A cliche for sure, but through our dealings with adult wholesalers & manufacturers, we’ve learnt there’s been a significant uptick recently in sales of high end pleasure products. With people effectively barred from socialising let alone committing the heinous crime of touching others outside of their immediate household, many have turned to tech to fulfil their sexual needs. Remote control sex toys, power boxes & electrodes for self stimulation are two favourites, however, some couples are going further. Way further, like searching for a bespoke BDSM dungeon builder to create a playspace they can call their own.
Contrary to expectations there’s been no shortage of surplus funds during lockdown, with 16% of people reckoned to be better off financially. There’s been almost ZERO SPENDING on ‘non essential items’ & leisure pursuits like holidays, eating out & retail; travel costs for furloughed workers, all 9 million of ’em have reduced substantially too. For the same period, increased spending on beverages consumed at home, energy, & subscriptions to platforms like Netflix has been calculated at around 6%. This means, a net gain for many households of around 29% (Aviva figures based on ONS data; 35% savings – 6% extra costs = net of 29% better off).
Interestingly, there are regional differences.
| Lockdown savers (% who have saved more than usual during lockdown) | Lockdown losses (% who have saved less than usual during lockdown) |
| Plymouth (43%) | Brighton (49%) |
| Sheffield (36%) | London (39%) |
| Nottingham (34%) | Southampton (39%) |
| Leeds (33%) | Manchester (37%) |
| Newcastle (33%) | Norwich (35%) |
Escorts and Mistresses have been forced to STOP work since March due to Covid-19 Restrictions, and it’s not clear when or even if they’re going to be allowed to restart anytime soon, along with massage parlours and therapists. Many are flouting the rules through necessity, since many sex workers, self employed, #forgottenLtd and others are #excluded from government initiatives to safeguard jobs.
In studies, CompareTheMarket has found that people are becoming increasingly worried about going back into public. As of today (July 1st 2020), for the fifth week in a row, the number of people who say they would not be confident going to restaurants, cafes, pubs and cinemas has risen, and now stands at 54%. Our own observations tend to support this. For the past 3 months we’ve been working on vanilla projects at street level, and found folk well and truly sold on the #Stayhome #Staysafe model, with only around 10% expressing a desire to go back to the old normal. It seems HM Government have rammed the FEAR message home so successfully, that they’re now having to plan yet ANOTHER EXPENSIVE PR CAMPAIGN to persuade people to get out or even to return to work.
Punters & Kinksters are people who like to live on the edge. They’re used to taking risks, albeit measured ones, and not likely to Follow the Fold. Solo players & groups like swingers will have to make a choice…to pick up where they left off prior to lockdown and continue AS NORMAL, or find other outlets for their desire. Couples however, especially those a) frightened by the #StayHome #Staysafe narrative and b) who communicate and enjoy sex and BDSM activities together, are starting to think beyond the furry handcuffs and amateur kit sold by mainstream sex toy stores to ‘spice up the bedroom’ (their words, not mine).
The Fifty Shades Trilogy though not depicting the BDSM scene in the best of light, nevertheless, introduced a whole new generation of youngsters (20-30 age group now 25-35) to the world of kink. Many within this demographic are educated and affluent, so it comes as no surprise that there’s increasing interest in Home BDSM Dungeon Playrooms. Covid19 and the ‘New Normal’ as the way some people expect life to continue, are amplifying this trend. So if you’re thinking along those lines, click this link to go to the ‘Bespoke BDSM Dungeon Builder’ page on my site. They made a first class job of my playroom in the North East. See what they can do for you from Design to Co-ordinating multiple trades for a Full Build. Recommended.
Meanwhile, StayHorny & keep it Safe, Sane & Consensual, from Mistress Orchid the #TeesValleyMistress
POSTSCRIPT: Am I working, I hear you ask? Well guys, that’s for me to know and you to wonder. We live in a world of increasing invasive surveillance. So craft me a sensible message; include within it details of previous experience and/or feedback & I’ll take it from there….. #DoItNow
