Babeland
Encyclopedia
Babeland, formerly known as Toys in Babeland, is a women-owned sex toy
boutique offering erotic toys, books and pornographic films. Babeland has an online store and four retail stores (in Seattle, Brooklyn
, and two in Manhattan
).
of Babes in Toyland
, the title of a Laurel & Hardy film. It was, uncoincidentally the name of an emerging all-female band from Minneapolis by the same name). Committed to offering information and encouragement to women who wanted to explore their sexuality
, the owners focused on selling quality sex toys in a boutique-like setting.
In 1995, Toys in Babeland started its mail order business with a small print catalog based out of their Seattle store. The Toys in Babeland website followed shortly thereafter, in 1996. The owners opened their second Toys in Babeland store in New York City in 1998, on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. In 2003 another New York store opened in SoHo. In 2005, Babeland debuted its fourth store in Los Angeles, which has since closed. In 2008, Babeland opened a new location in Park Slope, Brooklyn, making a total of three stores in New York City.
In 1999 the Toys in Babeland staff developed a specific mission: to promote and celebrate sexual vitality by providing an honest, open and fun environment. Encouraging personal empowerment, community education, and support for a more passionate world are key.
In 2003 Rachel Venning and Claire Cavanah, founders of Toys in Babeland wrote Sex Toys 101: The Ultimate Guide to Choosing and Using Sex Toys. Readers learn the ins and outs of sexual anatomy, vibrators, strap-ons, lube, men's toys, anal play and more. Written in an informal style and full of photographs, Sex Toys 101 is the first full-color guide to toys for satisfying sex.
In 2005 Toys in Babeland officially shortened its name to "Babeland" and modernized its look. Says co-founder Venning, “Toys in Babeland had become much more than just a place to buy sex toys, so we decided to present Babeland as a destination, a lifestyle, a state of mind—all celebrating the simple truth that sexually healthy people make the world a happier place.”
In 2008, Babeland ran a promotion in which they gave away a free sex toy to anyone who voted in that November's election.
Babeland has received numerous awards over the years, including a 2006 Zagat's Survey award as "the best shopping experience in New York." It was voted "Best Place to Buy Sex Toys" by The Village Voice
and Seattle Weekly
.
Sex toy
A sex toy is an object or device that is primarily used to facilitate human sexual pleasure. The most popular sex toys are designed to resemble human genitals and may be vibrating or non-vibrating...
boutique offering erotic toys, books and pornographic films. Babeland has an online store and four retail stores (in Seattle, Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, and two in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
).
History
Claire Cavanah and Rachel Venning founded Toys in Babeland in 1993 in response to the lack of women-friendly sex shops in Seattle. (The store's name is a spoonerismSpoonerism
A spoonerism is an error in speech or deliberate play on words in which corresponding consonants, vowels, or morphemes are switched . It is named after the Reverend William Archibald Spooner , Warden of New College, Oxford, who was notoriously prone to this tendency...
of Babes in Toyland
Babes in Toyland (1934 film)
Babes in Toyland is a Laurel and Hardy musical film released in November 1934. The film is also known by its alternate titles Laurel and Hardy in Toyland, Revenge Is Sweet , March of the Wooden Soldiers and Wooden Soldiers .Based on Victor Herbert's popular 1903 operetta Babes in Toyland, the film...
, the title of a Laurel & Hardy film. It was, uncoincidentally the name of an emerging all-female band from Minneapolis by the same name). Committed to offering information and encouragement to women who wanted to explore their sexuality
Human female sexuality
Human female sexuality encompasses a broad range of behaviors and processes, including female sexual identity and sexual behavior, the physiological, psychological, social, cultural, political, and spiritual or religious aspects of sex...
, the owners focused on selling quality sex toys in a boutique-like setting.
In 1995, Toys in Babeland started its mail order business with a small print catalog based out of their Seattle store. The Toys in Babeland website followed shortly thereafter, in 1996. The owners opened their second Toys in Babeland store in New York City in 1998, on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. In 2003 another New York store opened in SoHo. In 2005, Babeland debuted its fourth store in Los Angeles, which has since closed. In 2008, Babeland opened a new location in Park Slope, Brooklyn, making a total of three stores in New York City.
In 1999 the Toys in Babeland staff developed a specific mission: to promote and celebrate sexual vitality by providing an honest, open and fun environment. Encouraging personal empowerment, community education, and support for a more passionate world are key.
In 2003 Rachel Venning and Claire Cavanah, founders of Toys in Babeland wrote Sex Toys 101: The Ultimate Guide to Choosing and Using Sex Toys. Readers learn the ins and outs of sexual anatomy, vibrators, strap-ons, lube, men's toys, anal play and more. Written in an informal style and full of photographs, Sex Toys 101 is the first full-color guide to toys for satisfying sex.
In 2005 Toys in Babeland officially shortened its name to "Babeland" and modernized its look. Says co-founder Venning, “Toys in Babeland had become much more than just a place to buy sex toys, so we decided to present Babeland as a destination, a lifestyle, a state of mind—all celebrating the simple truth that sexually healthy people make the world a happier place.”
In 2008, Babeland ran a promotion in which they gave away a free sex toy to anyone who voted in that November's election.
Babeland has received numerous awards over the years, including a 2006 Zagat's Survey award as "the best shopping experience in New York." It was voted "Best Place to Buy Sex Toys" by The Village Voice
The Village Voice
The Village Voice is a free weekly newspaper and news and features website in New York City that features investigative articles, analysis of current affairs and culture, arts and music coverage, and events listings for New York City...
and Seattle Weekly
Seattle Weekly
Seattle Weekly is a freely distributed newspaper in Seattle, Washington, United States. It was founded by Darrell Oldham and David Brewster as The Weekly...
.