Lovehoney is a British business that sells sex toys, lingerie and erotic gifts on the Internet. Their tagline is “the sexual happiness people”. In 2014 the company was the focus of a television show entitled Frisky Business, which looked at their day-to-day operations.
Background
Lovehoney was founded in Bath, Somerset in 2002 by Richard Longhurst and Neal Slateford. The company employs 230 people in the area, and is an official UK distributor of Durexproducts. In 2009–10 Lovehoney had a turnover of £10.4 million and profits of £1.5 million In 2010-11 it had a turnover of £13.4 million, and in 2011-12 it had a turnover of £16 million.
Retail
Lovehoney has over 400 own brand products, including the Lovehoney Sqweel Oral Sex Simulator. Sub-brands owned by Lovehoney include BASIC Sex Toys, Bondage Boutique, Death By Orgasm, Pin Ups, Shag Factory, Swoon, VibraExciter and a range of sex toys developed with Tracey Cox. Lovehoney Ltd holds the official license to design, manufacture and sell adult pleasure products based on the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy by E. L. James. This includes the Fifty Shades of Grey Official Pleasure Collection and Fifty Shades of Grey Sensual Care Collection. Lovehoney also hold the official license to design, manufacture and sell adult pleasure products inspired by Bettie Page.
History
2002 – Lovehoney launched its online store, which operated from Richard Longhurst's bedroom.
2003 – Lovehoney moved into a small warehouse and became a limited company.
2005 – Lovehoney developed its first product, a music-activated vibrator called iBuzz.
2006 – Apple Inc. threatened to sue Lovehoney over the iBuzz.
2007 – Lovehoney launched the world's first sex toyrecycling scheme, called Rabbit Amnesty.
2009 – The first Lovehoney Design A Sex Toy Competition is launched and the winner of the competition is Trevor Murphy with the Sqweel Oral Sex Simulator. The Lovehoney Sqweel Oral Sex Simulator is the best sellingoral sex simulation sex toy in the world. Lovehoney USA was launched to sell Lovehoney own brand products wholesale to the United States.
2011 – Lovehoney expanded its warehouse and workforce. The company is rebranded, with the cartoon mascot 'Honey' being dropped and the tagline “the sexual happiness people” adopted.
2012 – Lovehoney featured in a Channel 4 documentary titled 'More Sex Please, We're British.
2012 – Lovehoney secures exclusive world rights outside the Americas to design, manufacture and sell adult pleasure products based on the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy by E. L. James.
