Sex sells

In an article from the London Free Press, by By P.J. HARSTON, BUSINESS EDITOR, there is discussion about how well sex toys sell at sex toys parties.

Hanna Ibson is no ordinary sex-toy salesperson. She’s a champion.

The 48-year-old, lifelong London resident was recently named Fantasia’s top sales consultant in Canada for 2005.

The honour comes on the heels of winning the provincial title three years running.

“I’m willing to do what it takes to be Number One,” Ibson says. And to her that means treating the customer right.

“I love what I do, I love what I represent and I’m very proud of what I represent,” she says. “And I care. I guess that’s the most important part. I care.”

And what is it that she cares about? In a nutshell, it’s bringing people pleasure in the form of Fantasia products.

If you’re not familiar with Fantasia, think of it as the Tupperware of the 21st Century.

Officials at the 25-year-old, Montreal-based company describe it as “the sex shop that comes to your door.”

Consultants go to Fantasia parties of up to a dozen or so people — mainly women and couples — and provide a “show-and-tell” presentation on the company’s products: powders, bubble bath, oils and, of course, sex toys.

Hanna, who has presented at exactly 1,233 of these parties since joining Fantasia in 1998, set a company record last November for sales in a single month.

“This has been an amazing year for me,” she said. “Not only because so many people have booked their party with me, but the sales at my parties have been phenomenal this year. The industry is really taking off and I’m proud to be part of it.”

I asked Hanna what the secret to her success is and suggested that perhaps London is under-serviced when it comes to sex toys and other sex-related paraphernalia.

“London is quite a conservative town, actually,” she said. “It all depends on the group you’re presenting to.”

Hanna’s territory stretches three hours by car in any direction away from London — a huge swath of Southern Ontario dotted with towns and villages.

“I’ve been all over the place and they’re all different — different towns, different people and different groups. I’m pretty good at sizing up a group quickly and figuring out exactly how I’m going to talk to them and what I’m going to talk to them about. It can be tricky,” she said. “I’ve learned to go with the flow.”

Hanna’s involvement with Fantasia happened quite by accident.

About 12 years ago, the former proofreader, typesetter and production manager was moonlighting with another company that sold women’s wear in a similar Tupperware party-like fashion.

Hanna’s friend asked her to go along with her to a Fantasia party as a favour.

“I was very impressed with the quality of the presentation,” she said.

A few months later, after talking with Fantasia representatives and attending a few more parties, she realized that Fantasia offered a better opportunity for her as a sales consultant.

Now, nearly eight years later, Hanna is not only a top consultant, but she also trains new consultants, one of just three trainers in Ontario.

Consultants have to go through a rigorous and thorough 40-hour training workshop before they can represent the company at parties. The training is critical, says Hanna, because it helps consultants get comfortable with what could be an uncomfortable sales experience.

“I did wonder, when I was starting out, if I could do it. Could I use photographs and diagrams to explain sex products?” she said.

“You learn to present it as an acceptable product. And 80 per cent of what I sell is of a non-sexual nature — powders and bubble baths and oils.”

But in order to succeed, Hanna also sells plenty of vibrators.

Her top seller?

“Any of the bullet toys are big sellers,” she said. “They’re unobtrusive, don’t look like a penis and they’re non-male threatening.”

When asked to share some of her sales technique, Hanna explained: “You have to learn how to look at people like they’re not walking wallets.

You have to care. Once you’ve mastered that, it’s easy.”

To learn more about Fantasia or to contact Hanna, visit fantasiaparty.com.

For sex toys party supplies, visit sex toys party.com