Newsletter No. 50: SUMMER 2010

This newsletter marks the beginning of our co-operative’s 13th year in existence.  In some ways it seems like only yesterday that we first opened our doors (and six months later launched our first website).  But it also feels like a long, long time ago.  Much has changed and much has remained the same.  When you’re a member of a co-operative every part of doing business is a little different than when you work at a regular undemocratic business. 

With undemocratic businesses they’re always trying to project some corporate identity.  Often it’s a projection of the oversized ego of the owner.  Sometimes it comes directly from a marketing brain trust.  But a co-op is its members.  We’re regular folks who are lucky enough to, at least in our work, control our own destiny.  It makes the co-op feel more like a human being than a brand identity.  And this means that, just like other humans, we’re always changing and growing.  

And now we’re a teenager!  We’re not looking forward to the reduced sexual rights and respect that we know is coming our way during our teen years, but we are looking forward to seven years of intense introspection, wild imaginations, and discovering so many new things about ourselves and all of you.  

We’re now half way through sharing our core values with you, and this newsletter we’re featuring the two that may be most descriptive of who we are.  

Core Value #3: No Come Ons
We value information over sales, so we don’t come on to our customers.
We believe you can talk about sex without resorting to titillation or hucksterism. While we appreciate sleaze as much as the next sex shop, it’s not what we do at Come As You Are. To make good decisions -- healthy decisions -- we all need accurate information and freedom from pressure and social expectation. That's why we don’t do cheesy marketing ploys or fake come ons. What we do do is honest, up-to-date information.
Oh, and we promise not to hit on you and ask that you don't hit on us. We guarantee that the only sex objects in our store are the products on our walls.
Core Value #7: Create Nerdy Fun
At Come As You Are, we love that sex can be nerdy, silly, and a whole lot of fun.
Creating nerdy fun means not taking ourselves too seriously. With so many social restrictions and taboos around sexuality it's easy to forget that sex is a wonderful kind of adult play. We're all self-identified sex nerds and working in a sex shop offers limitless opportunities to make nerdy fun. We can't think of anything more fun than getting to spend our days talking, thinking, and writing about sexuality.
At the same time we're mindful that for most of us sex is complicated, and we never make fun, or use humour to diminish diverse sexual experiences. When it feels like someone's being left out, we know we're on the wrong track and it's time to start again

News

April Showers
Put some air in your tires and a spring in your step because it's springtime and we all know April showers bring…talk of female ejaculation! That much talked about and often debated phenomenon has the birds and the bees a buzzin'. Email us your favorite technique or ejaculation success or failure story to contests@comeasyouare.com by May 1st. We’ll share the stories (anonymously) on our blog. The winning entry will win the Je Joue’s G-Ki and the DVD Tristan Taormino’s Expert Guide to the G-spot. 

Barbara Carrellas
Author and tantra teacher extraordinaire, Barbara Carrellas returns to our Toronto store end of May to teach another round of expanding sensual awareness through breath, laughter, ritual, presence and conscious connection. The Urban Tantra workshop offers a no nonsense, gender freeing accessible approach to spiritual sexuality. Her second workshop, Kinky Tantra, offers a practical how-to combining two separate yet often linked sensualities. Join us for one or both, as we breathe our way to deeper connections and intimacy.

Buck Angel
Just in time for Pride festivities, Buck Angel, award winning film-maker and porn entrepreneur, dishes the dirt at his talk, Buck Angel Uncensored. Buck Angel will discuss the ups and downs of ushering a new genre of porn into the adult entertainment industry. How he started in the business and then the pitfalls, obstacles, and joys along the way. Buck fields tons of questions so feel free to bring your inquisitive minds to enjoy a great evening with one of the most open and challenging pornographers around. Look out for other Buck Angel events soon to be announced! 

Books

Forget cheesy sex games, I Dare You is a marvelously presented box full of racy challenges, based on the tried-and-true model of the classic truth or dare game. Tiny envelopes full of sexy ideas await inside a gorgeous velvet-lined box, ever-so-delicately fastened with a satin bow. Expect to learn about your partner (or partners) and experience intimacy that you might have never imagined! $17.95

The Gay Sex Deck is here! Cards are divided into three sections: foreplay, full sex and sex play, and illustrate and explain positions, new fantasies to try and how to go about acting them out, massage techniques, and much more. Great for new couples, those who are looking to expand their sexual repertoire, or just those looking to open up a healthy dialogue about their sex life. Cute illustrations as well as text on the opposite side that breaks it all down for you. $19.95

Lust, edited by Violet Blue, is a collection of short stories for women that capitalize on pure fantasy. There's no fancy elaboration on setting or super-deep development of story - just straight-up erotic tales that get right to the point, all while maintaining high quality writing. From the hunky soap star stopping off at the roadside fruit stand for a little more than a peach, to the inter-office romance that begins with sexy stockings and dirty tech-talk, to the psychic and the private eye getting turned on to their kinky sides. Stories range in explicitness, but tend to be on the softer end of things. Great for those who fantasize about daily life getting unexpectedly hot in the blink of an eye.  $19.50

What is it that makes some of us want to get caught with our pants (or other things) down?  Why do some of us love the thrill of peeking into a world not, necessarily, meant for us? Exhibitionism and voyeurism at its best, Peep Show is filled with erotic stories of office webcams, anonymous strip-tease shows, all-out sex on plate glass windows, and much, much more.  $18.95

For the furry in your life… Furverts is a book full of professionally-shot photographs of people dressed up as animals getting it on - mostly in themed hotel rooms. Could be cute, could be sexy - that's up to you. No text, just photos, and no nudity, just simulated sex. Fun-fur lined peephole on the front and thick, boardbook style pages. $17.95

Toys

Je Joue is one sex toy maker that manages to blow our collective minds with each new product.  Je Joue's latest creation is the multi-speed, waterproof g-spot vibrator G-Ki. Like all of Je Joue's inventions to date, calling G-Ki just a vibrator is a massive understatement. The G-Ki vibrates and is articulated to bend and hold it’s shape, so you get exactly the g-spot stimulation you want. G-Ki is also rechargeable and uses a magnetic charger to enable use and cleaning underwater. $115

Tired of propping your Fleshlight up in pillows or wedging it between the mattress and box spring?  Looking to turn this brilliant hand-held masturbation sleeve into something a little more hands-free?  The folks at Liberator bring you the Fleshlight Motion Top Dog.  A piece of sex furniture designed to hold on to that Fleshlight for you. Compatible with all Fleshlights currently on the market, the Top Dog's faux leather exterior is easy to keep clean and the non-slip base helps ensure a better hands-free experience.  $115

It's a butt plug bonanza!  Already famous for their handcrafted silicone toys, the makers of Fuze have turned their attention exclusively to anal toys and launched a line of inexpensive and frankly brilliant plugs and beads.   Not only are all Fuze plugs made of silicone, but each plug has a ring shaped base that serves as a handle or a spot to hold your favourite mini vibe, turning your butt plug into buzz plug.  Fuze plugs come in a variety of sizes, shapes and textures - choose from seven different models!  $24 - $36 

Fun Factory has been the leader of the sex toy pack for the better part of this millennium, but with the growing popularity of rechargeable sex toys, we were growing concerned that our Fun Factory friends were getting left behind!  Never fear - Fun Factory's rechargeable offerings this year have been superb!  Fun Factory's Flash rabbit-style g-spot vibrator features a magnetic charger for a fully waterproof experience, and their trademark velvety silicone is soft to touch but also transmits vibrations well.  All Fun Factory rechargeable mini vibrators feature variable vibration speeds and modes.  $70 - $90

How do you make an omelet without breaking any eggs?  Tenga, the newest Japanese men’s sex toy maker knows, and we’re here to share their secret with the world.  Tenga Eggs are the cutest and most innovative sex gadget for guys we’ve seen in a long time.  Each egg contains a super stretchy, highly textured sleeve for hours of reusable solo or partner play.  There are six styles in all, and if you buy a half dozen, you get a deal and a carton!  $10 each, $40 for 6

DVDs

How to Perform a Prostate Massage delivers on its titles promise and more.  Lessons on how to milk the prostate and a feature on how to use the Aneros with and without a partner are included in this educational movie that offers easy to follow ideas on how to achieve new, "more enthralling" types of orgasms by exploring the male prostate. Educational, humourous, and extremely interesting. If you’re interested in prostate stimulation, if you’re a current or future Aneros user, this DVD is for you. $29

From the makers of Cubbyholes, we're back at the bath house for another romp with the hot guys from Trannywood Films in Couch Surfers 2. Anything goes as these Trans and Cis men pair off and hook up for hot sex with just the perfect amount of intimacy and chemistry. Pass the lube, gloves and condoms! $35

An interesting new concept from Belladonna, Heavy Petting is all-girl teasing at its finest. 12 girls are featured in six one-on-one scenes with no furniture or backdrop (it’s like the white room from the Matrix) and a focus on caressing and making out leading up to full-on sex. Mind-blowing positions and great looking cast. For those who like a slower, sensuous beat that doesn't lack intensity. $35

In An Eternal Love, Emily is haunted by the ghost of her late husband and can't seem to get on with her life. Shutting herself up in her home, she won't allow herself to meet new people, until her best friend comes over and introduces her to Tommy, a sexy dude who can empathize with Emily - and he doesn't stop there. Exceptionally gorgeous cast makes for super hot, romantic, believable sex dripping with chemistry. An excellent choice for couples, this film doesn't cut any corners in terms of making everything, and everyone, look just perfect. $35

Feeling It features a series of artsy yet fun vignettes that focus on female pleasure. Many different types of scenes explore fantasies including body painting, light female domination, and erotic photography.  Not to be missed is the final scene where an orgy erupts after 4 women are waited on hand and foot by men.  It’s an all-amateur cast of performers who are truly enjoying what they are doing. Presented by Candida Royalle.  $35

Workshops

Tuesday, May 4
Hands-On Rope Bondage
With Midori
Couples Only – All orientations.

Wednesday, May 5
How to Eat a Peach
With Midori
All genders.

Saturday, May 15
Take It Off With Confidence
With Jade
Women And Trans Women Only.

Wednesday, May 26
Back Door Bonanza:
Enhancing the Pleasure of Anal Fisting
With Duncan MacLachlan
All genders.

Monday, May 31.
Urban Tantra
With Barbara Carrellas
Couples only – all orientations welcome.

Tuesday, June 1.
Kinky Tantra
With Barbara Carrellas
All genders.

Thursday, June 24.
Orgasmic Abundance for Everyone
With Sheri Winston
All genders.

Sunday,  June 27.
Buck Angel Uncensored
With Buck Angel.
All genders.