Alan Jacques checks out the city’s adult boutiques to investigate the appetite for adventure in the run-up to St. Valentine’s Day (all in the interest of journalistic research, of course)
IT’S the big weekend of the year for love and romance but with business booming for Limerick’s adult stores it would appear that there’s plenty of red hot lust in the air for Valentine’s too.
Owner of Thelma and Louises adult boutique on Lower Shannon Street, Sharon Tucker told me that horny couples are definitely looking to “spice it up” this weekend.
According to Sharon, lingerie, massage oils and handcuffs were high on people’s shopping list for Valentine’s Day. She also revealed that the we-vibe, a couple’s vibrator designed to make sex even more pleasurable, has been walking off the shelves in recent days. A vibrating tongue ring, was another big seller the Limerick Post discovered.
“The days of flowers and chocolates are gone. Couples want to get down to the nitty gritty now and are far more openminded and playful than before,” said Sharon.
“We’ve been really busy in the run up to Valentine’s Day as people are planning to go away for the weekend and want to spice things up. I had a couple in their 60s in earlier who are heading off for Valentine’s and they stocked up on lingerie, massage oils, scented candles and some toys. Times have changed,” she declared.
Meanwhile, Michael Bridgeman of Angels adult boutique on Mungret Street said lingerie and novelty toys were his big sellers in the run up to Valentine’s Day.
“Lots of guys come in this week looking very sheepish and shy looking to buy lingerie for their girlfriends and wives. The girls are much braver and most of our customers would be women these days anyway. Since Ann Summers came to Ireland adult stores have opened up and become far more inviting to people,” said Mike.
Taking a peek around the two city adult boutiques this week I felt like I was in a joke shop for grown-ups, taking me back to my visits to The Magic Shop on Mallow Street as a child.
With everything from novelty items, board games and costumes in stock, there was definitely plenty available to keep consenting adults smiling.
As puzzled as I was amused at some of the kinky wares on offer, I saw curious items that might be used to kill a person at 50 paces, others that could possibly be used to unblock your loo, underwear you couldn’t floss your teeth with and many more assorted aids to brighten up Valentine’s Day.
Happy Valentine’s Day indeed! Have fun and play carefully!
