Wednesday, April 25, 2007
More than a dozen women sit in a half circle, watching as a slender woman holds up a large, pink vibrator, equipped with a tickling rabbit.
A few women appear to hang on her every word, while others shift uncomfortably in their seats as she flips on the buzzing vibrators and begins passing them around for closer inspection.
Some women examine the toys from every angle, while others quickly pass them on as if it’s going to burn their hands.
The woman in front of the room, Danielle Hay, is putting on a Slumber Party — a gathering of women in private homes where sex toys are shown and purchased much like housewares and cosmetics at Tupperware and Mary Kay parties.
Slumber Parties — although designated to sell products — are designed to educate and empower women to take control of their sexuality, Hay said. On this particular night, Hay is empowering college-age women in Lawrence.
The home-based parties offer women a chance to view and test some products exclusive to Slumber Parties in the company of their friends rather than in a public store, where you could run into your professors.
According to the Slumber Parties, Inc. Web site, www.slumberparties.com, Kim Brecheen founded Slumber Parties in 1993, after the adult toy company she worked for failed. She began working in the industry after witnessing the overwhelming interest from female friends.
Women become distributors by being recruited by current distributors. A new distributor must purchase a starter kit to become an active in the company. A kit starts at $250. Distributors receive 40 percent off all retail purchases; with each new recruit they sign up, their discount increases.
Hay began hosting Slumber Parties in April 2006. The gig started as a summer job before Hay started medical school at Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences.
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I believe part of my job is to educate the truth about sex to help enhance someone’s life.
-Daniel Hay
Hay enjoyed the job so much she decided to stick with it. Making $50 to $100 an hour helped Hay save up for school.
“I’m able to work when I want to,” Hay said. “I can schedule parties around school.”
The pay and flexibility weren’t the only reasons Hay decided to stay on.
“It’s a really fun job and people really enjoy attending parties,” Hay said.
After a year of throwing parties, she has worked out a routine. To start each presentation she asks the women to pick designated names for the male and female sex organs.
This night, the women choose “twig” for penis and “taco” for vagina. Hay begins by showing novelties and gag gifts. Pulling out the “World’s Smallest Condom” evokes laughter from the group. Hay holds up “Peter Lipstick,” lipstick in the shape of a “twig,” one of her most popular gifts. “Peter Lipstick” sells for $5, making it one of the least expensive purchases.
She then moves on through the relaxation and romance enhancement products including products like the “Pulsa Bath,” a kind of vibrating sponge, and the “Love Swing,” designed to allow couples to achieve new sexual positions. The “Pulsa Bath” sells for $13, where as the Love Swing, one of the company’s most expensive toys, goes for $130.
“Customers are always surprised when they see products from TV,” Hay said of the “Love Swing,” which was featured on an episode of “Sex and the City”.
Hay even provides product samples for the women to try, such as “Bosom Buddy,” a lotion that increases sensitivity when applied to nipples but doubles as a lip moisturizer. A 2-ounce bottle sells for $8.50.
Hay hands out Q-tips with a touch of “Bosom Buddy” asking the more daring women to apply it to their nipples and the shyer ones to their lips.
She tells them that Slumber Parties even offers a product for those interested in recreating the whipped-cream bikini from the movie “Varsity Blues.” “Top It Off,” a non-dairy sugar free whipped topping, won’t melt from a person’s body heat, she said.
Hay reminds the women to never use real dairy products in their “tacos” because it increases the chance of yeast infections. “Top It Off” offers a yeast infection-free bikini for $11.
After Hay completes the romance enhancement portion of the party, she takes a break to change her display. The women mingle in the kitchen to devour strawberry daiquiris and cupcakes frosted with “twigs.”
A small line forms for the bathroom, where Hay has placed samples of “X-Scream” and “Nympho Niagra,” the company’s two best-selling products at Slumber Parties, according to the company’s Web site. Each product guarantees an increase in arousal to get a woman’s “taco” raring to go. A 1-ounce jar of either product sells for $17.
After the intermission it’s time for the big toys — the bedroom accessories, as Hay calls them, which carry a shock value for most of her clients. “The Quiver,” a vibrator resembling a cactus, has the power to take the women’s breath away. The cactus like needles act as French ticklers, Hay says. The Quiver sells for $102.
Education is a large part of Slumber Parties according to Hay, who tells the women about four ways they can achieve orgasm: clitoral, vaginal, G-spot and the erogenous butt cheek.
“I believe part of my job is to educate the truth about sex to help enhance someone’s life,” Hay said.
“The Triple Treat,” which has finger-like extensions, guarantees three orgasms, she says. The orgasms come with a price tag of $35.
For those not interested in the phallic-shaped bedroom accessories, the “Tongue Teaser” is available. The realistic, three-speed tongue costs $36.
Although men aren’t allowed to attend Slumber Parties, the women can purchase the few products available for male pleasure. The “Super Stretch,” a silicone sleeve designed to go around a man’s “twig,” offers the opportunity for the women to “take the night off”, Hay said. A night off costs $25.
With the vibrators collected into an odd-shaped pile on the floor, Hay ends her presentation. Sales, however, take place in private.
Slumber Parties prides itself on confidentiality for clients, Hay said. This is why at the end of the party purchases take place in a one-on-one session in a different room.
During the private meeting a woman can try on Hay’s limited supply of lingerie. Hay offers a discount if the women will show at least one party guest the outfit. Each distributor chooses their own supply of lingerie.
Hay said her decision to become a Slumber Parties distributor wasn’t all about money. She liked the idea of educating women about their needs in the bedroom.
Each Slumber Parties distributor is trained to sell company products. Hay received a DVD and literature explaining the products available.
“The video and pamphlets explained in great detail the products, from their ingredients to their suggested uses,” Hay said.
Hay said the knowledge she has gained from medical school also helps her in educating her clients.
However, Dennis Dailey, professor emeritus of social welfare and longtime teacher of a University of Kansas class on human sexuality, had his concerns with the information provided by the company at such parties.
“People who do these are sales people, selling a product,” Dailey said. “They could be giving inaccurate advice.”
He said, for example, that there was only one type of orgasm but numerous ways to achieve an orgasm, contradicting what Hay said about four kinds of orgasms.
The parties are clearly private and more comfortable than going to stores, Dailey said.
Austyn Boyett, Lenexa senior who attended a Slumber Party held by Hay, said she wouldn’t be as comfortable going to a public store as would be at a house party.
“It’s a great way to hang out with your friends and learn some things you didn’t know before,” Boyett said.
While stores offer similar products, Hay said Slumber Parties sells sex toys you can’t find elsewhere.
Hay recalled having a one client who had purchased a bedroom accessory from an adult novelty store but was clueless on how to use it properly until she attended a party.
“Helping to fulfill clients’ needs inside and outside of the bedroom is my job responsibility,” Hay said.
Slumber Parties carry products from massage oils to vibrators to meet every client’s sexual needs.
Kansan staff writer Ashlee Kieler can be contacted at akieler@kansan.com.
— Edited by Stacey Couch
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