chaotic for me, so my Valentine’s Day actually happens a few days to a week after the real deal. For me it involves doing something together that uniquely relates to my partner and I, followed by a candlelit dinner, massages and whatever type of sex we happen to be in the mood for. A common misconception about me (and my long-time boyfriend) is that we’re always swinging from the chandeliers during sex, but this just isn’t true. We can be very experimental, but what’s most important to us is having a shared experience and making each other feel good. And I’m lucky…my partner’s AMAZING at making me feel good.
Thinking of experimenting with some products? I asked Katrina for a quick recommendations of what to start with….
Afterglow Massage Oil Candle – These minimalist pourable massage oil candles never got hot
enough to burn the skin and they last long. They are all natural and smell absolutely delicious. I often recommend these for beginners because they help set the mood; offer ambiance and something sexy to play with and really encourages intimacy. Plus, everyone looks great bathed in candlelight!
Coochy Cream – This one is a BIG staff favourite. If you’re going bare or nearly bare for Valentine’s Night (or perhaps a tropical Valentine’s getaway) , Coochy Creme can help you avoid those nasty little red bumps that are, um, less than the sexy look we’re going for when we usually shave down there. I have particularly sensitive skin…i just LOOK at a razor and I get razor burn, and Coochy Cream is my saving grace. We’ve tried other brands and nothing else compares. Terrible name – I know.
Lelo Liv – This is the fashionista’s favourite vibe, and its the toy I give all of my girlfriends on their birthdays. It’s a sexy mummy fave because it’s discreet – it’s ultra-quiet (won’t wake sleeping kids..or husbands). It’s a beautiful little piece of technology that will outlast almost all of the other toys on the market. It’s rechargeable (batteries are SO passe) and made from body-safe materials (like everything at Ohhh – we only sell the best). You can use it for solo play (calorie-free stress relief, anyone?) and it also adds a new dimension of play with your part
ner.
ner.
Tenga Eggs – The men in our lives seem to get the short end of the stick when it comes to sex toys. That’s why we love Tenga products at Ohhh. In particular, Tenga eggs are fun little toys that are “non-representational” as we say in the biz…basically they don’t look like any of the parts either of you already possess. Instead, they look like they could be some kind of little chocolate treat..you know, like the kind for kids. Note that they are NOT for children, though. Definitely not (haha). But they do contain a toy..a silicone sleeve he can use. Each of the six traditional eggs has a different pattern on the packaging, and the pattern that’s on the outside of the packaging is the same as the pattern on the inside of the toy. We have a special “heart” version that’s perfect for Valentine’s gift giving!
We-Vibe III – It’s hard to top We-Vibe III for couples’ play. There’s also a remote control, too. And let’s just say, it’s really a shared experience. Ruby red is particularly popular this time of year. It’s also a Canadian invention, for the win.
There are TONS of products on the Ohhh Canada website for you to explore. And don’t hesitate to ask Katrina or her staff any questions you may have. It’s a friendly, fun,and discreet shopping experience from start to finish – everything ships in plain boring brown cardboard with no indication of the contents and credit card statements read the owner’s name “K MCKAY”
WARNING: Yes, you will probably giggle when you go through the site.
I’m going to wish you and yours a very Happy V-Day now…cause you’ll be too busy to read that day! *winks*
So, how do you keep the sizzle?
LOL Thanks for your feedback Lisa! Here’s how you can reach Katrina
Katrina@ohhhcanada.ca
Hello Ohh Canada!! Awesome research on what I thought was a prude nation! I stand corrected!!
I am VERY interested to know if there is a way to join in the sexy fun on the employee side of your fantastic business? Please let me know how I can join in on the fun, as my hubby tells me all the time that I Ooze Sex!! I have never been shy to talk about sex, and have had a few sex-themed parties myself. All of the woman I know keep telling me that I should have a career in the sex department!! Loved the Valentines article! It was inspiring!!
Hope to hear from you soon!!
Lisa M. Kennedy
I love shopping Canadian whenever possible… heh. 😉