Sexcellent Ideas: Charlie Glickman on Sex Toy Trends

The story below is taken from the October 2013 issue of AVN magazine, where we asked 10 sexperts to talk about future trends that they would like to see in the pleasure product industry. Each shared some interesting thoughts, and we'll be posting these individually over the next couple of weeks. Pictured here: Charlie Glickman. Charlie GlickmanPh.D., AASECT certified sexuality educator and sex coach, co-author of The Ultimate Guide to Prostate Pleasure. CharlieGlickman.com What should be trending? That’s an interesting question. One thing I’ve noticed is many manufacturers are really big in new technology. Whether it’s gyrations or pulsations or thrusting or whatever, I think for consumers it can get too confusing. I once had a woman who told me she tried the Rabbit when it first came out, but that it didn’t work for her. She said she liked the rotating shaft, but it rotated right outside of her vagina. She didn’t know that she had to hold it in place while using it. If the manufacturer had put some instructions, or a booklet with drawings, that would have made all the difference in the world. It seems like folks in this industry are a bit squeamish when it comes to talking about the nuts and bolts of pleasure products. I would like to see more manufacturers give more information on how to actually use their products. Either instruction books with pictures or drawings, or videos. I think many of the manufacturers think it’s obvious how to use their products, but they forget they have been thinking of nothing else but that product for the past eight months, and consumers are not always as savvy as those in the industry. Another interesting switch has been this shift of pleasure products into the wellbeing model. I think there’s a danger of things getting too clinical. It’s not always sexy to talk about “health” topics. There needs to be a way that we can bring together sexual wellbeing with the world of orgasms. I’m not sure how, though. I am an idea person. There has to be someone out there who can brings those worlds together. Finally, I would like to see more products targeted toward men. There seems to be such a limited selection of items produced specifically for men, but they could enjoy vibrators and other items that already exist. Why not market vibrators to men in addition to women and couples? And why couldn’t someone make a vibrator geared toward men?ž Next week, check back on AVN.com to hear from more sexperts. To see the digital edition of the issue, click here.