Sex toy sales triple in New Zealand after lockdown imposed

‘We’re selling a lot of beginner toys,’ says spokesperson for nation’s largest sex toy retailer

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Sales of sex toys have tripled in New Zealand since prince minister Jacinda Arden imposed a month-long lockdown due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Like in the UK, New Zealanders are only able to leave their homes to exercise or access key services such as supermarkets and pharmacies.

But according to the nation’s largest retailer for sex toys, Adult Toy Megastore, locals have been using their time to stock up on adult products.

“We’re selling a lot of beginner toys ... all our beginner ranges are very popular,” Emily Writes, a spokesperson for the business, told The Guardian.

“It definitely looks like people are saying: ‘I’ve got time, I might try something new.”

Among the products that have increased in popularity on the website are condoms, lubricant, and menstrual cups in addition to adult board games.

Sex toy cleaner was also a product that has surged in popularity.

Adult Toy Megastore has been deemed an essential service in New Zealand, because it sells condoms among other medical items, and been allowed to continue its operations during the lockdown.

The retailer has also seen significant sales boosts in Britain and Australia, particularly on 21 and 22 March when both countries closed its restaurants and bars, respectively.

“Looking at what people were buying at that point it was all sex toys,” Writes added.

“It was like they were thinking, ‘We can’t go to bars, we can’t pick up, we can’t go on dates.’”